Saint Clair County Recorder Information

Land records in Saint Clair County are recorded by the Recorder of Deeds. The office is held by Michael Crockett.

Records may be searched at no charge in the office; copies from public PCs are $2.00 per page. Remote access is offered through Tapestry Eon (per search) and Laredo Anywhere (monthly plans). Copies of most documents recorded Jan 1986 forward are available online.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Quit Claim Deed Informational Packet · St. Clair County Illinois > Elected Officials > Recorder of Deeds · Recorder of Deeds > Remote Record Access

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.

Fee schedule (with RHSP fee / without RHSP fee): Leases $46.00 / $27.00; Easements $53.00 / $34.00; Military discharges no fee; Plats, restrictions, ordinances $49.00 / $30.00; Municipal liens $33.00; Judgments $29.00; State & federal liens $11.00; UCCs $31.00. RHSP Surcharge does not apply to: Any document notarized prior to Aug 1, 2005, UCC's, Articles of Inc, Judgments, Notice of Probate, Power of Attorney, Public Easements, Wills, Death Certificates, State Agency, School District, Federal Government, Municipalities, Unit of Local Government, Re-Recording Original Document or purchasing a Certified Copy.

Paying the office

No cards accepted. If transfer tax is required, the transfer tax must be paid at the time of recording.

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 · Quit Claim Deed Informational Packet · Recorder of Deeds | Departments | St. Clair · Recorder of Deeds > Copy Requests

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.

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

Regular mail: Recorder of Deeds, PO Box 543, Belleville, IL 62222. Overnight: Recorder of Deeds, #10 Public Sq, 5th Fl, Belleville, IL 62220. In-person filers leave with a recorded copy. Deeds need either a signed and dated exemption statement or a fully complete Ptax 203 form.

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 · Quit Claim Deed Informational Packet · Recorder of Deeds > eRecording · Frequently Asked Questions - St. Clair County