Scott County Recorder: Deeds, Records, Fees & Search Guide

Scott County, Indiana · deeds, mortgages, liens, recorded documents and copies

Scott County Recorder: Deeds, Records, Fees & Search Guide

The Scott County Recorder in Scottsburg, Indiana maintains permanent public records affecting real estate, including deeds, mortgages, releases, liens, leases, plats and other recorded instruments. If you landed here because you need to find a deed, check an ownership document, obtain a recorded copy or file a new deed, the important first step is knowing which county office controls each part of the process.

This guide takes you directly through the official Scott County systems, explains how to search recorded documents, shows the Assessor → Auditor → Recorder deed workflow, lists current published recording fees and requirements, and explains when you actually need the Clerk, Treasurer, Assessor, Auditor, GIS system or a title professional instead.

SCOTT COUNTY RECORDED INSTRUMENT
REAL ESTATE RECORD
Deed · Mortgage · Release · Lien
REC
IN
VERIFY DOCUMENT NUMBER + PARTIES + LEGAL DESCRIPTION
This guide covers Scott County, Indiana. Several U.S. states have a Scott County and some use a Recorder, Recorder of Deeds or County Clerk for land records. The office covered here is at 1 E McClain Avenue, Suite 100, Scottsburg, IN 47170.
Official office

Scott County Recorder, Scottsburg, Indiana.

Office hours

Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Main phone

812-752-8442.

Online coverage

County says recorded documents from March 15, 1982 forward are available online.

Typical turnaround

County says most documents are recorded within 24 hours, approximately next business day.

Jump to your task

Scott County Recorder guide contents

Choose the section that matches what you actually need to accomplish.

Start here

Use the right Scott County office before searching

Many people search “Scott County Recorder” when the record they actually need belongs to another office. Choosing correctly can save a courthouse visit, an unnecessary paid search or a rejected document.

RECORDER Deeds and recorded instruments

Use for deeds, mortgages, releases, recorded liens, plats, easements, restrictive covenants and other instruments affecting real estate.

Open Recorder page
ASSESSOR / GIS Parcel, assessed value or owner clues

Use when you only know the property address and need a parcel number, current assessment information or mapping clues before searching deed records.

Open Assessor page
AUDITOR Transfers and deductions

Conveyance documents generally need Auditor endorsement before recording. The Auditor also handles many property-tax deductions.

Open Auditor page
TREASURER Property-tax bill or payment

Use the Treasurer for tax amounts, payment questions, receipts and delinquent tax matters—not the Recorder.

Open Treasurer page
COUNTY CLERK Certain court-related records

The county FAQ directs users to the Clerk for marriage certificates and certain state tax-lien records.

Find county departments
TITLE PROFESSIONAL Complete title or lien search

The Recorder does not perform private title searches. Use a title company, attorney, abstractor or qualified searcher when legal title certainty matters.

When you only know the address

How to find the deed for a Scott County property

A street address is useful for identifying a property, but Recorder indexes are normally strongest when you have names, document numbers and legal-description information. If you begin with only an address, use this two-system workflow.

Find the parcel in Scott County GIS Open Scott County ThinkGIS. Search the street address and confirm that the mapped parcel is the property you mean.
Write down the useful identity clues Note the owner name, parcel number and any available legal-description or subdivision information. These clues help distinguish the property from similar addresses or names.
Move to the Recorder document search Open the official Recorder Services page and follow its online-record path.
Search the current owner and prior owner names A deed transferring the property to the current owner should normally show the current owner as grantee and the prior owner as grantor.
Compare the legal description The legal description—not merely the mailing address—is the important real-property identifier inside many recorded instruments.
Important: GIS is a research tool for finding the parcel and owner clues. A map display is not a substitute for the recorded deed, recorded plat or a professional boundary survey.
Local deed workflow

How to record a deed in Scott County, Indiana

Scott County’s own Recorder FAQ says a deed must be presented to and approved by the Assessor and Auditor before it can be recorded. This is one of the most important local details to understand before walking directly into the Recorder’s office with a newly prepared deed.

1 Assessor review The Assessor administers the sales-disclosure process and reviews information associated with property transfers.
2 Auditor endorsement Conveyance documents changing title generally require the Auditor’s endorsement before recording.
3 Recorder filing After prior approvals, submit the document to the Recorder if it satisfies Indiana and Scott County recording requirements.

