Madison County IL Recorder of Deeds: Search Records, Get Copies & Visit the Office
If you landed here because you need a Madison County deed, mortgage, lien, release, document number or recorded ownership record, the Madison County Recorder is the office to use. The Recorder maintains a land-record history that begins in 1812 and records instruments affecting real estate throughout Madison County.
This guide takes you from an address or owner name to the correct recorded document, explains Tapestry and Laredo, shows how to request a copy, lists the Edwardsville office contact information, and walks through the major requirements that can cause a deed to be rejected when submitted for recording.
157 N. Main Street, Suite 211, Edwardsville, IL 62025.
Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM, except holidays.
The Recorder states that the county’s land-record history begins in 1812.
$70 for many standard land-record filings; confirm the current document class before submitting.
Go directly to your Madison County Recorder task
Use the section that matches what you are actually trying to accomplish rather than reading the entire page first.
What the Madison County IL Recorder of Deeds actually handles
Madison County uses the title Recorder rather than maintaining a separate office formally named “Recorder of Deeds.” For a user searching “Madison County Recorder of Deeds,” however, this is the office that maintains recorded real-estate instruments.
The Recorder’s published document information includes deeds, mortgages, releases, easements, assignments, judgments, liens, mechanics liens, plats, tax deeds, quit claim deeds, warranty deeds and other instruments accepted for recording.
| Your question | Correct starting point | What you can find |
|---|---|---|
| Who received title by a recorded deed? | Recorder | Deed, grantor/grantee, legal description, recording information |
| Was a mortgage, release or lien recorded? | Recorder | Recorded mortgage, release, lien or related instrument |
| Who is shown on the tax assessment? | Real-estate assessment lookup | Assessment owner display, parcel number, value and property data |
| Where is the parcel on a map? | Madison County GIS | Approximate parcel location, mapping layers and geographic context |
| What property tax is due? | County tax-collection system | Tax bill, payment, balance or receipt information |
| Is the title legally clear? | Title company / attorney | Complete title examination, exceptions and title-insurance analysis |
How to search Madison County deeds and recorded land records online
Prepare these details before searching
How to go from a Madison County street address to the recorded deed
One of the most common reasons a deed search fails is that the user starts with a street address while the land-record index is primarily organized around recorded parties and document information. Use a two-system workflow instead.
Tapestry vs. Laredo for Madison County land records
Madison County’s official land-record page points users to both systems. The best choice depends mainly on whether you need a single occasional search or recurring professional access.
Useful for a homeowner, buyer, genealogist or occasional researcher who wants browser-based access without first completing the county’s Laredo agreement.
Designed for recurring land-record research. Madison County requires a completed access agreement before the service is established.
Use the office when you already know the document reference and need a copy, have a recording question, or cannot resolve an access issue online.
How to request a Madison County deed or recorded-document copy
Once you have found the instrument you need, save its reference number before contacting the office. Madison County expressly asks copy-request customers to provide the document reference rather than asking staff to perform a title search.
Madison County Recorder office address, hours, phone and email
Recorder’s Office
Madison County Administration Building157 North Main Street
Suite 211
Edwardsville, IL 62025
The Recorder publishes the same address for physical office and mailing purposes.
Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM Central Time, except county holidays.
Check the county page for holiday closures or temporary changes, particularly when your recording has a same-day deadline.
Document number, parcel number, owner names, recording date and the document you intend to record or research.
How to record a deed with the Madison County Recorder
Recording is different from preparing a legally sufficient deed. The Recorder can explain recording requirements but does not draft your deed or provide legal advice. Madison County’s own FAQ recommends using a title company or real-estate attorney when you need help preparing the document.
