How do I get a certified copy of a DuPage County deed?

Find the correct document number first, then contact DuPage Recorder Research. The published fee schedule lists a 50-cent-per-page document copy charge, a $5 certification fee per document, and a service fee for phone, email, fax and mailed requests.

How much does DuPage County charge to record a deed?

The Recorder's currently published fee schedule lists deeds in Document Class 1 at $86. Nonstandard documents are listed at $112. Verify the live fee schedule before submitting a document.

Does the Recorder search prove that a property has clear title?

No. Public Recorder records help identify recorded deeds, mortgages, releases, liens and other documents, but a complete title determination can require professional title examination and consideration of additional matters.

Where do I find the current owner and assessed value of a DuPage County property?

Use the official DuPage County Property Records system for owner display, PIN, assessed values, exemptions, transfer history, tax information and property details. Use the Recorder when you need the underlying recorded document.

Does DuPage County offer a property fraud alert?

Yes. The Recorder provides free Property Fraud Alert enrollment and currently directs users to the official signup service or the published 1-800-728-3858 enrollment number.

Do I need a municipal transfer stamp before recording a DuPage County deed?

It depends on the municipality. DuPage County publishes transfer-stamp information for several cities and villages and warns that municipal fees can change without notice. Contact the municipality before recording.

DuPage County, Illinois · deeds, mortgages, liens, releases, plats and recorded land documents

DuPage County IL Recorder Search: Deeds & Records

Q: What is the official DuPage County Recorder search?

Use the DuPage County Recorder Search Records Online page and the official Recorder Online Documents portal. The county says indexed documents and digital images are available online beginning March 16, 1961.

Q: Can I search DuPage County deeds by address?

Yes. The Recorder lists address searching from 1995 to present. If an address search fails, use the property's PIN or search an owner, grantor or grantee name.

Q: Can I record DuPage County documents electronically?

Yes. DuPage County supports eRecording for deeds, mortgages, assignments, modifications, releases, satisfactions, liens, lis pendens, judgments and UCC documents through approved vendors. Plats and DD-214s are not currently accepted for eRecording.

Use the DuPage County Recorder search when you need the actual recorded document behind a property transaction—not simply an owner name or assessed value. The Recorder of Deeds maintains deeds, mortgages, mortgage releases, liens, lis pendens, judgments, plats, UCC filings and other recorded instruments affecting DuPage County property.

The fastest workflow is usually: identify the property or party, search one field in the official Recorder portal, open the matching document number, verify the parties and property, then view the recorded image. This guide also explains certified copies, historical coverage, current recording fees, transfer declarations, municipal transfer stamps and the offices to use when your question is really about assessment or taxes.

Search official Recorder documents Read official search instructions Fix a missing record

Document number Owner / party name 10-digit PIN Property address Approximate recording date

DUPAGE RECORDER INDEX VERIFY BEFORE RELYING

Document Deed / Mortgage / Release / Lien

Search key Name · PIN · Address · Document #

Match Parties · Date · Property · Legal description

Next step View PDF image or request certified copy

OFFICIAL INDEX → DOCUMENT IMAGE → VERIFIED RECORD

Important distinction: the Recorder is the correct office for recorded documents. If you only need the current property profile, owner display, assessed value, exemptions or tax information, start with the official DuPage County Property Records system.

Recorder

Elizabeth Chaplin, DuPage County Recorder of Deeds.

Online images

Indexed documents and images begin March 16, 1961.

Office research

Property records can be researched from 1839 to present.

Research contact

Recorder Research: 630-407-5401.

Reviewed

Official resources checked October 19, 2026.

Start with the task

Which DuPage County record are you actually trying to find?

Choosing the correct record type before searching prevents most dead ends. A deed search, property ownership search, tax search and court-record search are different tasks even when they concern the same address.

DEED Who transferred the property?

Use the Recorder to locate warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, trustee deeds, executor deeds and other conveyances.