Micro step-by-step deed filing checklist

Have the deed prepared correctly The Recorder does not provide blank deeds and cannot prepare a deed or give legal advice. Scott County specifically recommends using an attorney if you are not familiar with preparing legal documents.
Check whether a Sales Disclosure is required Review Scott County’s official Sales Disclosure guidance. The county says most conveyances require one, subject to listed exceptions.
Take the transfer through the Assessor process The Assessor’s office is at 1 E McClain Avenue, Suite 150. The published phone number is 812-752-8436.
Obtain Auditor endorsement The Auditor’s office is at Suite 130 in the same courthouse building. The published phone number is 812-752-8408.
Review every Recorder requirement Before filing, compare your instrument with the county’s Essential Recording Requirements.
Confirm the exact recording fee Use the official fee schedule. The county FAQ currently states that the Recorder accepts cash and check.
Submit to the Recorder The Recorder is in Suite 100, 1 E McClain Avenue, Scottsburg. The county reports that most accepted documents are recorded within about 24 hours, with approximate next-business-day turnaround.
Adding or removing a person from a deed is not a clerical name edit. Scott County’s FAQ says a new deed of title must be prepared to add or remove a name. The Recorder cannot draft that deed for you.
Sales Disclosure

When Scott County says a Sales Disclosure may not be required

Scott County’s Assessor page lists several transactions for which a Sales Disclosure is generally not required. Because exemptions and document facts matter, confirm your particular instrument with the Assessor or Auditor before filing.

Affidavits of survivorship or heirship
Affidavits of title to property
Trustee’s deeds
Scrivener’s affidavits and corrective deeds
Restrictive covenants
Plats, surveys or engineer’s corrections
Leases lasting less than 90 years
Scott County states that generally other conveyance documents require a Sales Disclosure, and if a deed reflects money or consideration changing hands, a disclosure fee may apply. Its current property-transfer page publishes a $10 property transfer fee per conveyance document and a $20 Sales Disclosure fee. Confirm the amount for your transaction before submitting payment.
Avoid rejection

Scott County recording requirements checklist

The county publishes detailed recording requirements. The following items are especially important because a seemingly minor formatting or acknowledgment problem can delay recording.

Most recordable documents must be properly notarized or acknowledged.
Notary information must include required county-of-residence information, commission expiration and seal.
Signatures must have the names printed or typed beneath them exactly as signed.
Documents requiring it must contain a “Prepared by” statement with the preparer’s name.
Documents conveying or changing title generally need Auditor endorsement before recording.
Social Security numbers should be redacted unless law specifically requires the number in that document.
Indiana-notarized documents generally require the statutory Social Security-number affirmation statement.
Regular text must meet the county’s minimum type-size requirement.
Clear recording margins must satisfy the county’s published dimensional requirements.
A power-of-attorney document may need the recording number of the previously recorded power of attorney.

Page size and margin rules

Scott County’s current requirements page states that regular documents should generally be no smaller than 8½ × 11 inches and no larger than 8½ × 14 inches. It also calls for a clear two-inch margin at the top and bottom of the first and last page and clear one-half-inch margins elsewhere.

The county publishes separate specifications for plats, surveys and horizontal-property documents. If you are filing one of those instruments, review the official requirements rather than assuming normal deed page dimensions apply.

Before printing, notarizing or mailing an instrument, open the county’s Essential Recording Requirements and compare the final document line by line.
Published Recorder charges

Scott County Recorder fees

The Scott County Recorder fee page currently publishes the following amounts. The page labels its schedule effective July 1, 2017, so use the official page immediately before filing to confirm that no later local or statutory change affects your document.

