Knox County Recorder: Search Deeds, Records, Copies & Recording Fees
The Knox County Recorder is the office to use when you need a recorded deed, mortgage, mechanic’s lien, release, plat or another instrument affecting real property in Knox County, Indiana. The office is located in Vincennes and maintains the county’s official recorded-document archive.
This guide takes you directly from a property or owner name to the correct county office, explains how to request a deed or certified copy, lists the Recorder’s published fees and document rules, and shows what must happen before a deed is ready to record.
Kelley Kopp Hopwood is listed as the current Knox County Recorder.
111 North 7th Street, Suite 2, Vincennes, IN 47591.
The published schedule currently lists deeds and other documents at $25.
Official county resources checked October 17, 2026.
Which Knox County office do you really need?
Searching “Knox County Recorder” often means the user wants a deed, but it can also mean they are trying to identify an owner, pay a tax bill, transfer a newly signed deed or research a court record. Using the wrong office wastes time.
Use the Knox County Recorder for the recorded instrument and document copy.
Find a deed or recordUse the official Assessor property portal to identify the parcel before requesting a recorded document.
Identify the propertyThe Auditor works with deed transfers and property-tax deductions and exemptions.
Understand the transfer pathThe Treasurer—not the Recorder—handles Knox County property tax collection.
Go to the correct officeReview formatting, acknowledgments, addresses, redaction and transfer requirements first.
Prepare the documentThe Recorder links to a free property fraud notification service.
Set up an alertGo directly to your Knox County records task
Use the section that matches what you are trying to accomplish rather than reading county-office information that does not apply to your task.
What records does the Knox County Recorder keep?
A recorder preserves documents that establish, transfer, secure, release or otherwise affect interests in real property. Knox County’s official page specifically identifies deeds, mortgages, mechanic’s liens, releases and plats among the documents regularly maintained by a recorder.
| Record | What it generally shows | Common reason to obtain it |
|---|---|---|
| Deed | The recorded instrument transferring an interest in real property. | Verify the recorded conveyance, legal description or grantor/grantee information. |
| Mortgage | A recorded security interest connected to real estate. | Research financing, encumbrances or a historical chain of records. |
| Release | A recorded document releasing or satisfying a previously recorded interest. | Confirm that a prior mortgage or lien has a corresponding release. |
| Mechanic’s lien | A lien filing associated with labor, materials or improvements when statutory requirements are met. | Investigate a lien appearing in property or title research. |
| Plat | Recorded subdivision or land-layout information where applicable. | Research lots, subdivisions and recorded land references. |
| UCC filing | Certain Uniform Commercial Code filings handled by the Recorder. | Research a filing or submit an applicable county-level UCC record. |
Identify the Knox County property before requesting a deed
If you already know the grantor, grantee, instrument number or book-and-page reference, you can move directly to the Recorder. If all you have is a street address, first identify the parcel through the official Knox County Assessor property portal.
How to find a Knox County deed or recorded document
Knox County’s official Recorder page provides the office contact information, published fees and document rules. At the time of this review, the county page does not prominently publish a direct self-service deed-image search link alongside those resources. For a record you cannot retrieve through a county-provided search interface, contact the Recorder directly and provide enough indexing information to identify the document.
Prepare as many of these details as possible
How to request the right type of Recorder copy
Useful when you need to read the deed, confirm a legal description, research a chain of documents or keep a reference copy for your own records.
Includes the Recorder’s certification. Use this when a court, lender, agency or other recipient specifically requires an officially certified copy.
The office’s published fee table includes a charge for a name search. Provide precise names and dates so the requested research is as focused as possible.
Knox County Recorder fees
The official Knox County Recorder page currently publishes the following charges. Recording fees can change and unusual instruments can involve additional statutory or transaction-specific charges, so verify the total before mailing or delivering a document.
| Service or document | Published fee | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Mortgage | $55 | County page says this includes rerecorded and subordinate mortgages and supplemental indentures. |
| Deeds, UCCs & other documents | $25 | Confirm the classification of your specific instrument before submission. |
| Additional page exceeding 8½ × 14 | $5 | The office separately publishes maximum standard document-size requirements; ask how an oversized document will be handled. |
| Mechanic’s lien with one first-class mailing | $25 | Additional mailings are charged separately. |
| Each additional mechanic’s-lien mailing | $2 | Confirm how many notices or mailings apply to the filing. |
| Copy, 11 × 17 or smaller | $1 per page | Add certification when a certified copy is required. |
| Copy larger than 11 × 17 | $5 per page | Often relevant to larger-format recorded material. |
| Certification | $5 | This is in addition to applicable copy charges. |
| UCC lien — 2 pages or fewer | $6 | Initial filing or amendment. |
| UCC lien — 3 pages or more | $10 | Initial filing or amendment. |
| Search — one name | $7 | Useful when requesting office search assistance. |
| Each additional searched name | $5 | Narrow the names and recording period when possible. |
How to record a deed with the Knox County Recorder
Recording is not simply a matter of taking a signed page to the Recorder. Indiana conveyances can involve acknowledgment, document-format rules, required addresses, a sales disclosure, and an Auditor step before the Recorder accepts the transfer.