Search deed records

MORTGAGE Was a mortgage recorded or released?

Find the mortgage first, then look for releases, satisfactions, assignments or modifications tied to it.

Trace related documents

LIEN Is there a recorded lien?

Search Recorder records for recorded liens and releases. A full title determination may require professional research.

Review record types

CURRENT PROPERTY DATA Owner, PIN or assessed value?

Start with the county property database, then follow the recorded document number when you need the underlying deed.

Use the correct county system

CERTIFIED COPY Need an official deed copy?

Find the exact document number first, then contact Recorder Research for certification.

Get a deed copy

RECORD A DOCUMENT Submitting a deed or mortgage?

Check the document format, PIN, legal description, PTAX/MyDec requirements, local stamps and current recording fee.

Prepare for recording

DuPage County Recorder search guide

Jump directly to the task you need to complete.

Official search walkthrough

How to use the DuPage County Recorder search

DuPage County’s own instructions contain one unusually important search tip: complete only one search field first. Entering an owner, address, PIN, date range and document type all at once can over-filter the index and hide the record you need.

Open the county’s Search Records Online page. Review the Recorder’s current instructions before entering the document database.
Open official search instructions →

Select “Start Searching.” The county links from its instructions to the official Digital Imaging System.
Open Recorder Online Documents →

Use your strongest identifier in one field. If you have a document number, use it first. For property research, a 10-digit PIN is usually stronger than a street address. Otherwise try a grantor, grantee or owner surname.

Select Search and review the document-number list. Do not assume the first result is correct. Compare the document type, recording date, party names and property clues.

Click the document number. The Recorder’s system opens the indexed document details. Confirm the record before relying on it.

Select “View/Print Document.” The official instructions state that the recorded document is displayed as a PDF. Review all pages, exhibits, legal descriptions and recording information.

Best shortcut: if you do not know the Recorder document number, first search the DuPage County Property Records database. A property’s sales or conveyance history can provide a document number that you can then use in the Recorder search.

Historical coverage matters

How far back can you search DuPage County Recorder records?

The correct search method depends on the age of the transaction. The Recorder states that its office can research property records from 1839 to present, while online index coverage varies by the information you use to search.

Recorder search coverage published by DuPage County
Search method	Published coverage	Best use	If you cannot find it
Party name	1961 to present	Grantor, grantee, trust, business or known owner	Try name variations or contact Research
Property PIN	County page references 1984/1985 to present	Strong parcel-specific modern search	Search by party name or older book/page data
Street address	1995 to present	Recent transactions when PIN is unknown	Use PIN or owner/party name
Online images/index	Beginning March 16, 1961	Modern deed, mortgage, lien and document research	Call Recorder Research
In-office property records	1839 to present	Older chains of title and historical research	Ask Research for historical indexing help
Plats	1800s to present	Subdivision and plat research	Contact the Recorder directly

Why PIN coverage is shown as 1984/1985: DuPage County’s current search page states property records can be searched online from 1985 to present by property parcel number and also separately notes that PIN searches are available from 1984 to present. Treat older PIN searches as an edge case and use the Research Department when the distinction matters.

What the Recorder actually stores

DuPage County deeds and recorded-document types

Deeds and conveyances

Warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, trustee deeds, executor or administrator deeds, transfer-on-death related documents and other ownership-transfer instruments.

Mortgages and releases

Mortgages, assignments, modifications, releases and satisfactions that can help reconstruct recorded financing history.

Liens and notices

Mechanics liens, government liens, tax liens, releases, lis pendens, judgments and related recorded notices.

Plats and land records

Subdivision plats and other recorded property documents. Plat research can reach farther back than the modern online deed index.

UCC records

UCC filings and terminations are among the document classes handled by the Recorder.

Other recorded instruments

Easements, leases, restrictions, affidavits, declarations and miscellaneous recordable instruments may also appear in the index.

