Madison County IL Recorder Office: Address & Records

The Recorder maintains a land-record index rather than a single property file containing every instrument affecting each parcel.

Start with the owner’s name, document number or a known recording reference. For address-based research, locate the parcel and current owner through the assessment or GIS system first.

1. Start at the county website.

   Open the Recorder department and select the current Land Records Search option.

   Open Madison County Government
2. Choose your access method.

   Use data-only search for index research, Tapestry for occasional paid searches, or Laredo if you already have subscription access.

3. Search by name or reference.

   Enter the grantor or grantee name, instrument number or book/page reference available to you.

4. Verify matching results.

   Check recorded parties, instrument type, date and property description.

5. Save the document reference.

   Keep the instrument or book/page identifier for copies, follow-up questions and historical research.

What if you only know a street address?

Use Madison County’s Chief County Assessment Office or GIS property tools to identify a parcel number, owner or legal description.

Then return to Recorder records to find the actual deed, mortgage, easement or release. A parcel ownership listing and a recorded document serve different purposes.

The Recorder accepts requests for copies of recorded instruments. Have the recording reference ready before contacting the office.

The county’s published copy-request instructions give several options: submit its Copy Request Form, send an email request, visit the Recorder’s research room or use Tapestry for eligible online documents.

Requests are generally handled in the order received. The county’s instructions ask users to allow approximately 5–7 business days.

Open Madison County’s official Copy Request Options (PDF)

Regular copy or certified copy?

A regular copy is generally sufficient for routine research. A certified copy includes official authentication and may be required by a court, lender or other institution.

Contact the Recorder to confirm the current certified-copy charge rather than assuming the regular per-page rate includes certification.

Madison County’s recording process includes more than presenting a signed deed. A transfer can require the Plat Act Affidavit, transfer-tax declaration, correct legal description and supporting municipal or mapping approval.

1. Prepare the deed.

   Verify grantor, grantee, signatures, notarization, property identification and a complete legal description.

2. Complete the county Plat Act Affidavit.

   Madison County requires this affidavit with deeds so it can determine whether the transfer divides land or qualifies under the applicable exception.

3. Check whether the land is being divided.

   Some divisions require Maps & Plats review, survey documents, municipal approval or assignment of new parcel numbers.

4. Complete transfer-tax documentation.

   Determine whether an Illinois PTAX-203 declaration or an exemption procedure applies.

5. Check recording fees and standards.

   Confirm the current flat recording fee, any nonstandard charge and additional required references.

6. Submit the deed.

   Use the Recorder’s currently accepted in-person, mailing or eRecording method with the required payments.

7. Verify the recorded instrument.

   Retain the instrument number and check that the completed deed is indexed accurately.

Three common Plat Act situations

• No division of land: the county’s deed policy describes using the affidavit’s category A where existing parcel boundaries remain unchanged.
• Division of land: category B may require Maps & Plats review, supporting survey material and evidence of a statutory exception.
• Division for taxing purposes: category C involves review when previously combined parcels are being divided for tax administration.

Do not select an exemption category simply because it appears convenient. The appropriate category depends on the actual conveyance.

Read the Official Madison County Maps & Plats Deed Policies (PDF)

Open the County Plat Act Affidavit Information Sheet

Madison County adopted a $70 standard land-record recording fee effective July 1, 2023, after the statewide Rental Housing Support Program fee adjustment.

Current recording information also describes a separate nonstandard-document surcharge when the applicable formatting rules are not met.

The county’s $70 resolution separates the charge among Recorder office operations, GIS and the Rental Housing Support Program.

View the County Board’s $70 Recording Fee Resolution (PDF)

Illinois imposes a state real-estate transfer tax of $0.50 per $500 of taxable consideration. The standard county transfer tax is $0.25 per $500, subject to applicable law and exemptions.

Illinois transfer-tax filings may require a PTAX-203 Real Estate Transfer Declaration or a documented exemption. MyDec is the state’s online declaration system.

Open Illinois MyDec

Why Madison County deed descriptions matter

Madison County’s Maps & Plats division warns against using outdated legal descriptions, especially in transfers to trusts, transfers on death and documents dividing property.

It also recommends confirming full grantor and grantee names, including suffixes, former names and deceased grantors where applicable.

Use a qualified surveyor, title professional or attorney when the property’s description is uncertain.

The Recorder offers a Property Fraud Alert program to help owners monitor newly recorded instruments associated with their names.

The program is intended to provide early notice of potential deed or mortgage fraud. It does not prevent a fraudulent instrument from being filed.

In January 2026, Recorder Linda Andreas announced a formal Fraud Referral and Review Process under Illinois Senate Bill 1523, effective January 1, 2026.

This process is designed to review and refer suspected fraud to appropriate investigative or law-enforcement agencies when warranted.

Find Madison County Property Fraud Alert enrollment

Open Official Madison County Government Directory

• Recorder: recorded deeds, mortgages, releases, easements, plats and instrument copies. Suite 211, 157 N. Main Street.
• County Clerk: marriage, vital records, county board records, elections and tax-extension functions. Suite 109, 157 N. Main Street.
• Chief County Assessment Office: property assessments, exemptions, parcel details and Maps & Plats review. 157 N. Main Street, Suite 229.
• County Treasurer: real-estate tax billing and payments, tax sales and collections.
• Circuit Clerk: court cases, judgments, probate litigation and certified judicial documents. Courthouse, 155 N. Main Street.

• Only have a street address? Find the parcel and owner through county assessment resources before using name-based Recorder searches.
• Cannot find an older deed? Try a former owner, earlier surname or book/page reference. Historical documents may require separate research.
• Deed rejected? Check the required original Plat Act Affidavit, complete legal description, signatures and applicable approvals.
• Parcel is being divided? Maps & Plats or municipal review may be necessary. A simple no-division affidavit category may not be appropriate.
• Wrong recording total? Verify the $70 standard charge, any nonstandard fee and transfer taxes separately.
• Copy request delayed? Include accurate instrument references and allow for the county’s published order-processing period.
• Mortgage paid off but lien still appears? Ask the lender or title company whether the release or satisfaction was recorded.
• Concerned about forged documents? Contact the Recorder about its 2026 fraud-referral procedures and consult an Illinois attorney if title is affected.

This is an independent informational guide, not a government website. It is not operated by Madison County, the Recorder, the County Clerk or the State of Illinois.

Recording a document makes it part of the public record but does not guarantee that the instrument is legally valid or that a property has clear title.

The Recorder does not perform professional title searches or prepare deeds for customers. For a title examination, conveyance or suspected fraud, consult an appropriate Illinois attorney or title company.

Do not use public property records for employment screening, tenant screening, credit, insurance or other purposes regulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Last reviewed October 19, 2026. Confirm current filing fees, available search portals, copy charges, office hours and accepted recording methods directly with Madison County before submitting original documents or payments.