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Recorder Office
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Clerk and Recorder
About the Effingham County Clerk & Recorder
Land records in Effingham County are recorded by the County Clerk & Recorder. The office is held by Michelle M. Kollmann.
Online indexes are available from 1987 and document images from Sept. 25, 2001. Tapestry: $8.75 per index/image search, $1.00 per printed page, pay-as-you-go by Visa or MasterCard. Laredo: monthly subscription plans from $75.00 to $400.00. In the office, 4 public access workstations are available at no charge, Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Military discharge (DD-214) records are not open to public inspection.
Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: County Clerk & Recorder - Effingham County, Illinois · County Clerk / Recorder Archives - Effingham County, Illinois · Online Land Records Search - Effingham County, Illinois
Recording Fees
These government fees are separate from any Deeds.com service fees. Confirm current charges with the recorder's office.
| All documents | $74.00 flat (Standard Document, no page count) |
|---|
Other charges
| Document that does not meet the formatting standards | $89.00 per document when Any document failing to meet the requirements listed for a Standard Document, or that makes specific reference to more than 5 tax parcels, units, references, PIN numbers, legal descriptions or document numbers |
|---|---|
| Copies, per page | $1.00 |
| Certification | $15.00 |
Fee schedule effective January 1, 2025.
StatewideCounties set a predictable fee schedule by ordinance or resolution, with one all-inclusive aggregate fee for each document class (deeds; leases; mortgages, including assignments, extensions, amendments, subordinations and mortgage releases; easements; nonstandard documents; miscellaneous; maps or plats). Fees may not be based on page count or other individual attributes of a document. Statutory minimum aggregate fee for each of these classes: $31 (a minimum $13 county fee plus the $18 Rental Housing Support Program State surcharge). The minimum for maps or plats is $50. A county may adopt an additional fee for a document that references more than 5 tax parcels or document numbers. Certified and non-certified copy fees may not exceed the highest document class recording fee.
RHSP Exempt Standard Document: $55.00 (no page count). RHSP Exempt Non-Standard Document: $70.00. Documents with more than 10 tax parcels, units, property identification numbers or document numbers: an additional $50.00, for a total of $139.00. Plats (765 ILCS 205/2): $109.00 (no page count). Surveyor's Record: $74.00. State/Federal Liens & Releases (770 ILCS 110/5): see Recorder for fee. Plat copy: $5.00 for 11x17, $10.00 for full size. Military discharge: no charge to record or for a certified copy; additional copies $1.00 each.
Paying the office
| Accepted | Cash, Check, Money order |
|---|---|
| Checks payable to | Effingham County Recorder |
Transfer tax
Illinois Real Estate Transfer Tax. 50¢ for each $500 of value or fraction of $500 stated in the declaration required by Section 31-25. The tax is collected when the document is recorded. (statewide, 35 ILCS 200/31-10)
StatewideCounties may add a county real estate transfer tax at the rate of 25 cents for each $500 of value or fraction thereof stated in the declaration required by Section 31-25 of the Property Tax Code (55 ILCS 5/5-1031). The recorder or registrar of titles collects it before recording the deed or trust document. Home rule municipalities may levy their own transfer taxes. The amount of a mortgage remaining outstanding when real estate is transferred subject to it is not included in the basis.
Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: 55 ILCS 5/3-5018.2 · 35 ILCS 200/31-10 Imposition of tax · 55 ILCS 5/5-1031 County real estate transfer tax · Fee Schedule - Effingham County, Illinois · FAQs - Effingham County, Illinois
Document Requirements
Confirm current requirements with the recorder's office before submitting documents.
| Paper size | 8.5 inches by 11 inches; graphic displays up to 11 inches by 17 inches (statewide, 55 ILCS 5/3-5018.2(c)(5)) |
|---|---|
| Other margins | 0.5 in (statewide, 55 ILCS 5/3-5018.2(c)(5)) |
| Minimum type size | 10 pt |
| Ink and paper | Legibly printed in black ink by hand, type, or computer, on white paper of not less than 20-pound weight; signatures and dates may be in contrasting colors if they reproduce clearly (statewide, 55 ILCS 5/3-5018.2(c)(5)) |
| Single sided pages required | Yes |
| Prepared-by statement required | Yes (statewide, 55 ILCS 5/3-5022) |
| Grantee address required | Yes (statewide, 55 ILCS 5/3-5026) |
| Tax statement mailing address required | Yes (statewide, 765 ILCS 5/35c) |
| Printed names under signatures required | Yes (statewide, 765 ILCS 5/35c) |
StatewideThe first page must contain a blank space measuring at least 3 inches by 5 inches from the upper right corner. Margins may be used only for non-essential notations, such as form numbers, page numbers, and customer notations.
StatewideA document that does not meet the statutory standards (size, ink, paper, margins, blank space, no stapled attachments, 5 or fewer parcels or document numbers referenced) may be recorded in the nonstandard document class if it allows a legible reproduction.
Plats and maps of additions, subdivisions, condominiums and surveys must be at least 8.5 x 14 inches and no larger than 30 x 36 inches; a mylar print and 3 copies must be submitted. A survey must be submitted as the original along with an 8-1/2 x 14 (legal) copy for scanning.
Forms filed along with a transfer
- PTAX-203, Illinois Real Estate Transfer Declaration Statewide Illinois Department of RevenueAt the time a deed, a document transferring a controlling interest in real property, or trust document is presented for recordation, except as provided in Section 31-45
Submitting documents
| In person | Accepted |
|---|---|
| By mail | Accepted |
| Electronic recording | Accepted |
| eRecording through Deeds.com | Available for this office |
| Stamped, self-addressed return envelope | Required |
| Processing time | Documents are returned within 2-5 business days. |
Only original documents bearing actual signatures may be recorded; faxed documents are not accepted. Documents submitted over the counter must be presented in person by the grantors, and all signing parties must provide a valid government-issued license for verification. All PTAX-203 forms must be completed in the Illinois Department of Revenue's MyDec program.
Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: 55 ILCS 5/3-5018.2 · 35 ILCS 200/31-25 Transfer declaration · 55 ILCS 5/3-5022 · 55 ILCS 5/3-5026 · 765 ILCS 5/35c · Recorder - Effingham County, Illinois · Fee Schedule - Effingham County, Illinois · FAQs - Effingham County, Illinois · e-Recording - Effingham County, Illinois
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