A deed is not the same as a clean title report. Finding a deed proves that a document was recorded; it does not by itself prove that there are no later deeds, liens, mortgages, easements, judgments, restrictions, probate issues or other title matters.

Practical title-history workflow

How to trace a DuPage County deed and ownership history

1. Identify Property address and 10-digit PIN

2. Find Most recent deed document number

3. Verify Grantor, grantee, date and legal description

4. Trace Earlier deeds and related documents

Step 1: identify the parcel before chasing names

Start with the DuPage County Property Records system when you have an address but no PIN. Confirm the parcel number, property address and current property profile.

Step 2: locate the most recent transfer

Review the property’s transfer or sales information and write down the deed document number when one is shown. Then move to the Recorder portal and search that exact number.

Step 3: read the recorded deed—not only the index

The index is a locator. The deed image can contain the legal description, grantor and grantee wording, trust capacity, marital status language, consideration wording, preparer information and references to earlier documents.

Step 4: work backward carefully

Use the grantor on the newest deed as a clue to the previous ownership record. Repeat the process through earlier deeds. If an older transaction predates the available search method, switch from PIN or address searching to party-name research or contact Recorder Research.

Mortgage-release check: finding a mortgage and finding its release are two separate searches. Save the mortgage’s recording information and look for a later release, satisfaction, assignment or related document. Do not assume a loan is still outstanding merely because an old mortgage appears in the index.

Troubleshooting

What to do when the DuPage Recorder search returns no result

Clear extra filters. Search only one field first, as DuPage County specifically recommends.

Shorten the party name. Try surname only, a business stem or a trust name without extra punctuation.

Use the PIN. Address formatting changes; the parcel number is often a better modern identifier.

Use the document number. If Property Records shows a conveyance document number, search that number directly.

Check the date range. Address searches are newer than name searches, so an old deed may not appear by address.

Search former owners. Older deeds are indexed under the parties who executed that transaction.

Look for trusts or entities. Ownership may be recorded under a trustee, trust, LLC, estate or corporate name.

Contact Research for historical records. Use 630-407-5401 when the record predates convenient online indexing.

Retry Recorder search Find PIN / property first Contact Recorder Research

Document copies

How to get a DuPage County deed copy or certified copy

Do not pay for a certified copy until you know whether you actually need certification. For personal research, estate files, transaction review or historical research, the PDF available through the online document system may be sufficient. Courts, lenders, title companies and agencies may require a certified Recorder copy.

Search and verify the document first. Save the document number, recording date, party names and document type.

Open the document image for routine research. Use “View/Print Document” in the Recorder portal when an ordinary copy is enough.

Ask the recipient whether certification is required. A certified copy adds an official certification to the document. Do not assume every transaction requires one.

Contact Recorder Research for a certified copy. Call 630-407-5401 or use recorderresearch@dupagecounty.gov. Give the document number first whenever possible.
Open official Recorder contact page →

The currently published schedule lists a $0.50-per-page document copy fee, $5 certification fee per document, and a $5 service fee per document for phone, email, fax and mailed requests. Verify the current amount before ordering.

2026 published fee schedule

DuPage County Recorder recording and copy fees

Recording fees have changed over time, so older articles and saved fee sheets can be wrong. The table below reflects the Recorder’s currently published schedule reviewed for this guide.

Selected current DuPage Recorder fees
Document / service	Published fee	What it means
Deed — Class 1	$86	Standard deed recording
Lease / similar transfer — Class 2	$86	Standard classified recording
Mortgage — Class 3	$86	Standard mortgage recording
Easement — Class 4	$86	Standard easement recording
Nonstandard document — Class 5	$112	Document does not satisfy standard-format criteria
Miscellaneous — Class 7	$86	Other standard miscellaneous recordings
Map / plat — Class 8	$110	Maps or plats of additions, subdivisions or other plat documents
UCC filing	$80	Recorder UCC filing
Document copy	$0.50/page	Copy charge
Certification	$5/document	Added to applicable copy charges
Remote service fee	$5/document	Applies to phone, email, fax and mailed requests
DD-214 recording / certified copies	No charge	Special military-discharge treatment

The standard recording amounts include several statutory components, including the Recorder’s document-storage, GIS, real-property and Rental Housing Support Program fees. Do not calculate a deed fee using an old DuPage schedule.

