How much does a copy of a Sangamon County deed cost?

The Recorder's current fee schedule lists non-certified copies at $2 for the first two pages plus 25 cents for each additional page. Certified copies of most documents are listed at $26. Confirm the current fee before ordering.

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

The current Recorder fee schedule lists a standard real-property recording fee of $64 and a non-standard fee of $84. Some documents exempt from the Rental Housing Support surcharge have different fees, and transfer taxes may also apply.

Can the Sangamon County Recorder perform a title search?

No. The Recorder provides access to recorded documents and can assist with locating information, but the office states that it cannot perform or guarantee a title search. A title company or qualified title professional may be needed when a complete insured title examination is required.

Where do I search Sangamon County property taxes and assessments?

Property tax and assessment information is handled through Sangamon County's property and tax systems rather than the Recorder's deed index. The county tax search accepts parcel number, owner name and property-address criteria.

Does Sangamon County offer property fraud alerts?

Yes. The Sangamon County Recorder offers a free Property Fraud Alert service that can notify a subscriber when a document is recorded containing the subscribed name.

Sangamon County, Illinois · Deeds, mortgages, liens, copies and land records

Sangamon County Recorder of Deeds: Search & Office

Q: Where is the Sangamon County Recorder of Deeds office?

The Sangamon County Recorder's Office is on the first floor of the County Building at 200 South Ninth Street, Springfield, Illinois 62701. The official office page lists the main telephone number as 217-535-3150.

Q: What are the Sangamon County Recorder office hours?

The official Recorder page currently lists office hours as 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Central Time, Monday through Friday. Check the county site before traveling because holidays or administrative closures can affect access.

Q: Can I search Sangamon County deeds online for free?

Yes. The Recorder's official Land Records Search page links to a Free Data Search for land-record index data without document images. The county also provides free public search terminals in the Recorder's office.

Q: How far back do Sangamon County deed records go online?

The Recorder's dedicated Land Records Search page states that online data and document images are available from 1982 to present. Deed books have been scanned back to February 16, 1901, and certain older deed records have also been indexed. Older research may require document-number or book-and-page information or an in-person search.

Use the Sangamon County Recorder of Deeds when you need a recorded deed, mortgage, release, lien, land-record document, plat or other instrument affecting real property in Sangamon County. The office is the county’s official land-record repository—not the property-tax assessor, Treasurer or Circuit Clerk.

This guide shows exactly where to search, which online option to choose, how to find an older deed, how to order a copy, what the Recorder currently charges to record common real-estate documents, and when you need another county office instead.

Open official land records search Recorder office page Office address & hours

RECORDER SEARCH DESK OFFICIAL ROUTES

1 · Land-record index Names · document number · recording date · legal description

2 · Recorded document image Deed · mortgage · release · lien · assignment

3 · Copy or certification Order from the Recorder when an official copy is required

4 · Record a new instrument Check document standards, fees, tax forms and return information first

Use the Recorder only for recorded land documents. If you want current assessment value, exemptions, parcel ownership data or property taxes, use Sangamon County’s assessment/tax system instead. If you want a court case, use the Circuit Clerk. Matching the task to the correct office can save a great deal of time.

County Recorder

Frank J. Lesko is listed as the current Sangamon County Recorder.

Office

First Floor, County Building, 200 South Ninth Street, Springfield, IL 62701.

Phone

217-535-3150

Current hours

8:00 AM–4:30 PM Central, Monday–Friday, according to the official office page.

Reviewed

Official county information checked October 19, 2026.

Start with your actual task

Which Sangamon County record do you need?

People searching for the Recorder often need different records that are maintained by different offices. Use this routing guide before opening a search portal.

DEED / MORTGAGE Recorded land document

Use the Recorder for deeds, mortgages, releases, assignments, recorded liens, plats and similar instruments.

Search Recorder records

OWNER / VALUE Assessment record

Use the county property search for parcel owner, assessment, exemptions and related tax information.

Use property search

TAX BILL Balance or payment

Use the Sangamon County tax system for current tax status, bills and property-tax actions.

Find tax records

COPY Copy of a deed

Locate the document first, then use the Recorder’s copy-request process when you need a paper or certified copy.

Order a deed copy

NEW RECORDING Record a deed or instrument

Check document standards, current fees, transfer-tax requirements and the correct supporting forms before filing.

Recording checklist

OLDER HISTORY Historic deed research

Older records may require book/page information, document numbers, microfilm or an in-person search.

