Jo Daviess County Recorder Information

Land records in Jo Daviess County are recorded by the Recorder's Office. The office is held by Dana Timmerman.

Document images and indexed information are available online from January 1, 1953, to the present. Records date back to 1829. Free public terminals are available in the office. Tapestry: $8.75 per index/image search. Laredo: subscription plans.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Clerk & Recorder | Jo Daviess County, IL · Staff Directory • Clerk & Recorder · Vital Records & Land Records

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

Other charges

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.

Maps or plats: $102. Documents exempt from the Rental Housing Support Program surcharge (for example government-recorded documents and re-recordings): $62. State liens: $11. Federal tax liens: $33. Military discharge records are recorded at no charge, including 1 certified copy. Mailed and emailed copies are $1 per side.

Paying the office

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 · County Recorder Fees | Jo Daviess County, IL

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

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.

Only original documents are accepted for recordation. Deeds must include the property address (commonly known as), which must be a physical address or the nearest cross streets, and the permanent index number of the legal description on deeds with transfer tax.

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
• MyDec electronic Real Estate Transfer Tax Declaration Illinois Department of Revenue
  Before recording, all Jo Daviess County property conveyance instruments must be accompanied by an electronically-completed declaration; paper PTAX-203 forms are no longer accepted (effective September 1, 2025)

Submitting documents

Revenue stamps are purchased electronically at the time of recording. Staff are prohibited from assisting in the preparation of documents, including the MyDec.

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 · Clerk & Recorder | Jo Daviess County, IL · County Recorder Fees | Jo Daviess County, IL