Selected Scott County Recorder fees published by the county
Service / document Published amount Practical note
Mortgage $55 Includes mortgages, subordinate mortgages, corrective and re-recorded mortgages, indentures and supplemental indentures.
Deeds and most other instruments $25 Check the official schedule for oversize-page treatment and instrument-specific exceptions.
Additional oversize page $5 Applies according to the county’s oversize-page rules.
Mechanic’s lien $25 Includes one mail-out; additional mail-outs are listed separately.
Additional mechanic’s-lien mail-out $2 Each additional mail-out.
UCC initial or other filing $6 County publishes a different amount for filings of three pages or more.
UCC filing, 3+ pages $10 Consumer-goods UCC filings may belong with the Indiana Secretary of State.
UCC search, one name $7 Additional names are listed at $5 each.
Copy, 11 × 17 or smaller $1 per page Use this when requesting ordinary Recorder copies.
Copy larger than 11 × 17 $5 per page Published rate for larger copies.
Certification $5 Copy-page charges are additional.
Recorded copies

How to get a copy of a deed or recorded document

If you simply need to read an instrument, start with the online-record system. If you need a copy for a lender, court, estate, transaction or other formal purpose, determine whether an ordinary copy is sufficient or whether the recipient specifically requires a certified copy.

Locate the document first Search the online index by party name and transaction period. Write down the document or recording number, date and instrument type.
Decide ordinary versus certified A certification is an additional Recorder service. Do not pay for certification unless the receiving organization actually requires it.
Check the number of pages Ordinary copy charges are calculated per page. A long mortgage or multi-page deed will cost more than a one-page instrument.
Contact the Recorder before mailing a request Call 812-752-8442 to confirm the exact amount, accepted payment method and current request procedure when you cannot obtain what you need online.
Best information to have before calling: party name, approximate recording date, document type, recording number if known, property legal-description clues and whether you need certification.
Title-search limitation

Do not treat one Recorder search as a complete lien or title search

Scott County explicitly states that Recorder staff do not perform real-estate title or lien searches for the public. The office preserves Recorder instruments, but a legally meaningful title examination can require research beyond those records.

The county’s own FAQ warns that some claims affecting a person or property—such as court judgments, state tax liens or bankruptcy matters—may not necessarily appear in the Recorder’s real-estate index. That is why a property showing no obvious Recorder lien is not automatically “clear title.”

Which search level fits your goal?
Your goal Best approach Why
Find your recorded deed Recorder online search You are locating one known category of recorded instrument.
Check whether an old mortgage release was recorded Recorder search by owner/lender A mortgage and release are Recorder instruments.
Investigate subdivision restrictions Recorder records Scott County says restrictive covenants can be recorded separately or as part of the original plat.
Buy property and confirm marketable title Title company / attorney / qualified abstractor A complete title examination can involve multiple offices, record types and legal interpretation.
Need a bonded search Qualified professional The Recorder states its staff is not bonded to perform these searches.
Preventive monitoring

Use Scott County’s property-record watch service

Scott County’s Recorder Services page states that property owners can use a free Doxpop Property Watch service. A user can create a watch associated with a name or property and receive an email when a new filing references the watched information.

Open the county Recorder Services page Start at Scott County Recorder Services so you are following the county-supported route.
Follow the Property Watch link Create the required account or registration with the service.
Add your name and property information carefully Consider name variations if your recorded documents have used initials, middle names, former names or a trust.
Review alerts rather than assuming fraud An alert only means a matching document was recorded. Open the filing and verify what it actually is before taking action.
Professional filing

Scott County electronic recording

Scott County supports electronic recording and identifies Simplifile and CSC as eRecording vendors. This workflow is primarily useful to title companies, law firms, financial institutions and other organizations that regularly submit recordable documents.

eRecording does not eliminate substantive recording requirements. The document must still satisfy applicable formatting, acknowledgment, transfer, endorsement and fee rules.

Common mistakes

Why a Scott County record search or filing may fail

Fast troubleshooting for common Recorder problems
Problem Likely reason What to do next
No deed found by address Recorder indexes may be based primarily on party names and instrument data. Use ThinkGIS to identify the owner, then search the Recorder index by name.
Old record not online The transaction may predate online coverage or historical indexing may be incomplete. Contact or visit the Recorder for courthouse research.
Cannot add spouse or child to deed The Recorder cannot simply edit the ownership field. A new deed must be properly prepared and processed.
Deed rejected before recording Assessor/Auditor approval or statutory document requirements may be incomplete. Review the transfer workflow and Essential Recording Requirements.
Name search returns many people Common surname or multiple instruments. Narrow by date, middle initial, lender, document type or legal-description clues.
No lien appears in Recorder results Not every possible claim is necessarily indexed in Recorder land records. Use a professional title search if the result affects a transaction or legal decision.
Courthouse information

