Cook County, Illinois • deed and recorded land records guide • reviewed September 2026
Cook County IL Deed Search: Recorder Records
A Cook County deed search now runs through the Cook County Clerk’s Recordings Division.
The former Cook County Recorder of Deeds stopped operating as a separate office when its recording duties transferred to the County Clerk in December 2020.
For most searches, the fastest route is to find the property’s 14-digit Property Index Number (PIN), then use that PIN in the Clerk’s recorded-document system.
Start here
Cook County Recorder Search: What Changed and Where to Search Now
Handles deeds, mortgages, liens, releases and other recorded real-estate documents.
The phrase still appears on older documents, bookmarks and search results.
The Cook County PIN is usually the cleanest way to connect a parcel with recorded documents.
Downtown Chicago location for Recordings Division services.
Use for recording-fee, filing and recorded-document questions.
Current flat fee listed for deeds that do not trigger irregular or blanket-recording add-ons.
Street address → Assessor PIN → Clerk recording search → deed or document number → document image or copy.
Avoid the wrong office
Cook County Clerk vs. Assessor vs. Treasurer vs. Circuit Court Clerk
Cook County Clerk — Recordings Division
Use for: deeds, mortgages, releases, liens, easements, plats and recorded-document copies.
Address: 118 N. Clark Street, Room 120, Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-603-5050
Email: clerk.recordings@cookcountyil.gov
Open Clerk RecordingsCook County Assessor
Use for: finding the PIN, property characteristics, assessed value, exemptions and assessment information.
The Assessor record is usually the easiest place to start when you know only the street address.
Open Cook County AssessorCook County Treasurer
Use for: property-tax bills, tax payments, payment history and delinquent-tax information.
The Treasurer does not record deeds.
Open Cook County TreasurerClerk of the Circuit Court
Use for: court cases and court-filed litigation records.
This is a different office from the County Clerk’s Recordings Division.
Visit planning
Cook County Deed Recording Office Map and Address
The main Recordings Division office is at 118 N. Clark Street, Room 120, Chicago, IL 60602.
Bring the PIN, document number, party names and prepared recording document if you are visiting for a specific property transaction.
Verify current counter hours before traveling. Cook County recording documents are not accepted at ordinary courthouse satellite counters simply because another Clerk service is available there.
Address to PIN
Find the Cook County PIN Before Searching Deeds
Cook County parcels use a 14-digit Property Index Number.
A PIN is more reliable than an address for recorded-document research because addresses can be formatted differently or change over time.
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Open Cook County Assessor Property Search.
Start here when you have a street address but do not know the PIN.
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Search the property address.
Select the result that matches the correct municipality, unit and parcel.
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Copy the 14-digit PIN.
Keep the PIN available because the Clerk, Treasurer and other Cook County property systems use it.
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Move to the Clerk recording search.
Use the PIN to find deeds and other recorded instruments tied to that parcel.
Primary search intent
How to Search Cook County Deeds and Recorder Records Online
Search by PIN
Use the parcel’s 14-digit PIN when you want documents connected with one property.
Review deed, mortgage, release, lien and other document types in the results.
This is usually the most useful path for a property-specific deed search.
Search by grantor or grantee
A grantor generally transfers an interest. A grantee generally receives an interest.
Name searches help when you know a current or previous owner but not the document number.
Test spelling variants for trusts, companies, middle initials and older owner names.
Search by document number
Use this when a tax record, title report, prior deed or mortgage already gives you the recording number.
A document-number search avoids common-name matches.
Search by address
The Clerk system may display address-linked information, but the Clerk warns that address information is informational and should not be treated as guaranteed legal identification.
For a precise parcel search, convert the address to a PIN first.
No-result troubleshooting
What to Try If the Cook County Deed Search Finds Nothing
Recheck the PIN: confirm all 14 digits against the Assessor record.
Search the owner name: try current and previous owners as grantor or grantee.
Remove punctuation: trust and company names may be indexed differently.
Try a document number: use the recording number from a prior deed, title report or mortgage.
Check the date: make sure you are searching the recording period you actually need.
Do not rely only on address: parcel and legal records are more reliably tied to the PIN.
Very old record? older materials may require assistance from the downtown Recordings Division or historical indexes.
Result decoder
What a Cook County Recorded-Document Result Means
The unique recording reference for that filing.
The date the document entered the public recording system.
Examples include warranty deed, quitclaim deed, mortgage, release, lien or easement.
The indexed party transferring or granting an interest in the document.
The indexed party receiving an interest in the document.
The Cook County parcel identifier connected with the property.
The formal property description included in or referenced by the recorded instrument.
The actual recorded instrument when an online image is available for viewing or purchase.
Seeing a deed in the Clerk’s index does not by itself establish that the signer had valid title, that every lien was released or that no other title issue exists.
Ownership history
How to Trace a Cook County Deed Chain
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Start with the current PIN.
Find the parcel in the Assessor system and confirm you have the correct property.
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Find the newest conveyance deed.
Look for the most recent deed or comparable ownership-transfer document.
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Write down grantor and grantee names.
These names become search terms for the prior step in the ownership chain.
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Search the previous grantor.
Move backward through earlier deeds and document numbers.
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Compare legal descriptions and PINs.
Do not assume two documents concern the same property simply because the names match.
A DIY chain is useful for research, but a purchase, refinance, probate matter or ownership dispute may require a title company or Illinois attorney.