When the Madison County Plat Act Affidavit needs extra review
The Plat Act step deserves special attention because Madison County lists a missing or incomplete affidavit as a common deed-recording problem. The current county instructions separate transfers according to whether the deed changes parcel lines.
| Situation | Typical affidavit path | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| Deed does not change current parcel lines | Use the affidavit category for no parcel-line change | Complete, sign and notarize the affidavit and submit it with the deed. |
| Deed changes current parcel lines | Select the applicable Plat Act exception | Follow the county’s Maps and Plats review process before recording. |
| Parcel configuration changes for taxing purposes | Follow the applicable county parcel-creation route | Maps and Plats may need to approve the description and assign parcel information. |
| Unsure which exception applies | Do not guess | The county’s guidance directs users to obtain appropriate legal assistance when unsure which statutory exception applies. |
Madison County deed recording fees, copy charges and transfer taxes
Do not calculate a closing or recording budget from the recording fee alone. A deed can involve the Recorder’s document fee, Illinois transfer tax, Madison County transfer tax and potentially a municipal transfer requirement depending on the property location and transaction.
| Cost | Current practical reference | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Common standard land-record recording fee | Approximately $70 for many standard land instruments | Check the current county fee schedule because special and nonstandard documents can differ. |
| Oversized/nonstandard paper issue | County guidance lists an additional $12 nonstandardization fee for paper larger than 8½ × 11 inches | Use standard paper and formatting when the instrument permits it. |
| Regular copy | $1 per page by mail/counter | Have the document reference number available. |
| Emailed copy | $2 per page | Recorder states payment is required before the emailed copy is sent. |
| Illinois transfer tax | $0.50 per $500 of taxable consideration or fraction | Transfer exemptions can change what is due; use PTAX instructions. |
| Madison County transfer tax | $0.25 per $500 of taxable consideration or fraction | Check the transaction and current county requirements before closing. |
Simple transfer-tax example
- Illinois portion: 400 × $0.50 = $200
- Madison County portion: 400 × $0.25 = $100
- Combined state + county example: $300
Common reasons Madison County recording documents are rejected
The Recorder publishes a useful list of recurring problems. Review these before mailing or bringing in a deed; correcting a missing affidavit or legal description after submission can delay an ownership transfer or closing workflow.
Madison County document-format guidelines
Standard recording guidance calls for 8½ × 11-inch paper. Larger paper may trigger an additional nonstandardization fee.
Leave a blank area approximately 3 × 5 inches at the top right for Recorder use.
County guidance calls for at least ½-inch margins and a typeface of at least 10 points on suitable white paper.
Common Madison County deed and land-record situations
Paying off a mortgage does not cause the Recorder to send you an “original deed” it has held for years. The deed was recorded and returned after processing. Search for your deed and obtain a copy when you need one. For payoff proof, also search for the applicable mortgage release.
No simple database edit changes the legal instrument. Madison County’s FAQ explains that changing a name on title generally requires a new deed or other properly prepared instrument. Recorder staff cannot draft the document or give legal advice.
First verify the recorded deed and its recording date. Assessment ownership data may update on a different schedule. Save the instrument number and contact the appropriate assessment office if a properly recorded transfer has not been reflected after processing.
Recorder indexes can help you research recorded liens and releases, but the Recorder will not certify that your search found every title issue. For a purchase, refinance or legal determination, use a professional title search.
Narrow by document type and date, then compare legal descriptions, spouses or co-owners, parcel references and transaction sequence. Work backward from a known recent deed if you are building an ownership chain.
A deed’s legal description and recorded plat can help identify the property, but a legal boundary dispute normally requires more than an online GIS line. Obtain the relevant recorded documents and a licensed survey when physical boundary certainty matters.
A practical ownership-chain method
- Find the most recent deed you are confident belongs to the parcel.
- Write down its grantor, grantee, recording date, document number and legal description.
- Search the grantor as a prior grantee to locate how that party acquired title.
- Repeat backward one transaction at a time.
- Search mortgages, releases, liens and related instruments separately rather than assuming every title interest is shown on a deed.
- Use professional title research if the result will affect a purchase, loan, estate, lawsuit or other high-stakes decision.
Can you eRecord documents in Madison County?
Yes. The Madison County Recorder publishes an eRecording page listing multiple approved electronic-recording providers. This can be useful for title companies, law offices, lenders and other submitters who regularly record documents.
An individual recording one document may find in-person or mail submission simpler, especially when a Plat Act or transfer-form issue needs clarification.
Review the county’s approved eRecording providers, account requirements and provider charges before selecting a service.