Scott County Recorder office address, phone and hours

Scott County Recorder
Address
1 E McClain Avenue, Suite 100
Scottsburg, IN 47170
Phone
812-752-8442
Fax
812-752-6430
Hours
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Before you make the trip
  • Have the names connected with the record.
  • Bring the recording/document number when available.
  • Know whether you need an ordinary or certified copy.
  • For a new deed, complete Assessor and Auditor steps first.
  • Confirm the exact fee and accepted payment method.
  • Do not expect Recorder staff to draft a deed or perform a title search.
Where to go instead

Scott County property record routing table

Choose the controlling Scott County office for your task
What you need Office / system Contact or action
Recorded deed, mortgage, release, easement or covenant Recorder Recorder office
Parcel map or address-to-parcel lookup Scott County GIS Open ThinkGIS
Assessment or Sales Disclosure review Assessor 812-752-8436
Property transfer endorsement or tax deduction Auditor 812-752-8408
Property-tax amount or payment Treasurer 812-752-8414
Marriage certificate County Clerk Use Scott County Clerk rather than Recorder.
Mobile-home title Indiana BMV Recorder FAQ directs mobile-home title questions to BMV.
Zoning or building permit Planning Commission Scott County publishes 812-752-8445.
Full title examination Title company / attorney / qualified abstractor Recorder staff do not perform private title searches.
Questions property owners ask

Scott County Recorder FAQs

Which Scott County Recorder does this guide cover?

This article covers the Scott County Recorder in Scottsburg, Indiana, located at 1 E McClain Avenue, Suite 100, Scottsburg, IN 47170.

Can I search Scott County Indiana deeds online?

Yes. Scott County’s Recorder Services page says recorded documents filed from March 15, 1982 forward are available online. Basic record information may be available without charge, while detailed information or document images can involve paid access.

How do I search for a deed if I only know the street address?

Start with Scott County ThinkGIS to identify the parcel, owner and legal-description clues. Then search the Recorder’s recorded-document system using the owner or prior owner’s name and verify the deed against the property information.

What does it cost to record a deed in Scott County?

The county’s published Recorder fee schedule currently lists $25 for deeds and all other instruments, subject to separate rules and additional charges for certain document types or oversize pages. Confirm the fee on the official schedule immediately before filing.

What does Scott County charge to record a mortgage?

The county’s published Recorder fee schedule lists $55 for mortgages, including subordinate, corrective and re-recorded mortgages and specified related instruments.

Can the Scott County Recorder add or remove someone from my deed?

No simple office edit is available. Scott County states that a new deed of title must be prepared to add or remove a person. The county recommends using an attorney when you are not familiar with legal-document preparation.

Does a deed go directly to the Recorder?

Not usually. Scott County says a deed must first be presented and approved through the Assessor and Auditor processes before it can be recorded, and some transfers require a Sales Disclosure.

Can Recorder staff perform a title or lien search for me?

No. Scott County states that Recorder employees do not perform real-estate searches for liability reasons. Use the public records yourself or hire a title company, attorney, abstractor or qualified searcher when a complete title examination is needed.

Where do I get restrictive covenants for a subdivision?

Scott County says restrictive covenants are filed with the Recorder. They may exist as a separate recorded document or as part of the subdivision’s original plat.

Where do I pay Scott County property taxes?

Property taxes are handled by the Scott County Treasurer, not the Recorder. The Treasurer is in Suite 140 at 1 E McClain Avenue and publishes phone number 812-752-8414.

Official resources

Scott County Recorder and property-record links

Bottom line

Use the Recorder for recorded instruments—not every property question

For most users searching the Scott County Recorder, the quickest path is to identify the correct property in GIS if necessary, search the Recorder index by owner or transaction party, verify the document number and legal-description clues, and then obtain the document image or official copy you actually need.

If you are recording a new deed, do not skip the local transfer workflow: determine whether a Sales Disclosure is required, complete the Assessor and Auditor steps, check the Recorder’s statutory formatting requirements and confirm the current fee before submitting the document.

And when the issue is a complete title search, property-tax payment, deduction, assessment, zoning matter or mobile-home title, use the controlling office rather than expecting the Recorder to solve a problem outside its legal role.

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