Check official Forms & Fee Schedules

Recording a deed

Before you record a deed in DuPage County

Searching existing documents and creating a new legal instrument are very different tasks. The Recorder can explain recording requirements and provide county forms, but the office states that it cannot provide legal advice or choose the correct deed for your situation.

Confirm the property is located in DuPage County.

Use the correct current 10-digit Permanent Parcel Number.

Include the property street address where required.

Include the correct legal description.

Include the preparer’s name and address when required.

Include the grantee / taxpayer name and mailing address.

Complete the appropriate PTAX/MyDec declaration or exemption process.

Check whether the municipality requires a transfer or exemption stamp.

Check whether a Metes & Bounds Affidavit or other supporting form applies.

Verify the live recording fee immediately before submission.

Standard document-format rules

Paper and printing

Standard documents use 8.5 × 11-inch white paper and must be legibly printed. The Recorder’s published standards call for black ink, with signatures and dates allowed in contrasting colors if they reproduce clearly.

Margins and recording space

Maintain clean half-inch margins and leave a blank 3 × 5-inch space in the upper-right corner of the first page for recording information.

No attached staples

The standard classification says the document must not have attachments stapled or otherwise affixed to a page.

Five-record reference limit

The standard classification applies when the instrument references five or fewer parcel/PIN or recorded-document numbers. Different classification can apply beyond that limit.

Deed-choice warning: adding a spouse, removing an owner, transferring property into a trust, correcting a deed, using a transfer-on-death instrument or changing an estate plan can have legal, tax, creditor, financing and inheritance consequences. The Recorder records documents; it does not determine which deed you should use.

Recorder forms & fees Illinois transfer declarations Open MyTax Illinois / MyDec

Illinois PTAX / MyDec

PTAX-203, MyDec and real estate transfer declarations

Many Illinois real-estate transfers require a Real Estate Transfer Declaration, while some transactions qualify for a statutory exemption. DuPage County directs questions about these declarations to the Illinois Department of Revenue and links users to MyDec and the PTAX forms.

Determine whether the transfer requires a declaration or exemption statement. Do not assume that a family transfer, trust transfer, correction deed or low-consideration transfer is automatically exempt.

Use the Illinois Department of Revenue’s transfer-declaration resources. Review PTAX-203, PTAX-203-A, PTAX-203-B or other applicable instructions.
Open Illinois transfer-declaration guidance →

Complete MyDec when the transaction uses the electronic declaration system. MyDec prepares and processes transfer-declaration information; it does not replace recording the deed with DuPage County.
Open MyTax Illinois / MyDec →

Keep the declaration information with the recording package. Confirm that names, PIN, consideration and property information agree with the deed before submission.

DuPage County currently directs Real Estate Transfer Declaration questions to the Illinois Department of Revenue and publishes the IDOR assistance number 844-445-1114.

Local closing requirement

DuPage County municipal transfer stamps

A county deed-recording fee is not always the only amount or approval involved in a transfer. DuPage County publishes a municipal transfer-stamp table and specifically warns that municipal fees can change without notice to the Recorder. Contact the city or village before recording.