Copies
Cook County Deed Copies: Electronic, Paper and Certified
Identify the correct document number before ordering a copy. This reduces the chance of buying the wrong deed or mortgage.
Current fee schedule lists electronic downloads at $5.
Current Clerk recording fee schedule.
Use when an agency or legal process specifically requires certification.
Current fee schedule lists a certified digital PDF option.
Online copy purchases may also carry the Clerk’s listed credit-card processing charge.
Open Current Recording Fee ScheduleNew recording
Recording a New Deed in Cook County
Searching an old deed and recording a new deed are different tasks.
Recording staff preserve and index documents. They do not replace an attorney for choosing deed language or resolving ownership rights.
Current regular-document formatting
Use standard 8.5 × 11-inch paper.
Print in black ink.
Provide at least ½-inch margins.
Leave the required 3 × 5-inch space at the upper-right of the first page.
Do not staple the filing.
Cook County’s current fee tutorial places noncompliant filings in an Irregular Document class with a substantially higher recording charge.
Current recording costs
Cook County Recorder / Clerk Recording Fees
Cook County moved to a more predictable flat-fee structure effective April 1, 2024.
Current flat fee listed for a regular deed.
Current schedule uses the same regular flat fee.
Current regular-class fee.
Applies when current formatting requirements are not met.
Transfer on Death Instrument flat fee listed by the Clerk.
Current schedule lists a mail-return handling charge, except where excluded.
Documents referencing multiple PINs or prior recording numbers can trigger tiered blanket-recording charges. Check the current tutorial before sending payment.
Property after death
Transfer on Death Instruments and Estate-Related Deeds
Cook County publishes forms and guidance for Transfer on Death Instruments and related post-death recording situations.
Estate ownership can involve wills, probate, trusts, TODI documents, affidavits or other legal instruments. The correct document depends on the facts.
If the owner has died or title is disputed, obtain legal guidance before recording a document that may change property rights.
Property protection
Cook County Property Fraud Alert
The Cook County Clerk provides a free Property Fraud Alert service for property owners and others monitoring a parcel.
The current registration form allows alerts by phone or email and uses the property address and PIN to establish the alert.
118 N. Clark Street, Room 120, Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-603-4000
It helps notify you when a document is recorded. It does not prevent a document from being recorded and does not guarantee that a filing is legitimate or fraudulent.
Wrong information
What If a Recorded Cook County Deed Is Wrong?
Recorder staff generally cannot simply edit the permanent image of a document after recording.
Depending on the problem, correction may require a corrective instrument, affidavit, new deed or other legally appropriate document.
Name indexed incorrectly → contact Recordings and ask whether the issue is an indexing error or document error.
Deed text itself is wrong → consult the person who prepared the document or an Illinois attorney.
PIN is wrong → compare the recorded instrument with the Assessor parcel record before taking action.
Unknown deed or lien → save the document number, contact the Recording Fraud Unit and consider legal advice.
What to do next
Choose the Right Cook County Property-Record Path
I have only an address → use the Assessor to get the PIN, then search Recordings.
I have a PIN → go directly to the Clerk recording search.
I have a document number → search that recording number directly.
I need the current assessed value → use the Assessor, not Recordings.
I need the tax bill → use the Treasurer.
I need a certified deed → identify the document first, then purchase the certified copy.
I need to record a new deed → confirm document preparation, transfer requirements, formatting and fee before filing.
I found an unfamiliar deed or lien → verify the document and contact the Recording Fraud Unit.
Important caution
Independent Information, Title Caution and FCRA Notice
This page is independent informational content and is not the Cook County Clerk, Cook County Assessor, Cook County Treasurer or another government agency.
It is not legal advice, title advice, a title search, a deed-preparation service or an ownership opinion.
Recording fees, forms, portal functions and filing requirements can change. Verify current information with the responsible government office before recording or paying.
Public property records should not be used for employment screening, tenant screening, credit decisions, insurance underwriting or other FCRA-regulated consumer-reporting purposes.
Frequently asked questions
Cook County Recorder of Deeds Search FAQs
Does the Cook County Recorder of Deeds office still exist?
No. The former Recorder’s duties transferred to the Cook County Clerk in December 2020. Current land-record services are handled by the Clerk’s Recordings Division.
Where do I search Cook County deeds online?
Use the Cook County Clerk Recordings System at crs.cookcountyclerkil.gov/Search.
What is the best way to search for a Cook County deed?
Find the property’s 14-digit PIN through the Assessor and use that PIN in the Clerk recording search. You can also search by party name or document number.
Can I search Cook County deeds by address?
Address-linked searches can help, but recorded property identification is more reliable when you first obtain the PIN from the Assessor.
What is a grantor and grantee?
The grantor generally transfers an interest in the recorded document, while the grantee generally receives the interest.
How much does Cook County charge to record a deed?
The current Clerk fee schedule lists $107 for a regular deed. Irregular formatting, blanket references and other circumstances can increase the fee.
How much is an electronic Cook County deed copy?
The current fee schedule lists a non-certified electronic download at $5. Certified and paper copies cost more.
Where is the Cook County deed recording office?
The main Recordings Division office is at 118 N. Clark Street, Room 120, Chicago, Illinois 60602.
How can I monitor my Cook County property for suspicious recordings?
The Cook County Clerk offers a free Property Fraud Alert service that can send notifications by phone or email.
Does a recorded deed prove clear legal title?
No. A recorded deed is an important public record, but a recording search alone does not establish that title is free from defects, liens or competing claims.
Official resources