Confirm names, legal description, signatures, acknowledgment and required statements.
Complete the applicable Indiana disclosure documentation for the conveyance.
Obtain the required county Auditor endorsement before the deed is recorded.
Submit the accepted instrument with the correct recording fee.
Knox County document formatting requirements
| Requirement | Published rule | What to check before filing |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | Conveyances and mortgages must be properly acknowledged. | Verify the notarial acknowledgment is complete before submission. |
| Printed names | Names must be printed, stamped or typed beneath applicable signatures. | Make sure each signature can be associated with a readable name. |
| Copy identification | A submitted copy should be marked “Copy.” | Identify a copy as such when applicable. |
| Paper | White paper, no larger than 8½ × 14 inches, at least 20-pound weight and not continuously bound. | Use clean individual sheets that reproduce clearly. |
| First/last page margins | At least 2 inches at top and bottom and ½ inch on each side. | Leave sufficient blank recording space. |
| Interior-page margins | At least ½ inch on all sides. | Keep text and signatures out of required margins. |
| Text | Computer generated or typed with at least 10-point font. | Make sure the document remains clearly reproducible. |
| Preparer | The person preparing the instrument must be identified. | Include the required preparer statement. |
| Notary details | County page states notarized documents require county residence of notary and commission expiration. | Review the notarial certificate and required information carefully. |
| Sensitive numbers | Do not include full Social Security or other personal identification numbers. | Review every page before making a public filing. |
Why the Knox County Auditor matters before a deed is recorded
A common reason for a deed-recording delay is assuming the Recorder is the only office involved. Knox County’s Recorder instructions state that a transfer of deeds for taxation requires an endorsement by the County Auditor before recording.
The Auditor handles land-transfer functions and works closely with the Assessor and Recorder. The county also lists property-tax deductions and exemptions through this office.
Use the official Indiana State Form 46021 when the transaction requires the sales disclosure. Do not rely on an old form saved from a previous transfer.
Do not stop after finding only the deed
A deed answers an important question—what conveyance was recorded—but a property-record investigation may require more. Mortgages, mechanic’s liens, releases and other instruments can be recorded separately and indexed under different parties or dates.
Record the mortgage’s instrument reference and then look for a later release or satisfaction connected to the same obligation.
Do not assume an older lien remains outstanding solely because the lien document exists. Search for releases, satisfactions or other subsequent filings.
Work backward from a known owner or deed and follow prior recorded references and party names. A complete title examination may require professional assistance.
Set up a Knox County property fraud alert
The Knox County Recorder’s official page links residents to a free Property Fraud Alert service. The service is designed to notify you when a document is recorded in the office using the monitored name.
Recorder vs Assessor vs Auditor vs Treasurer vs Court Clerk
| Office | Use it for | Do not use it as a substitute for |
|---|---|---|
| Recorder | Deeds, mortgages, liens, releases, plats, recorded instruments and copies. | Property assessment, tax payment or court-case files. |
| Assessor | Property identification, assessed property information and parcel-related assessment records. | The actual recorded deed or legal title analysis. |
| Auditor | Land-transfer functions, deed-transfer processing and property-tax deduction/exemption administration listed by the county. | The final recorded instrument. |
| Treasurer | Property tax bills and payments. Knox County states tax installments are due May 10 and November 10 each year. | A deed or lien search. |
| Clerk of the Courts | Court records, court payments, marriage-license functions and other court-clerk responsibilities. | Recorder land records. |
Common Knox County deed and record-search problems
| Problem | Likely explanation | Best next action |
|---|---|---|
| You only know the property address | Recorded documents may be easier to locate by party name or recording reference. | Use the official Assessor portal first to identify the owner and property number. |
| The current owner does not find the older deed | The deed may be indexed under a prior grantor/grantee name. | Search the seller or earlier owner’s name and approximate transfer year. |
| A recent purchase still shows the prior owner elsewhere | Different county systems can update on different schedules. | First confirm that the deed actually recorded, then use its recording reference when contacting the office responsible for the outdated display. |
| You found a mortgage but do not know whether it was paid | The original mortgage remains part of the historical record even after payoff. | Look for a later release, satisfaction or other corresponding filing. |
| You need proof for a court or agency | An ordinary photocopy may not meet the recipient’s requirements. | Ask whether the recipient requires a certified Recorder copy before ordering. |
| A deed was rejected or cannot be recorded | The document may be missing formatting, acknowledgment, address, Auditor or disclosure requirements. | Compare the document against the Recorder’s published rules and ask the office what deficiency must be corrected. |
| You are researching very old Knox County records | Historic material may require older indexes, archival formats or local historical collections. | Start with the Recorder and ask how the relevant period is indexed before assuming modern online search methods will cover it. |
Knox County Recorder contact information
Vincennes, IN 47591
Phone: 812-885-2508
Fax: 812-885-2509
General email: kcr@knoxcounty.in.gov
The county’s official page lists Kelley Kopp Hopwood as Knox County Recorder.