Older-record strategy

Go directly to your Recorder task

Use these links to skip directly to the search, copy, recording or office information you need.

Official search workflow

How to search Sangamon County Recorder of Deeds records

Sangamon County’s official Land Records Search page is the safest starting point because it explains the county-supported search choices and record coverage in one place.

Open the Recorder’s official Land Records Search page Go to the county’s Land Records Search. Do not start with a random public-record website when you are trying to identify an official recorded instrument.

Decide whether you need index data or the actual image If you only need to identify a document, start with the county-linked Free Data Search. The Recorder describes this option as land-record data only, with no images.

Search the party name carefully Sangamon County describes the Recorder as a grantor/grantee office. Search the grantor—the person transferring an interest—or the grantee—the person receiving it. For a deed, this often means searching both a previous and current owner’s name.

Narrow the result with document information When available, use a recording date, document number, document type, legal description, parcel identifier or book-and-page reference to separate similarly named parties.

Open the matching record and verify it Confirm the names, document type, recording date and identifying information. A matching surname by itself is not enough to establish that the document belongs to the property you are researching.

Move to an image service or copy request when necessary If the free index identifies the document but you need to read the recorded instrument, use an image-access option authorized by the Recorder or request the document directly from the office.

Best efficiency tip: write down the document number, book/page reference and exact party names as soon as you identify the correct record. Those identifiers make later copy requests and historical research much easier.

Free vs paid access

Free Data Search, Tapestry or Laredo: which should you use?

The Recorder’s website offers three distinct remote-search paths. You do not need to buy a professional subscription if you only need one deed.

Sangamon County land-record search options
Option	Best for	Images	Current county guidance
Free Data Search	Finding document index information without paying for an image	No	County describes it as a free land-record data search with no images.
Tapestry	Occasional users who need document images	Yes	County’s Tapestry page currently lists $8.75 per index/image search and $1 per printed page.
Laredo	Title companies, researchers and other frequent users	Yes	Account-based subscription; contact the Recorder for current Sangamon County pricing.
Office terminals	In-person public research and older material	Varies by record	The Recorder says free public terminals are available in the office.

Open Free Data Search Read official Tapestry details Read official Laredo details

Tapestry, Laredo and the free remote search use outside search technology, but they are specifically linked by the Sangamon County Recorder as its remote-access options. You can always begin from the county’s own Land Records Search page to confirm that you are using the authorized route.

Practical deed lookup

How to find a Sangamon County deed when you do not know the document number

A deed search is easiest when you know the current owner’s name, the previous owner’s name, an approximate transfer date or the parcel number. If all you have is a street address, first identify the parcel and owner through Sangamon County’s property search, then use those names in the Recorder index.

You know the owner’s name Start with the surname or business name. Search broadly first, then narrow by date and document type.

You know only the address Search the county property system by house number and street name to identify the owner and parcel number before moving to the Recorder.

You know the parcel number Use it as a cross-check with the legal description or property record. Do not assume every recorded instrument is indexed primarily by parcel number.

What to verify before accepting a deed as the correct deed

Grantor and grantee names are consistent with the ownership chain.

Recording date makes sense for the transaction you are researching.

Legal description matches the land or subdivision.

Parcel identifier is consistent where one appears.

Document type is actually a deed rather than a mortgage, release or other instrument.

Document number or book/page reference is recorded for future retrieval.

A Recorder search is not the same as a guaranteed title search. The Recorder’s own FAQ states that staff can provide recorded information but cannot perform a title search for you. When a purchase, refinance, litigation matter or ownership dispute depends on the complete chain of title, consider a title company or qualified real-estate professional.

Historical records

How far back do Sangamon County Recorder records go?

The Recorder’s dedicated land-search page says online data and document images are available from 1982 to the present. It also states that deed books have been scanned back to February 16, 1901 and that deed records from 1950 through 1969 have been indexed and are available to view.

For a document dating back to 1901, the county says it may be viewable when you already have the document number and/or book and page. If you do not have those identifiers, older research may require the Recorder’s in-office microfiche or microfilm.

Searching before 1982? The Recorder’s FAQ specifically says research farther back generally requires a visit to the office. The office does not perform historical research for the public as a general service, so a title researcher may be appropriate for a lengthy chain-of-title project.

