Lake County IL Recorder Office: Address, Records & Deed Search
If you are looking for the Lake County Recorder Office, the first thing to know is that Lake County no longer operates a separate elected Recorder of Deeds office. Recorder duties are now handled by the Recording Division of the Lake County Clerk’s Office in Waukegan.
Use this office when you need a recorded deed, mortgage, lien, release, subdivision plat, document number, recording copy or help submitting a document for recording. This guide shows exactly which official system to use, what to search, how to order copies and when another Lake County office—not the recorder—is the correct destination.
Lake County recorder guide: go directly to your task
Choose the section that matches why you came to this page. You do not need to read the article in order.
Which Lake County office actually has the record you need?
One of the most common mistakes is treating every property-related record as a “recorder record.” Lake County separates recorded land documents, tax-account information, assessments, court cases and vital records. Using the correct system first can save a trip to Waukegan.
Use the Recording Division. These are recorded land documents.
Search recorded documents →Use Lake County’s property-tax system rather than the Recording Division.
Open property tax search →Assessment questions belong with the assessment system and local township assessor, not the recorder.
Open assessment resources →These are handled by the Lake County Clerk’s Vital Records Division.
Open Vital Records →Start with the Circuit Court Clerk. A recorded lien may appear in land records, but the court case itself is separate.
Open Circuit Court Clerk →The Recording Division warns that individual plats of survey are not normally filed with the office.
See what to do instead →How to search Lake County deeds and recorded property records
The quickest route for most users is the county’s Official Records Search. The search can return recorded land records using indexed information such as grantor/grantee names, subdivision, document type or document number.
Open Lake County Official Records Search
How to find an older or difficult Lake County record
Land-record research is not always a simple address lookup. Recorded documents are indexed primarily around the legal document and the parties involved, which means a search can fail even when the document exists.
| Problem | Why it happens | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Searching only by property address | Street address is not always the primary indexing method for a recorded instrument. | Search party names, document number, subdivision or legal-description clues. |
| PIN search misses a document | Lake County notes that a PIN is not required on every recorded document and older index data may not contain one. | Search grantor/grantee names and recording date instead of relying only on the PIN. |
| Common owner surname | A broad surname may return many unrelated records. | Use Advanced Search, exact-name options, date limits and document type. |
| Old pre-digital document | Older records may be indexed differently from modern documents. | Use the historical index tools or ask Recording Division staff how to begin tracing the record. |
| Recent deed is missing | A newly recorded instrument may not yet be included in the certified searchable index. | Check the portal’s current certified-through date and document recording stamp. |
| Ownership name looks wrong | The tax, assessment and recording systems serve different functions and may update on different schedules. | First verify the recorded deed itself, then compare the relevant property-tax or assessment record. |
Records available through the Lake County Recording Division
The Recording Division records, preserves and retrieves a broad range of public instruments. The office says its records date back to 1844.
Warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds and other recorded instruments transferring real-estate interests.
Recorded mortgage instruments affecting Lake County real estate.
Mortgage releases and other recorded instruments showing that a recorded obligation has been released.
Recorded liens and lien releases that become part of the county’s public land-record system.
Recorded subdivision plats and related plat records. These are different from an individual property’s private survey.
The office also identifies ordinances, annexations, UCC filings, incorporation records and military discharge records among its holdings.
How to get a copy of a Lake County deed or recorded document
If you already know the document number, ordering a copy is much easier. If you do not, search the online index first and write down the document number, recording date and parties.
Visit the Recording Division at 18 N County Street, 6th Floor, Waukegan. Public access to recorded documents is available through the office.
The county says copies may also be requested by mail, phone, email or fax. Contact the office first when you are unsure of the document number or total fee.
Review official Recording & Copy Fees
How to record a deed in Lake County, Illinois
Recording a deed is different from searching for a deed. A document presented for recording must meet legal and formatting requirements, include required transfer-tax material when applicable and be submitted with the correct fee.
Open Lake County recording forms
Open official PTAX-203 information
Check the current fee schedule
Lake County recording requirements checklist
A document that does not satisfy Lake County and Illinois recording requirements can be rejected or treated as non-standard. For a typical deed, review each item before mailing or visiting the office.
What makes a document “standard” for fee purposes?
Lake County’s current fee guidance incorporates Illinois document-standardization rules. Among the common standards: sheets generally should be 8½ × 11 inches, on qualifying white paper, legibly printed, have required margins and leave a blank recording area in the upper-right portion of the first page. A document that falls within a statutory non-standard category can carry the higher non-standard fee.
Lake County recording and copy fees
The following figures are the county’s currently published amounts. Because statutory fees can change, use the official fee page as the final check immediately before recording.
| Service or filing | Current published amount | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Standard document | $70 | Common base fee for a document meeting the statutory standard-document definition. |
| Non-standard document | $82 | Applies when the document falls within the statutory non-standard definition. |
| Federal/state lien or release; UCC termination | $43 | Specialized filing category. |
| UCC-1 / certain UCC-3 filings | $58 | Includes listed financing statement and amendment categories. |
| Recorded document copy | $1 per page | General copy charge for recorded documents. |
| Plat copy | $5 per page | Separate published plat-copy rate. |
Lake County lists cash, checks payable to the Lake County Clerk, and Discover, MasterCard and Visa as payment options. State, county or municipal transfer taxes can be additional to the recording fee.
PTAX-203, transfer taxes and municipal stamps
A deed conveying Illinois real estate may trigger transfer-tax documentation in addition to the recorder’s base filing requirements. Lake County participates in the Illinois Department of Revenue’s MyDec system for preparing and submitting real-estate transfer declarations.