Municipal rates currently published on DuPage County’s transfer-stamp page
Municipality	Published transfer fee	Published exemption stamp
Addison	$2.50 / $1,000	$50
Aurora	$3.00 / $1,000	$30
Bartlett	$3.00 / $1,000	No charge
Bolingbrook	$7.50 / $1,000	$50
Carol Stream	$3.00 / $1,000	$25
Elk Grove Village	$3.00 / $1,000	$10
Elmhurst	$1.50 / $1,000	$30
Glendale Heights	$3.00 / $1,000	$25
Glen Ellyn	$3.00 / $1,000	No charge
Hanover Park	$3.00 / $1,000	$10
Naperville	$3.00 / $1,000	No charge
Wheaton	$2.50 / $1,000	$25
Woodridge	$2.50 / $1,000	$25

Do not calculate a closing from this table alone. A municipality may have its own inspection, utility, debt-clearance, declaration, exemption or payment procedure. Verify the municipality’s live rules even when the county table shows a rate.

Check official transfer-stamp page

Electronic submission

DuPage County eRecording

DuPage County provides electronic recording for property located in the county through approved third-party eRecording vendors. This is primarily useful for title companies, law firms, lenders and frequent professional submitters.

Document types listed for eRecording

Deeds, mortgages, assignments of mortgage, modifications, releases/satisfactions, liens, lis pendens, judgments and UCCs.

Not currently accepted electronically

The Recorder currently states that plats and DD-214 military discharge documents are not accepted for eRecording.

The Recorder currently lists CSC, eRecording Partners Network, Hopdox, Indecomm Global Services and Simplifile as available eRecording vendors. Vendor account and service charges are separate from county recording fees.

Open official eRecording page

Property protection

Sign up for the DuPage County Property Fraud Alert

DuPage County Recorder offers a free Property Fraud Alert enrollment route. The service is intended to notify subscribers when matching recording activity appears in the land-record system.

Open the official Recorder Property Fraud Alert page. Open DuPage Property Fraud Alert →

Select the official signup button. The county currently links users to PropertyFraudAlert.com and also publishes the toll-free enrollment number 1-800-728-3858.

Register relevant names carefully. Consider legal-name variations, spouse names, trust names or business/entity names that may appear on recorded documents.

Investigate an unexpected alert immediately. Search the Recorder document number, review the image and contact the Recorder, a title professional or an attorney if the filing appears suspicious.

An alert does not block a recording. It is an early-notification tool, not a deed freeze, title-insurance policy or automatic fraud determination.

Avoid the wrong office

Recorder vs property records, Treasurer, township assessor and court records

Use the office that controls the record you need
Your question	Best starting system	What it provides
Find a deed, mortgage, release or lien	DuPage Recorder	Recorded-document index and images
Find owner display, PIN or property profile	DuPage Property Records	Property profile, transfer history, legal description and parcel data
Check assessed value or exemptions	Property Records / Supervisor of Assessments / township assessor	Assessment and exemption information
Check tax bill, taxes due or payment history	DuPage Treasurer through Property Records	Tax summary, amount due and payment history
Research a lawsuit or court judgment case	18th Judicial Circuit / Circuit Clerk	Court-case information rather than the Recorder’s land-record image
Determine whether title is insurable or clear	Title company / attorney	Professional title examination beyond a simple public-index search

DuPage Property Records DuPage Circuit Clerk DuPage Recorder

Office information

DuPage County Recorder office, phone and contact details

Recorder of Deeds

Elizabeth Chaplin

DuPage County currently identifies Elizabeth Chaplin as Recorder of Deeds.

Office address

Jack T. Knuepfer Administration Building
First Floor, Room 1-400
421 N. County Farm Road
Wheaton, IL 60187

Main Recorder contact

Phone: 630-407-5400

Email: Recorder@dupagecounty.gov

Fax: 630-407-5300

Research Department

Phone: 630-407-5401

Email: recorderresearch@dupagecounty.gov

Use this contact for difficult document searches and certified-copy questions.

Mailing address

Elizabeth Chaplin
DuPage County Recorder
P.O. Box 936
Wheaton, IL 60187

Hours

County general hours are published as Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Confirm holiday closures or special office notices before traveling.

Official Recorder contact page

Frequently asked questions

DuPage County Recorder search FAQs

What is the official DuPage County Recorder search?