Efficient strategy for an old deed

Start with a known modern deed and identify the grantor.
Search that grantor as a grantee in an earlier transaction.
Record each document number or book/page reference.
Repeat backward through the ownership chain.
If the online index stops, take your collected names, dates and references to the Recorder’s office.

Records in Sangamon County extend back to the early 1800s, but the ability to retrieve a historic instrument online is not the same as the existence of the record itself.

Deed copies

How to get a copy of a Sangamon County deed

If you only need to read a deed, an online image may be sufficient. If you need a paper copy, certified copy or a copy for a formal transaction, use the Recorder’s own request process.

Identify the exact deed first Search the official index and write down the document number or book/page, recording date and parties.

Open the official Copy Requests page Use the Recorder’s Copy Requests page. The county provides the request process to help staff identify the correct recorded document.

Choose certified or non-certified A plain informational copy is not the same as a certified copy. Ask the agency, lender, attorney or other recipient what form it requires before paying for certification.

Verify the current cost The current fee page lists non-certified copies at $2 for the first two pages plus $0.25 for each additional page. Certified copies of most documents other than plats are listed at $26.

Use the office if you need help locating the document The Recorder’s Research Department can be reached through the main number at 217-535-3150.

The Recorder FAQ contains differing statements about how quickly original recorded documents are returned—one answer says the office’s goal is 3–5 business days, while another describes a 7–10 business-day return period. If timing is important, call the Recorder before mailing or filing.

Recording a document

Recording a deed or other real-estate document in Sangamon County

Recording is different from searching. A document presented for recording is reviewed for recording requirements, assigned a document number and recording date/time, scanned, indexed and preserved as part of the public record.

The Recorder provides several forms as a convenience, but the office explicitly warns that selecting and preparing a deed or other ownership-transfer instrument can require legal knowledge. Recorder staff cannot select the proper deed for your situation or provide legal advice about how to transfer ownership.

Before you submit a deed

Confirm the document is the correct legal instrument for the intended transfer.

Use black ink as required by the Recorder’s current fee/standards page.

Include the name and address of the document preparer.

Include a return-to name and mailing address.

Include tax-bill-to information when applicable.

Include the tax parcel ID and common address when required.

Check whether a PTAX-203 or transfer-tax exemption statement is required.

Confirm the exact recording fee before mailing or presenting the document.

The county’s FAQ says a sale of property for $100 or more generally requires a PTAX-203 to accompany the deed for transfer-tax purposes. A gift or another exempt transaction may require the appropriate exemption language instead. Use the county’s current forms and instructions for the transaction you are actually recording.

Official Recorder forms Current fee schedule Recording FAQs

Mailing a document for recording

The Recorder says original documents may be mailed for recording. Include the address where the original should be returned and payment in the exact required amount. The office’s published mailing destination is:

Sangamon County Recorder
200 South Ninth Street
First Floor
Springfield, IL 62701

Because fees and legal requirements depend on document type, verify the current fee page and contact the office before mailing when you are uncertain about the total.

Current published charges

Sangamon County Recorder fees

The following figures reflect the Recorder’s published fee schedule reviewed in October 2026. Recording laws and statutory surcharges can change, so verify the official fee schedule immediately before filing.

Common Recorder fees shown on the county’s current schedule
Service	Published fee	Practical note
Standard real-property recording	$64	Standard 8.5 × 11-inch document meeting the Recorder’s standardization requirements.
Non-standard recording	$84	Applies when listed non-standard requirements or surcharge conditions are triggered.
Standard surcharge-exempt document	$45	For listed documents exempt from the Rental Housing Support surcharge.
Non-standard surcharge-exempt document	$65	For qualifying exempt documents that do not meet standardization requirements.
Non-certified copy	$2 first two pages; $0.25 each additional page	Useful when certification is not required.
Certified copy	$26	Current schedule states this for documents other than plats.
Real-estate UCC filing	$34	Termination is separately listed at $14.
Genealogical search	$25	Copy charges may be additional.

The fee schedule also says certain deeds, easements and leases may require real-estate transfer-tax stamps. It currently lists the State portion as $0.50 per $500 of value and the County portion as $0.25 per $500, subject to applicable exemptions and current law.

Avoid the wrong office

Recorder deed search vs property owner, assessment and tax search

A recorded deed is evidence of a recorded transaction. The county assessment database is the faster tool when your immediate question is “Who is shown as the current owner?”, “What is the parcel number?”, “What is the assessed value?” or “What are the property taxes?”

