Cook County, Illinois • deeds and recorded land records • 2026 guide
Cook County IL Recorder: Deeds, Property Records, CCRD Search and Office Guide
If you searched for CCRD Cook County Recorder, you are looking for Cook County deed and land-record services.
The old Cook County Recorder of Deeds office no longer operates as a separate office.
Current deed, mortgage, lien, release, plat and recording services are handled by the Cook County Clerk’s Office — Recordings Division.
Use this guide to search a recorded document, find a deed by PIN or party name, understand what a recording proves, prepare for recording, and contact the right Cook County office.
Fast answer
Cook County Recorder Quick Facts
Use this office for deeds, mortgages, releases, liens, plats and recorded real-estate documents.
The phrase still appears on old deeds, bookmarks, title files and search results.
Downtown Chicago office for Cook County land-record recording services.
Call with document-number, PIN, recording, copy or correction questions.
Use for recording-operations questions when you need a written route.
The Cook County Clerk is the current countywide officeholder for Clerk functions.
Cook County government states that the Cook County Clerk assumed the former Recorder of Deeds duties on December 7, 2020.
That means “Cook County Recorder” searches should now continue through the Clerk’s Recordings Division.
Local office
Cook County Clerk Recordings Division Address, Phone and Visit Tips
Cook County Clerk’s Office — Recordings Division
Address: 118 North Clark Street, Room 120, Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-603-5050
Email: clerk.recordings@cookcountyil.gov
Recording help desk: recording.helpdesk@cookcountyil.gov
Before visiting, verify current counter hours, fee requirements and whether your task can be completed online.
Bring the property PIN, document number, party names, approximate recording date and any prepared document.
Open official Clerk Recordings pageLook for recording services, search recordings, forms, fee schedule, eRecording, copy request and property-fraud alert resources.
Confirm the current walk-in instructions before going to Room 120.
Search workflow
How to Search Cook County Deeds and Recorded Documents
The best search starts with the PIN, not only the street address.
Cook County addresses can involve condos, multiple PINs, old legal descriptions, trusts and name variations.
Find the correct PIN
Use CookViewer if you only know the address or intersection.
Open CookViewerEnter the 10-digit PIN, 14-digit PIN, dashed PIN, address, or intersection in the search bar.
Select the matching parcel and save the PIN before opening the recording search.
Open the Clerk recording search
Use the Cook County Clerk recording system for deeds, mortgages, liens and releases.
Open official CRS searchSearch by PIN or document number first when you have it.
Use grantor or grantee names when you do not have a precise document identifier.
Check party names both ways
The grantor usually gives or transfers an interest. The grantee usually receives it.
Search name variations, trusts, LLCs, former owners and spelling differences.
Open the likely document
Compare document type, date, parties, PIN and legal-description clues.
Save the document number for copies, legal review or Clerk follow-up.
Remove punctuation, search only the surname, try the prior owner, use the 14-digit PIN, check condos for multiple PINs, and search a broader date range.
Result decoder
What Cook County Recorded-Document Fields Mean
Document number
This is the recording identifier assigned to the instrument.
Copy it exactly when ordering a copy or asking the Clerk for help.
Recording date
This is when the document was accepted for recording.
It may not be the signing date, closing date or effective date.
Grantor
The party giving, conveying, releasing or creating a recorded interest.
For a deed, the seller is commonly the grantor.
Grantee
The party receiving the recorded interest.
For a deed, the buyer is commonly the grantee.
PIN
The Property Index Number connects the recording to a Cook County parcel.
One address can have more than one PIN, especially in condo or high-rise buildings.
Legal description
This describes the land or unit affected by the document.
It is more precise than a mailing address and should be checked carefully.
A recorded document shows that an instrument was filed in the public land records.
It does not prove that no competing claim, lien, estate issue, fraud issue or legal defect exists.
Document preparation
What to Prepare Before Recording a Deed in Cook County
Recording a new deed is different from searching for an old deed.
The Clerk records the document, but the office does not draft your deed or give legal advice about ownership.
Prepared deed or instrument: signed, notarized when required, and complete.
Legal description: copied from a reliable deed, survey, title commitment or attorney-prepared document.
PIN: correct Cook County Property Index Number for each parcel affected.
Grantor and grantee names: exact legal names, including trusts, estates or business entities.
Return address: where the recorded document or notice should be returned.
Transfer declaration: Illinois PTAX-203 / MyDec entry or valid exemption notation where applicable.
Municipal transfer items: check Chicago or suburban municipal transfer requirements when the property is inside a municipality.
Recording fee: confirm the current fee before mail, counter or electronic submission.
Review whether the transfer needs PTAX-203, PTAX-203-A, PTAX-203-B, Cook County declaration, or City of Chicago declaration.
Complete the declaration before presenting a deed for recording when the transfer is not exempt.
Fees and copies
Cook County Recording Fees, Copy Costs and Fee Mistakes
Cook County moved many recordings toward a predictable flat-fee structure.
Fees still depend on document class, exemptions, transfer tax, municipal requirements, mail handling and copy type.
County fee listings show standard deeds, mortgages, releases, leases and many miscellaneous documents in this range.
County fee listings include a separate fee for electronic document copies from the Clerk website.
Certified, paper and digital copy rules can change. Check the Clerk’s current fee schedule before ordering.
Documents with formatting issues or many PIN/document references may cost more.