Review Lake County PTAX instructions
How to check whether a mortgage release was recorded
Paying off a mortgage does not mean you should assume the public land record has already been updated. The useful document is the recorded release or satisfaction showing that the recorded mortgage obligation has been released.
Use Lake County Property Check to monitor new recordings
Lake County offers Property Check, a free notification service designed to alert subscribers when a document is recorded against a registered name or property. Notifications can be sent by email or text.
Lake County Recorder office address, hours and visit information
Recording Division
18 N County Street, 6th Floor
Waukegan, IL 60085
Monday–Friday: 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Phone: 847-377-2575
Email: recorder@lakecountyil.gov
Fax: 847-984-5860
Before driving to Waukegan
The Recording Division is inside the Lake County Court and Administrative Complex. Lake County says visitors have several parking options, including a county parking garage, city parking lots and metered parking. The complex also uses security screening, so allow extra time before an appointment or filing deadline.
Records the Lake County Recording Division does not normally provide
| You need | Recorder? | Better starting point |
|---|---|---|
| Current property tax bill or payment status | No | Lake County property tax search |
| Assessment or valuation | No | Chief County Assessment Office |
| Birth, death or marriage certificate | No | Lake County Vital Records |
| Individual plat of survey | Usually no | Check closing documents or contact a licensed professional land surveyor. |
| Blueprint or construction drawing | Usually no | Start with the relevant municipal or county building department. |
| Full guaranteed title search | No | Title company or qualified legal professional. |
| Court case file | No | Lake County Circuit Court Clerk |
Can the Lake County Recorder perform a title search?
No. Recording Division staff can provide access to recorded information and can help users begin navigating public records, but Lake County states that the office cannot perform or guarantee a full title search.
That distinction matters because a true title examination can require more than finding the newest deed. Depending on the transaction, a professional search may consider earlier deeds, mortgages, releases, judgments, liens, probate matters, easements, restrictions, tax issues and other documents that can affect the estate or interest being conveyed.
Which record should you search? Real-world examples
Search the official land-record index for the current owner’s name, locate the deed and inspect the grantor/grantee information and legal description.
Search for the recorded release associated with the mortgage. If your lender mailed you an unstamped release, verify whether it still needs to be recorded.
Do not search deeds. Use Lake County’s property-tax search with the parcel, owner or address information.
Locate the deed in the Recording Division’s official records and verify the document number, recorded date and image.
Check your closing package first. The Recording Division states that individual plats of survey are not normally filed there.
A deed changes legal ownership interests and can have legal or tax consequences. Review county recording requirements and obtain professional advice when needed before preparing a new instrument.
Lake County IL Recorder Office frequently asked questions
What is the address of the Lake County IL Recorder Office?
The Recording Division of the Lake County Clerk’s Office is at 18 N County Street, 6th Floor, Waukegan, IL 60085. The main recording phone number is 847-377-2575.
Is there still a Lake County Recorder of Deeds?
Not as a separate elected county office. The former Recorder of Deeds Office officially merged into the Lake County Clerk’s Office on December 1, 2022. Recorder services are now provided by the County Clerk’s Recording Division.
What are the Lake County Recording Division hours?
The county currently lists office hours as 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Check the county calendar before visiting around holidays or known closures.
Can I search Lake County deeds online for free?
Lake County provides an online Official Records Search. Search availability and image-access rules can depend on the portal and record. Start with Lake County’s Official Records Search.
Can I search for a deed by owner name?
Yes. The official portal supports party-name searches. For better results, enter names in surname-first format and use Advanced Search when you need an exact grantor or grantee.
Why can’t I find a document using the property’s PIN?
Lake County warns that PINs are not required on every recorded document and that older index information may not contain a PIN. Search by grantor/grantee name, document number, recording date or other indexed information instead.
How much does it cost to record a deed in Lake County?
The county currently lists $70 for a standard document and $82 for a non-standard document. Other document categories have different fees, and real-estate transfer taxes can be additional. Always verify the current fee schedule before filing.
How much does a copy of a recorded deed cost?
Lake County currently lists ordinary recorded-document copies at $1 per page and plats at $5 per page. Confirm the current amount if you need certification or another specialized service.
Can the Recording Division tell me whether a property has clear title?
No. The office can provide access to public recorded documents but does not perform or guarantee a complete title search. Lake County advises that title companies and legal professionals perform professional title research.
Where do I search Lake County property taxes?
Use the county’s separate property tax search. A deed or mortgage search is not the same as checking a tax balance.
Lake County recording links worth bookmarking
Office services, forms, programs and recorder information.
lakecountyil.gov/RecorderSearch indexed Lake County land-record documents.
Open official records searchCheck current recording charges and document-copy fees.
Open fee scheduleAccess county-provided recording forms and supporting documents.
Open recording formsReview transfer-declaration forms and MyDec guidance.
Open PTAX resourcesRegister for notifications about newly recorded documents.
Open Property CheckUse the Recording Division for the document—not every property question
The most useful way to think about the Lake County Recorder Office is as Lake County’s official repository for recorded real-estate and related instruments. Today that function sits inside the Lake County Clerk’s Recording Division.
If you need a deed, mortgage, lien, release, recording copy or document number, start with the official land-record search. If you need to record a deed, review the recording requirements, PTAX documentation, municipal transfer requirements and current fee schedule before submitting it. If you need taxes, assessments, court files, vital records or an individual survey, route the request to the office that actually controls that information.
For an in-person visit, go to 18 N County Street, 6th Floor, Waukegan, IL 60085, or call 847-377-2575 when you need confirmation about a particular recording procedure.