Mchenry County Recorder of Deeds: Search & Office

The county Recorder’s Office maintains deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, subdivision plats, and other recorded real estate documents.

Its public search system provides access to indexed land-record information. The county also offers paid image access and document-copy services.

McHenry County provides a free public search through its official records-search provider, Fidlar.

You can search by name, parcel identification number (PIN), address, and other available indexed information.

1. Open the Recorder’s free record search.

   Use the public AVA search linked from McHenry County’s Recorder website.

   Open McHenry County Free Web Search
2. Choose a search method.

   Start with the property owner’s name, grantor or grantee, parcel number, or property address.

3. Narrow the results.

   If available, filter by document type or recording date. Try a shorter name or address if no result appears.

4. Open the matching record.

   Check the recorded document number, document type, recording date, and parties.

5. Save the recording reference.

   Keep the document number if you need an image, certified copy, or help from the Recorder’s Office.

How far back do McHenry County land records go?

The county describes its online land-record index and document images as covering records dating back to 1839, through the current effective search date.

Free public access and paid image access are separate services. Availability may differ by document and search system.

What if the free search does not show the deed image?

The free search is intended for indexed information, not free document-image downloads.

Use the county’s Tapestry service or contact the Recorder to order the document.

After opening: choose Free Web Search for index lookup, Tapestry for occasional paid searches and images, or Laredo for frequent professional use.

After opening the county search-options page, select the service link matching your needs. Review any provider fees before completing a paid transaction.

Most homeowners should begin with the free search. Paying for an advanced account is usually unnecessary when you only need to locate one recorded deed.

If your deed was recorded in McHenry County, the Recorder can provide a copy.

Requests may be made in person, by mail, email, fax, or telephone, depending on the request and payment method.

Before ordering, gather these details

• Recording or document number, if known.
• Grantor or grantee name.
• Approximate recording date.
• Property address or parcel number.
• Whether you need a certified copy.

County copy fees

The county’s posted copy schedule lists $1.50 for the first standard-size page and $0.50 for each additional page.

Certified copies of up to four pages are listed at $12, with an additional charge for more pages.

Confirm the current price before paying, especially for large-format plats or specialized records.

After opening: read “How do I obtain a copy of my deed?” Then call 815-334-4110 or email the Recorder with the recording details.

Google Map: McHenry County Recorder

The Recorder’s public counter is in Room 109 of the McHenry County Administration Building in Woodstock.

Open Directions in Google Maps

Before visiting to record a document, make sure it is complete, legible, and accompanied by the correct fee.

The county advises delivering documents before 4:00 PM when possible, even though the office is open until 4:30 PM.

Recording a deed creates an official public record of the document. It does not guarantee that the deed is legally valid or that ownership is free of defects.

If you are changing ownership, adding a family member, transferring property into a trust, or correcting a title issue, consider consulting an Illinois real estate attorney.

1. Prepare the appropriate deed.

   Common forms include warranty deeds and quitclaim deeds. Choosing the correct form depends on the transaction.

2. Check the legal description and signatures.

   The county requires a complete McHenry County legal description, grantor signatures, and other information appropriate to the document.

3. Include recording information.

   Prepare the required “Prepared By” and “Mail To” or “Return To” details.

4. Complete transfer-declaration requirements.

   A deed generally needs the applicable Illinois Real Estate Transfer Declaration or a properly completed exemption statement.

5. Check formatting and fees.

   Confirm the county’s recording standards and current fee schedule before submitting.

6. Submit the document.

   Use the Recorder’s walk-in counter, appropriate mail process, or an authorized eRecording provider.

Important deed recording requirements

Formatting details that can prevent rejection

McHenry County specifies white paper of at least 20-pound weight, appropriate margins, and a clear 3-by-5-inch recording space in the upper-right corner.

The county also advises avoiding excessive correction fluid, unreadable markings, and colored highlighter that interferes with scanning.

After opening: review “Check all Deeds,” then verify signatures, legal description, return address, transfer declaration, and formatting before filing.

Where can you get deed forms?

The county provides courtesy copies of common deed and recording forms, including warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, PTAX-203, and other documents.

The Recorder cannot recommend which form is legally appropriate for your transaction.

After opening: select the required form, review its instructions, and have a qualified professional check it when ownership or title rights will change.

McHenry County uses a predictable recording-fee schedule for standard documents.

The county’s posted fee schedule, effective December 1, 2023, lists the following standard recording fees. Confirm the latest schedule before payment.

RHSP means the Illinois Rental Housing Support Program. Exemption rates are not automatic; qualifying filings require the appropriate exemption declaration.

What causes extra recording charges?

Nonstandard documents can cost more. The posted schedule lists an additional $16 for the first four pages and $2 per additional page for applicable nonstandard recordings.

Real estate transfer taxes and other charges may also apply separately from document recording fees.

After opening: select the county’s fee-schedule PDF, match your document category, check any RHSP exemption or nonstandard charges, and confirm the total before submitting.

Yes. McHenry County accepts electronic recording through participating providers.

eRecording is useful for title companies, attorneys, lenders, and other businesses that regularly submit real estate documents.

The county lists providers including CSC, eRecording Partners Network, Hopdox, Indecomm, and Simplifile.

After opening: review the participating providers, select one, and follow its account setup and electronic document-submission instructions.

What about electronic document returns?

McHenry County also describes a Swift Customer service that can return recorded documents electronically and provide notices about rejected submissions.

Contact the Recorder to ask whether this service fits your filing needs.

McHenry County offers a free Property Fraud Alert service.

It can notify you by email, text, or telephone when a document is recorded under a name you are monitoring.

How to sign up

1. Open the official county Property Fraud Alert page.
2. Follow the registration link to the alert provider.
3. Enter the personal, business, or trust name you want to monitor.
4. Choose an available notification method.
5. Register additional name variations separately if needed.

After opening: read the county instructions, follow its Property Fraud Alert registration link, and enter each name you want monitored.

New in 2026: Deed Fraud Referral and Review

On March 30, 2026, McHenry County announced a formal Fraud Referral and Review process for suspected deed or title fraud.

Residents who suspect a fraudulent recording can contact the Recorder at 815-334-4110.

Cases may be referred to the State’s Attorney’s Office or other law enforcement authorities for investigation.

After opening: review the county’s reporting process and contact the Recorder with the suspicious document number or recording information.

Several McHenry County offices handle property-related information, but they do different jobs.

What if you know the property address but not the owner?

Start with the county’s property assessment or tax information to identify the parcel identification number and ownership details.

Then use that information to locate the associated documents in the Recorder’s index.

After opening: follow the county property database link. Search by PIN or use the house number and street name without unnecessary address details.

Removing unlawful restrictive covenants

Illinois provides a process for modifying recorded documents that contain unlawful discriminatory restrictions.

McHenry County provides guidance for property owners and qualifying associations seeking to record a restrictive covenant modification.

After opening: read the county’s modification guide and review the required documentation before recording.

Veteran DD214 recording and Honor Rewards

The Recorder offers military discharge recording services and participates in the Honor Rewards program.

The county’s posted schedule lists no charge for DD214 recording and the first two certified copies.

After opening: review military discharge recording, record-access rules, and the Honor Rewards registration information.

Historical land-record research

Researchers may use the Recorder’s historic index to trace deed transactions and past owners.

McHenry County also maintains historical-document resources that can support local property-history research.

After opening: find the historical-documents section or start with the free land-record index.

These official county resources are the best places to confirm current office procedures, search access, recording requirements, and fees.