State, county and municipal transfer taxes may apply depending on the transaction.
Do not mail a deed with an old fee schedule. Verify the exact amount first.
Search within Chapter 32 for recording, certified copy, electronic copy, mail handling, GIS, document storage and standard document fees.
Then confirm the current operational fee schedule with the Clerk before submitting payment.
Owner protection
Cook County Property Fraud Alert and Suspicious Deed Steps
A property fraud alert is a monitoring tool.
It can alert you when a document is recorded against a registered name or PIN, but it does not automatically cancel a suspicious deed or lien.
Verify the document first
Open the recording search and save the document number, recording date, parties, document type and PIN.
Check recent activity
Look for nearby mortgage, release, closing, estate, court or correction documents.
Contact the Recording Fraud Unit
Use 312-603-4000 for fraud-alert cancellation appointment questions noted in Clerk fraud-alert materials.
Get legal help when needed
A forged or legally defective deed may require an attorney, court action or title-company review.
Look for Property Fraud Alert Registration Form, Property Fraud Alert Cancellation Form, Corrective Recording Affidavit and Database Management Correction Form.
Choose the form that matches the problem instead of using a correction form for a legal title dispute.
Wrong-office prevention
Cook County Clerk vs Assessor vs Treasurer vs Court Clerk
Cook County Clerk — Recordings Division
Use for deeds, mortgages, releases, liens, plats, recorded copies and recording questions.
Phone: 312-603-5050
Cook County Assessor
Use for assessed value, property classification, exemptions and assessment appeals.
Phone: 312-443-7550
Open AssessorSearch the property by PIN or address when you need assessment, exemption, class or valuation information.
Cook County Treasurer
Use for property-tax bills, payments, balances, refunds and payment history.
Phone: 312-443-5100
Open TreasurerSearch by PIN or address to review bills, payment history, exemptions shown on tax bills and refund information.
Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court
Use for court cases such as foreclosure, probate, lawsuits, orders and court-filed matters.
Recorded documents and court case files are different systems.
Open Circuit Court ClerkUse court search tools for case records, not deed recording. Match court orders to recorded documents only when needed.
Map and arrival note
Map to Cook County Clerk Recordings Division
The Recordings Division is at 118 North Clark Street, Room 120, Chicago, IL 60602.
Plan extra time for downtown parking, building entry, lines, payment review and document questions.
Decision path
What Should You Do Next?
You need the latest deed: find the PIN in CookViewer, then search the Clerk recording system by PIN and grantee name.
You need a certified copy: locate the document number first, then follow the Clerk’s copy-order instructions.
You are recording a new deed: prepare the deed, legal description, PIN, transfer declaration and correct fee before submission.
Your deed was indexed wrong: search the document, save the document number and use the database correction route if the issue is indexing.
Your ownership or value is wrong on tax records: check whether the issue belongs to the Clerk, Assessor or Treasurer before filing a request.
You see an unfamiliar lien or deed: verify the recording, save the details, contact Recordings and consider legal help.
Important caution
Independent Information, Legal Caution and Property-Records Notice
This page is independent informational content.
It is not the official website of Cook County, the Cook County Clerk, the Recordings Division, the Cook County Assessor, the Treasurer or any government agency.
It is not legal advice, a title opinion, a deed-preparation service or an official recording determination.
Recording rules, fees, portal availability, forms and office procedures can change.
Verify current requirements directly with the Cook County Clerk’s Office before submitting a document or payment.
Do not use property-record information for employment screening, tenant screening, credit eligibility, insurance underwriting or any FCRA-regulated purpose.
FAQs
Cook County Recorder, CCRD and Deed Records FAQs
Does the Cook County Recorder of Deeds office still exist?
No. The separate Recorder of Deeds office no longer exists.
The Cook County Clerk’s Office now handles the former Recorder duties through its Recordings Division.
What does CCRD mean in Cook County property records?
CCRD commonly refers to the former Cook County Recorder of Deeds.
For current service, use the Cook County Clerk’s Recordings Division.
Where is the Cook County deed recording office?
The Recordings Division is at 118 North Clark Street, Room 120, Chicago, IL 60602.
Verify current counter hours and filing instructions before visiting.
How do I search Cook County deeds online?
Find the property PIN first, then open the Cook County Clerk recording search.
Search by PIN, document number, grantor or grantee name.
Can I search Cook County records by address?
Use CookViewer or the Cook County property systems to identify the correct PIN from an address.
Then use the PIN in the Clerk recording system for a more precise deed search.
What is a grantor and grantee?
The grantor is usually the party giving or transferring an interest.
The grantee is usually the party receiving that interest.
Does a recorded deed prove clear title?
No. Recording places a document in the public land records.
Clear title may require legal review, title search, lien review and court-record review.
What do I need before recording a deed in Cook County?
Prepare the signed instrument, legal description, PIN, party names, return address, transfer declaration and current fee.
Use an attorney or title professional for legal drafting questions.
Who handles Cook County property tax bills?
The Cook County Treasurer handles tax bills, payments and balances.
The Clerk Recordings Division handles recorded land documents, not tax-bill collection.
Who handles Cook County assessed value and exemptions?
The Cook County Assessor handles assessed value, property classification and exemptions.
The Clerk’s Recordings Division handles recorded documents such as deeds, mortgages, releases and liens.
Official resources