Lake County, Illinois - Recorder Information

Register of Deeds

You are NOT on the Lake County official website, you are on Deeds.com, a private website that is not affiliated with any government agency.

The Recorder of Deeds is responsible for maintaining records for real property located in Lake County.

Recording Fees

The Number of Pages a Document Contains No Longer Matters. These "Predictable" Fees are Flat Recording Fees

Standard Document $70.00
- 8.5" x 11" separate sheets -- if exhibit drawings or plats are attached they can be no larger than 11" x 17"
- Document legibly printed in black ink, by hand, type, or computer - signatures and dates may be in contrasting colors if they
will reproduce clearly
- Clear 1/2 inch margin around the edges of all pages - margins may be used for non-essential notations that will not affect the
validity of the document, including but not limited to form numbers, page numbers, and customer notations
- 3" x 5" blank space in upper right corner of first page
- A page may not have anything affixed to it with tape, glue, etc., however, pages may be stapled together
- Document must not create a division of an existing Property Identification Number (PIN)
- Document contains up to five Property Identification Number (PIN) references
- Document contains up to five related document number references

RHSP EXEMPT STANDARD DOCUMENT $50.00
* The Rental Housing Support Program surcharge does not apply to public utility easements and other documents recorded by Federal, State, or local government agencies.


NON-STANDARD DOCUMENT $82.00
- Any document failing to meet the requirements listed under STANDARD DOCUMENT.
-RHSP EXEMPT NON-STANDARD DOCUMENT $62.00
* The Rental Housing Support Program surcharge does not apply to public utility easements and other documents recorded by Federal, State, or local government agencies.
-Some examples of a "non-standard
document" are...
- A document that includes legal-size (8.5" x 14) pages unless those pages are exhibit drawings or plats
- A document that creates a division of an existing Property Identification Number (PIN)
- A document with six or more Property Identification Number (PIN) references
- A document with six or more related document number references
- PLATS as a standalone document (765 ILCS 205/2) -- plats must be at least 8.5" x 14", but no larger than 30" x 36"

Copy Fees:
Document copied on letter (8.5" x 11"),
legal (8.5" x 14") or ledger (11" x 17") paper
$1.00 per page
- This includes printed screen shots, search result summary pages or similar.
- This also includes any documents/pages, such as tax bills or tax maps printed from our public search or front counter area terminals

COPIES OF REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAX DECLARATION FORMS (PTAX-203)
All PTAX-203 Real Estate Transfer Tax Declaration forms for deeds recorded since May 1, 2002 are now available $1.00 per page

CERTIFIED COPIES
NOTE - Large quantity orders may require a $10.00 processing fee
Standard Documents $50.00
Non-Standard Documents $62.00

Payment Options:
Cash, Check (made payable to Lake County Recorder), or Credit Card (Discover, MasterCard and VISA)

County recording fees are subject to change without notice. We recommend to contact the local recorder's office to verify this information.

Document Formatting Requirements

* Documents should be printed on 8.5 x 11 inch paper with a minimum of 10-point type.

* In the upper right corner of the first page, leave a 3 x 5 inch blank space for recorder's information.

* Do not attach anything to the page with tape or glue. If need be, documents can be stapled.

* Document margins should be at least inch on all sides, excepting the 3 x 5 inch blank space on the first page.

* The name and address of the preparer of the document needs to appear on the face of the document.

* Names and addresses of grantor(s) and grantee(s) must appear on the face of all documents that transfer title to real property.

Transfer Tax Declaration:

An Illinois Real Estate Transfer Declaration (PTAX-203) must be filed with deeds and any non-exempt transactions. The information requested on this form is requested by the Illinois Real Estate Transfer Tax law. All parties involved in the transaction must complete the form truthfully. This form is used to collect sales data and to determine if a sale can be used in assessment ratio studies. It is also used to compute equalization factors, which are used to help achieve a statewide uniform valuation of properties based on their fair market value.

If the property transfer is exempt from transfer tax, the PTAX-203 form is not required. A specific exemption number should be noted on the deed presented for recording. The Illinois Department of Revenue webpage has a list of exempt transactions. The form can be completed online or as a hard copy.


Effect of Recording:

Deeds, mortgages, and other instruments of writing that are authorized to be recorded will take effect and be in force from and after the time they are filed for record as to all creditors and subsequent purchasers, without notice. All such deeds and title papers will be judged void as to all such creditors and subsequent purchasers, without notice, until the same is filed for record.

From the time they are filed for record, deeds, mortgages, and other instruments of writing related to real estate shall be deemed notice to subsequent purchasers and creditors, though not acknowledged or proven according to law; but the same shall not be read as evidence, unless their execution be proved in the manner required by the rules of evidence applicable to such writings, so as to supply the defects of acknowledgment or proof.