Use DuPage County’s Search Records Online instructions and the official Online Documents portal. The system provides indexed recorded documents and digital images.

How far back do DuPage County deed records go?

The Recorder states that property records can be researched in the office from 1839 to present. Online indexed documents and digital images begin March 16, 1961, while PIN and address search coverage begin later.

Can I search DuPage County deeds by address?

Yes. DuPage County lists address-search coverage from 1995 to present. For older records or an address that produces no result, use the 10-digit PIN, party name, document number or Recorder Research.

Why does the Recorder tell me to search only one field?

Combining several filters can make the query too narrow. The Recorder’s official instructions specifically recommend completing only one field in the search portal before selecting Search.

How do I get a certified copy of my DuPage County deed?

Search the deed first, save the document number, and call Recorder Research at 630-407-5401 or email recorderresearch@dupagecounty.gov. Ask the person or institution requesting the deed whether certification is actually required.

How much does it cost to record a deed in DuPage County?

The Recorder’s current published fee schedule lists a standard Class 1 deed at $86 and a nonstandard document at $112. Always verify the live Recorder fee schedule before payment.

Can the Recorder tell me who legally owns a property today?

The Recorder provides the recorded documents. For a convenient current owner display and parcel profile, begin with DuPage Property Records, then open the Recorder deed to inspect the underlying transfer.

Does a Recorder search show every lien against a property?

It can reveal many recorded liens and related documents, but an informal public-record search is not the same as a professional title search. If your decision depends on insurable or legally complete title status, consider a title company or attorney.

Does DuPage County offer free property fraud alerts?

Yes. The Recorder’s Property Fraud Alert page currently provides free signup and lists 1-800-728-3858 as the subscription number.

Can I eRecord a deed in DuPage County?

Yes. DuPage currently supports eRecording of deeds and several other document types through approved vendors. The Recorder states that plats and DD-214s are not currently accepted for eRecording.

Official links

Official DuPage County and Illinois resources

DuPage County Recorder

Office information, search, forms, recording, fraud alerts and Recorder services.

Open Recorder home →

Search Records Online

Official search instructions, historical coverage and link to the document portal.

Open search instructions →

Recorder Online Documents

Search indexed land records and open available recorded-document images.

Search documents →

DuPage Property Records

Search by PIN or address for property profile, values, transfers, tax information and parcel details.

Search property →

Recorder Forms & Fees

Current county forms, deed forms, fee classifications, PTAX links and document standards.

Open forms & fees →

Transfer Stamps & Townships

Municipal transfer-stamp rates, township information and local PIN contacts.

Check transfer stamps →

Property Fraud Alert

Free signup route for notifications about matching recorded-document activity.

Open fraud alert →

Illinois MyDec / PTAX

State guidance for real-estate transfer declarations and the MyDec process.

Open Illinois guidance →

Final workflow

Fastest way to complete a DuPage County Recorder search

For most users, the best approach is simple: identify the parcel, search one strong field, verify the document details and then open the actual recorded image. Do not treat an owner display, search-result row or third-party property page as a substitute for the underlying deed when the exact recorded language matters.

Find the PIN or current property profile when needed.

Open the official Recorder search—not a paid third-party lookup.

Search only one field first.

Verify parties, document type, date and property clues.

Open and read the recorded PDF image.

Save the document number for follow-up research.

Order certification only if the receiving party requires it.

Use a title professional when a complete title determination is required.

Start DuPage Recorder search Find property / PIN Contact Recorder

Independent property-record guide. This page is designed to help users reach and understand the correct official DuPage County systems. It is not the DuPage County Recorder’s website and does not provide legal, tax or title advice. Recorder fees, search interfaces, document availability, municipal transfer-stamp rules, office hours and recording requirements can change. Verify time-sensitive requirements with the responsible government office before recording a document, paying a fee or relying on a record for a legal transaction.