Knox County OH Recorder: Deeds & Records

Google Map to Knox County Recorder

The office is in downtown Mount Vernon at the Knox County Service Center, where the Auditor and Tax Map offices also operate.

Open Driving Directions in Google Maps

The Knox County Recorder offers a public image-search system for recorded property documents.

The office states that its official public records are free to access. It provides separate links for modern records and documents recorded before September 1981.

Step-by-Step Recorded Deed Search

1. Open the Recorder’s official search page.

   Start from the Knox County government website.

   Open Knox County Recorder Public Image Search

   After opening: select “Records: September 1981 – Present” or “Records: Prior to September 1981.”
2. Search by the recorded owner’s name.

   Enter the grantor, grantee or other recorded party name using the available fields.

   Try alternate spellings if the first search produces no matching record.

3. Use additional document details.

   Narrow your search using the document type, approximate recording date or available volume and page reference.

4. Review the matching instrument.

   Check the parties, recording date, deed or mortgage type, legal description and document reference.

5. View the recorded image or request a copy.

   Open the document image when available. Ask the Recorder for an official certified copy if your court, lender or title company requires certification.

Older Knox County Deeds and Historical Indexes

The Recorder maintains a separate historical records system for earlier deeds and mortgages.

Its historical inventory includes deed index books covering periods in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Older records may use book and page references rather than modern instrument numbers.

Open Historical Records and Indexes

The Knox County Auditor maintains a separate real-estate search system for property assessment and ownership-related information.

This is usually the fastest starting point when you want to find a parcel by address before searching recorded deeds.

1. Open Knox County Auditor Property Search.

   Official Knox County Auditor Property Search

   After opening: choose “Search” from the main menu to enter the real-estate search portal.
2. Search the street address or owner.

   Use the available property-search fields and open the matching parcel.

3. Save the relevant property details.

   Note the parcel number, owner name, tax district and available transfer information.

4. Return to the Recorder.

   Search the recorded deed using the parties’ names and any document reference discovered during parcel research.

Knox County Auditor Office

Recording a property transfer in Knox County may involve three separate county offices: Tax Map, Auditor and Recorder.

The county’s conveyance standards establish requirements for legal descriptions, parcel references, splits and transfer approvals.

Step-by-Step Deed Recording

1. Prepare the legal deed.

   Confirm the grantor, grantee, complete legal description, required signatures and notarization.

   Use a qualified Ohio attorney or title professional if the correct deed type is uncertain.

2. Verify the parcel and legal description.

   The deed should include the correct permanent parcel number and prior deed reference as required by Knox County conveyance standards.

   Parcel splits, new surveys and certain exceptions require additional documentation.

3. Obtain Tax Map review when required.

   Knox County Tax Map reviews legal descriptions on documents transferring property ownership.

   New boundary surveys and certain parcel divisions may require approval before the transfer can continue.

4. Complete Auditor conveyance requirements.

   Prepare the applicable DTE conveyance form and pay the Auditor’s conveyance or transfer charges.

   A qualifying exempt transfer may use DTE 100(EX) rather than the ordinary statement of value.

5. Check Recorder document standards and fees.

   Confirm page size, margins, legibility, acknowledgment and the total recording charge.

6. Submit the document for recording.

   File the approved instrument with the Knox County Recorder and retain the recording information and returned document.

Ohio Document Recording Format

Under Ohio Revised Code Section 317.114, standard recording documents generally must meet the following requirements:

• Legible text of at least 10-point font.
• Paper size from 8½ × 11 inches to 8½ × 14 inches.
• Black or blue ink only.
• No highlighting.
• One-inch margins on both sides and bottom.
• Three-inch blank top margin on the first page.
• One-and-a-half-inch top margin on subsequent pages.

Nonconforming documents may incur an additional $20 fee, subject to statutory exceptions.

Read Ohio Recording Standards — ORC 317.114

Official Deed Transfer Standards

Knox County Tax Map Transfer Standards and Forms

Ohio Revised Code Section 317.32 establishes the standard recording fee structure.

The statewide base is $34 for the first two pages and $8 for each additional page.

Ohio law also permits a county recorder to apply a document-preservation surcharge of up to $5 where authorized.

Knox County’s exact payable total should be confirmed directly with the Recorder.

