Franklin County Recorder Information

Office locations, recording fees, and document requirements in Illinois

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Recorder Office

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Franklin County Clerk & Recorder
Franklin County Government Annex, 901 Public Square, Benton, Illinois 62812
Mailing address: Post Office Box 607, Benton, IL 62812
8:30 to 4:30 M-F
(618) 435-9800 fax (618) 435-3405
Checked October 2026.

About the Franklin County Clerk & Recorder

Land records in Franklin County are recorded by the County Clerk & Recorder. The office is held by Paris Dunk.

Digital images are available from January 1, 1990 thru present. Free public terminals are available in the Recorder's office. Laredo access is offered by agreement.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: County Clerk / Recorder - Franklin County

Recording Fees

These government fees are separate from any Deeds.com service fees. Confirm current charges with the recorder's office.

Deeds and other conveyances$84.00 flat (standard real estate-related document)
Mortgages and deeds of trust$84.00 flat (standard real estate-related document)
Releases and satisfactions$84.00 flat (standard real estate-related document)

Other charges

Copies, per page$1.00

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.

Additional charge for legal-size paper: $2. Plat of Survey/Subdivision: $100; each additional page $1. GIS fee for review: $25. Faxed copies per document: $2. Certified copies per document: $1 per page.

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.

Franklin County imposes a County Real Estate Transfer Tax of $0.25 per $500 of consideration, declared on the PTAX-203 series forms and paid along with recording fees (55 ILCS 5/5-1031).

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 · County Clerk / Recorder - Franklin County

Document Requirements

Confirm current requirements with the recorder's office before submitting documents.

Paper size8.5 inches by 11 inches; graphic displays up to 11 inches by 17 inches (statewide, 55 ILCS 5/3-5018.2(c)(5))
Other margins0.5 in (statewide, 55 ILCS 5/3-5018.2(c)(5))
Ink and paperLegibly 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))
Prepared-by statement requiredYes (statewide, 55 ILCS 5/3-5022)
Grantee address requiredYes (statewide, 55 ILCS 5/3-5026)
Tax statement mailing address requiredYes (statewide, 765 ILCS 5/35c)
Parcel number requiredYes
Printed names under signatures requiredYes (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.

Forms filed along with a transfer

  • PTAX-203, Illinois Real Estate Transfer Declaration Statewide Illinois Department of Revenue
    At 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 personAccepted
By mailAccepted
Electronic recordingAccepted
eRecording through Deeds.comAvailable for this office
How recorded documents come backOriginal documents will be returned to the customer with document numbering information on the following business day.
Processing timeMost documents are recorded the day they are received.

Document recording is accepted in person or via US Mail or courier. Only original documents bearing actual signatures may be recorded. Faxed documents can not be accepted.

Checked October 2026 against the sources below. Some of them are not official publications, so confirm with the recorder's office. 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 · County Clerk / Recorder - Franklin County · CSC eRecording Availability in Illinois

Report an error or send an update

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How to Get a Copy of Your Deed

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Deeds.com eRecording

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Recorder Office

Contact the recorder's office directly for its records, copies, and recording requirements.

Franklin County Clerk & Recorder
Franklin County Government Annex, 901 Public Square, Benton, Illinois 62812
Mailing address: Post Office Box 607, Benton, IL 62812
8:30 to 4:30 M-F
(618) 435-9800 fax (618) 435-3405
Checked October 2026.

Deeds.com Forms

Blank legal forms sold by Deeds.com, not by the recorder's office.

Gift Deed Quitclaim Deed Warranty Deed Quitclaim Deed (Individual Grantor) Warranty Deed (Individual Grantor) Warranty Deed (Two Grantors) Quitclaim Deed (Two Grantors) Correction Deed Quitclaim Deed (Married Couple as Grantors) Quitclaim Deed (Married Grantor with Non-Owner Spouse Joinder) Quitclaim Deed (Interspousal) Quitclaim Deed (Divorce) Quitclaim Deed (Corrective) Quitclaim Deed (Trustee Grantee) Quitclaim Deed (Trustee Grantor) Quitclaim Deed (LLC Grantor) Special Warranty Deed Quitclaim Deed (Corporation Grantor) Quitclaim Deed (Partnership or Limited Partnership Grantor) Quitclaim Deed (Individual Grantor by Attorney-in-Fact) Quitclaim Deed (Reserving Life Estate) Grant Deed Easement Deed Termination, Cancellation of Easement / Right of Way Mineral Deed Mineral Deed with Quitclaim Covenants Special Power of Attorney for the Purchase of Property Special Power of Attorney for the Sale of Property Statutory Short Form Power of Attorney for Property Mortgage Secured by Promissory Note Release of Mortgage Contract for Deed Memorandum of an Installment Sales Contract Full Release of Memorandum of an Installment Sales Contract Deceased Joint Tenant Affidavit Transfer on Death Instrument Transfer on Death Revocation Notice of Death Affidavit and Acceptance Trustee Deed Executor Deed Administrator Deed Contractor 60-Day Residential Notice Mechanics Lien Mechanics Lien Subcontractor Mechanics Lien Preliminary 60 Day Notice Mechanics Lien Preliminary 90 Day Notice Waiver of Lien to Date Unconditional Waiver and Release of Mechanic Lien Subcontractor Final Waiver and Release of Lien Disclaimer of Interest Lis Pendens Lis Pendens Release Certificate of Trust

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