Direct email published by the county: KHopwood@knoxcounty.in.gov
Officeholders and contact information can change. Recheck the county page before relying on saved contact details.
Official Knox County and Indiana record resources
Recorder contact details, current recording fees, formatting rules and fraud-alert link.
Open RecorderIdentify a property using owner, address or property number before requesting a deed.
Search propertyLand-transfer functions and county property-tax deduction or exemption information.
Open AuditorProperty tax bills, due dates and payment methods.
Open TreasurerOfficial State Form 46021 for applicable real-property transfers.
Open State Form 46021Free notification service linked by the Knox County Recorder.
Open fraud-alert serviceKnox County Recorder FAQs
What does the Knox County Recorder in Indiana record?
The Recorder maintains recorded documents affecting real property. Knox County specifically identifies deeds, mortgages, mechanic’s liens, releases and plats among the documents regularly recorded and researched through the office.
Where is the Knox County Recorder’s Office?
The official county page lists the office at 111 North 7th Street, Suite 2, Vincennes, Indiana 47591. The main telephone number is 812-885-2508.
How do I search a Knox County property when I only have the address?
Start with the official Knox County Assessor property portal at engage.xsoftinc.com/knox. Search the address, verify the parcel, record the owner and property number, and use those identifiers when requesting the deed or related filing from the Recorder.
How much does Knox County charge to record a deed?
The Recorder’s currently published schedule lists deeds, UCCs and other documents at $25. Because fees are subject to change and special documents can be treated differently, verify the current total with the Recorder before submitting.
How much is a certified copy of a Knox County deed?
The office currently lists copies 11 × 17 inches or smaller at $1 per page and document certification at $5. A certified copy therefore generally involves the applicable copy charge plus the certification charge. Confirm the final amount before ordering.
Can the Recorder tell me whether a property has clear title?
The Recorder can provide the documents in the public record, but the existence of a deed or owner name in an index is not a legal title opinion. Determining title, lien priority, unresolved interests or the legal effect of documents can require professional title or legal analysis.
Is an assessor property record the same as a recorded deed?
No. The Assessor property record helps identify and administer the parcel for assessment purposes. The recorded deed is the actual conveyance instrument filed with the Recorder. Use the Assessor to identify the property and the Recorder when the deed itself matters.
Do I need a Sales Disclosure Form when recording a Knox County deed?
Knox County’s published Recorder requirements state that a Sales Disclosure Form is required with a deed. Indiana’s official form is State Form 46021. Special transactions can have different requirements or exceptions, so confirm the procedure for the specific transfer.
Who handles property tax payments in Knox County?
The Knox County Treasurer handles property tax bills and payments. The county states that property tax bills are due May 10 and November 10 each year. Use the Recorder for land documents rather than tax payments.
Does Knox County provide a property fraud alert?
Yes. The Recorder’s official page links to a free Property Fraud Alert service. It can notify you when a document is recorded using a monitored name, giving you an opportunity to investigate an unfamiliar filing.
The fastest route to the correct Knox County record
If you need a recorded deed, mortgage, lien, release, plat or certified copy, start with the Knox County Recorder. If you only know the address, first use the official Knox County property portal to identify the parcel and owner information, then take those identifiers to the Recorder.
If you are recording a deed, do not skip the preparation stages: confirm the acknowledgment and formatting, protect sensitive information, complete the applicable Indiana Sales Disclosure Form, complete the required Auditor transfer step, verify the current fee and retain the final recording reference after filing.