Illustrative Recording Cost

Knox County Auditor Conveyance Fee

Knox County Auditor’s published conveyance rate is $3 per $1,000 of the property sale price.

The county’s conveyance standards also identify a $0.50 per-parcel transfer fee.

These charges are separate from Recorder fees.

Ohio Revised Code 317.32 — Recording Fees

Knox County Auditor — Current Conveyance Fees

Auditor Conveyance Forms: DTE 100 and DTE 100(EX)

If your deed was recorded in Knox County, the Recorder maintains the official recorded instrument.

You can use the public image search for research or contact the office for a certified copy.

Information to Prepare Before Requesting a Copy

• Grantor or grantee name.
• Property address or parcel number.
• Approximate recording date.
• Document type, such as deed, mortgage or release.
• Instrument number or book/page reference, when available.
• Whether an ordinary or certified copy is required.

Contact the Recorder at 740-393-6755 for staff-assisted copy requests.

Knox County Records Center and Historical Records

The Knox County Recorder offers a free notification service called iNotify.

Property owners can use it to monitor recorded-document activity associated with enrolled information.

This is particularly useful if you want an early warning about an unexpected deed, mortgage or other recording.

1. Open the Recorder’s website.

   Open Knox County Recorder

2. Choose the current records search.

   Click “Records: September 1981 – Present.”

3. Select New iNotify Account.

   The Recorder identifies the registration button near the top center of the records-search page.

   Its icon resembles a person behind a key.

4. Complete the registration.

   Follow the portal’s instructions for setting up your monitoring information and notifications.

5. Review unexpected recording alerts.

   Search the actual recorded instrument and contact the Recorder if you discover unfamiliar activity.

Subdivision Plats

The Knox County Recorder’s Files and Resources page contains subdivision plat resources organized by community and township.

Listed locations include Mount Vernon, Centerburg, Danville, Fredericktown, Gambier, Howard and other parts of the county.

Official Knox County Subdivision Plats

Tax Map and GIS Department

The Tax Map office handles deed-description review, new survey review, GIS layers and property-address assignments.

Mortgage Releases

A recorded mortgage is not necessarily removed simply because the loan was paid.

Search the Recorder’s index for a satisfaction, release or other document establishing that the mortgage was discharged.

If no release appears, contact the lender and ask whether the required instrument has been submitted.

Historical Deceased Veterans Index

The Recorder’s website offers a Deceased Veterans Index and related historical materials.

These resources are separate from confidential military discharge records, which are subject to special access requirements.

Historical Maps and Surveys

Knox County Tax Map archives survey drawings, railroad right-of-way maps, older tax maps and other mapping records.

These resources can help researchers locate historical descriptions and subdivisions.

Knox County Historical Maps and Downloads

• Only know the property address? Start with the Auditor’s parcel search.
• Need an older deed? Use the historical records link for instruments recorded before September 1981.
• No results for a name? Try alternate spellings, earlier owners and a wider date range.
• Need an official deed copy? Ask the Recorder for a certified copy rather than relying on an ordinary downloaded image.
• Preparing a property transfer? Check Tax Map and Auditor conveyance requirements before recording.
• Document has unusual margins? Review Ohio Revised Code 317.114 to avoid unnecessary nonstandard recording charges.
• Confused about fees? Separate Auditor conveyance fees from Recorder recording fees and any additional charges.
• Mortgage paid off? Search for the release and contact the lender if it has not been recorded.
• Property boundary issue? Contact Tax Map for record information and a surveyor for exact boundary work.
• Ownership dispute or deed error? Use a qualified Ohio attorney or title professional.

Which Knox County Office Should You Contact?

These related guides explain county recorder services, deed searches and Ohio property-tax programs.

This page is an independent informational guide. County-appraisal-district.org is not the official Knox County government website and is not affiliated with the Knox County Recorder, Auditor, Treasurer or Tax Map Department.

A recorded deed is evidence of a property transaction, but a single recorded document does not establish that ownership is free of every lien, restriction, easement or legal dispute.

Consult a qualified Ohio real-estate attorney, title company or licensed surveyor when legal document preparation, title examination or boundary determination is required.

Public property records should not be used for employment screening, tenant screening, credit eligibility, insurance underwriting or other decisions regulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Office hours, recording fees, conveyance requirements and services may change. Verify the latest information directly with the appropriate Knox County office before filing or paying.