Electronic submission does not cure a defective deed. Legal descriptions, parcel information, affidavits, signatures and applicable transfer requirements still matter.
Watch for newly recorded documents involving your name
Madison County’s Recorder navigation includes access to a Property Fraud Alert service. A recording alert can be useful because it tells you when a document associated with a registered name appears in the recording system.
Official Madison County Recorder links in one place
Office overview, notices, contacts and Recorder services.
Open RecorderOfficial routing page for Tapestry, Laredo and related property lookup resources.
Search land recordsCurrent fee schedule, document requirements and rejection guidance.
Check feesRecorder links for forms such as quit claim deed materials, Plat Act Affidavit and PTAX resources.
Open formsReview frequent reasons a document cannot be recorded as submitted.
Check errorsSee examples of deeds, mortgages, liens, releases, plats and other recordable instruments.
Review document typesElectronic submission information and county-listed eRecording providers.
View eRecordingState instructions for the Real Estate Transfer Declaration.
Read PTAX instructionsMadison County IL Recorder of Deeds FAQs
How do I search Madison County Illinois deeds online?
Start with the official Madison County Land Record Search page. From there, use Tapestry for online searching or review the county’s Laredo access process. Search current and prior owner names, then verify the legal description and recording information before relying on a document.
Can I search a Madison County deed using only a street address?
The Recorder’s land index is more useful when you have a party name, parcel identifier or document information. If you only know the address, first use the county-linked assessment lookup or Madison County GIS to identify the owner and parcel number, then search the Recorder index using those clues.
Where is the Madison County Recorder’s Office?
The office is in the Madison County Administration Building at 157 North Main Street, Suite 211, Edwardsville, IL 62025. The main phone number is 618-296-4475.
What hours is the Madison County Recorder open?
The Recorder publishes regular hours of Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Central Time, except county holidays. Check the official office-hours page before making a deadline-sensitive trip.
How much is a Madison County deed copy?
Madison County currently states that regular copies are $1 per page when obtained by mail or at the counter and $2 per page when emailed. Emailed copies require payment before delivery. Have the document reference number available and ask the office about certification when a certified copy is required.
Does Madison County Recorder perform title searches?
No. The Recorder expressly states that it does not perform title searches. You can search the public recording index yourself, but a complete title examination—especially for a purchase, refinance, estate or dispute—should be handled by a title company or qualified real-estate attorney.
Can I change my name on a deed at the Recorder’s Office?
The Recorder cannot simply edit an already recorded deed. The county’s FAQ explains that a new properly prepared document is generally needed to change the recorded title. Recorder staff do not prepare deeds or give legal advice, so consult a title company or real-estate attorney when you are uncertain what instrument is appropriate.
Do Madison County deeds need a Plat Act Affidavit?
Madison County lists a notarized Plat Act Affidavit as a deed-recording requirement. If the deed changes existing parcel lines, additional review through Maps and Plats and the correct statutory exception may be required. Use the Recorder’s current forms page.
How quickly does Madison County record submitted documents?
The Recorder says documents are processed in the order received and staff strive to record them within approximately 24 hours after they are logged in. After recording, documents are scanned and processed for return. Do not use that service goal as a guaranteed legal deadline for a time-sensitive transaction.
Can I electronically record a deed in Madison County?
Yes. Madison County supports electronic recording through county-listed providers. Review the official eRecording page for currently accepted providers and contact information. eRecording does not eliminate the underlying document, signature, affidavit, fee or transfer requirements.
What to do next
For most people searching for the Madison County IL Recorder of Deeds, the shortest path is to start with the official Land Record Search page, identify the correct owner and parcel when necessary, find the recorded instrument in Tapestry or Laredo, and save its document reference number.
If you need a copy, use that reference number when contacting the Recorder. If you are recording a new deed, check the current fee schedule, parcel number, legal description, Plat Act Affidavit, PTAX-203 requirements, formatting rules and return information before submitting it.
For questions about whether a deed is legally sufficient, which Plat Act exception applies, whether title is clear or how ownership should be structured, use a qualified title company or Illinois real-estate attorney rather than relying on the recording office to make a legal determination.