Which Sangamon County system should you use?
You need	Best office/system	Why
Deed, mortgage, release or recorded lien	Recorder	These are recorded land instruments maintained in the Recorder index.
Current parcel owner display	Property/assessment search	Designed for parcel-level ownership and assessment information.
Assessment value or exemptions	Supervisor of Assessments	Assessment records and exemption administration are not Recorder functions.
Tax balance, payment or tax bill	County tax system / Treasurer	The Recorder does not collect property taxes.
Parcel map	County GIS / Parcel Viewer	GIS is designed for location and parcel-reference research.
Court judgment or lawsuit	Circuit Clerk	Court files are maintained separately from the Recorder’s land records.

Micro-guide: find an owner from an address, then find the deed

Open Sangamon County’s parcel search Use the official Search for Parcels.

Search by house number and street The county system accepts parcel number, owner name or property-address criteria. Use fewer fields when an overly specific search fails.

Record the exact owner name and parcel number The owner name gives you a grantor/grantee search term; the parcel information helps confirm that a Recorder result relates to the correct property.

Return to the Recorder’s Land Records Search Search the owner in the Recorder index and compare deed dates, document numbers and legal descriptions.

The Supervisor of Assessments states that a recorded deed is transmitted electronically to that office and that ownership updates in its assessment records may take roughly 4–6 weeks after recording. A newly recorded deed therefore may not appear immediately in the parcel-owner display.

Liens and ownership history

Searching liens and doing title research

Recorded liens are part of land-record research, but identifying every lien or title defect can be more complex than finding a single deed. The Recorder’s FAQ says recorded liens can be researched in the office and that lien information is not provided by telephone.

Sangamon County’s Land Records Search page also provides a link to the Illinois Department of Revenue’s State Tax Lien Registry for state tax liens and releases. Start from the official county land-record page to reach that resource.

Do not treat a simple name search as a complete title examination. Similar names, releases, assignments, probate matters, judgments, legal-description issues and other recorded interests can make title research complicated. The Recorder cannot guarantee title.

If you are checking a property before buying it

Find the parcel and current owner in the county property system.
Locate the current deed in the Recorder’s grantor/grantee index.
Trace prior deeds when ownership history matters.
Search relevant mortgages, releases and recorded liens.
Check tax status separately.
Use a title company or attorney when you need a complete professional title determination rather than informal research.

Free protection tool

Sign up for Sangamon County Property Fraud Alert

The Sangamon County Recorder provides a free Property Fraud Alert program. The service monitors subscribed names and can notify you when a document containing that name is recorded.

Open the Recorder’s official fraud-alert page Go to Sangamon County Property Fraud Alert.

Follow the Recorder’s registration link The county page routes users to its Property Fraud Alert registration service and explains the available notification options.

Register the names you want monitored Consider common name variations when appropriate so a document recorded under a variation is less likely to be overlooked.

Investigate unfamiliar alerts promptly An alert does not automatically mean fraud. Many alerts correspond to legitimate documents. If you do not recognize the recording, use the document number to investigate it with the Recorder.

Fraud alerts are an early-notification tool; they do not prevent a document from being recorded and do not replace professional legal assistance if a fraudulent instrument has already been filed.

Visit or call

Sangamon County Recorder of Deeds office information

Sangamon County Recorder

First Floor – County Building
200 South Ninth Street
Springfield, IL 62701

Phone & hours

217-535-3150

8:00 AM–4:30 PM Central
Monday–Friday

Official Recorder homepage Land Records Search Copy Requests

Office hours and contact information can change. If you are making a special trip for historical records, lien research, certification or a time-sensitive recording, check the official county page or call before traveling.

Common search problems

What to do when you cannot find the Sangamon County deed

The owner name returns nothing

Try only the surname, remove middle initials, test a prior owner’s name, and verify spelling in the property assessment record.

You only know the address

Use the county parcel search first. Recorder indexing is centered on recorded parties and document information rather than being a simple address directory.

The transfer happened recently

Confirm whether the deed has actually been recorded. Assessment ownership records may lag several weeks behind a recording.

The deed is too old for the online index

Gather the owner names, estimated transaction date and any book/page information, then use the Recorder’s in-office historical resources.

You found an index entry but no image

The free search is data-only. Use Tapestry, another county-authorized image option or request the copy from the Recorder.

You need proof of ownership for a legal purpose

Determine whether a certified deed copy or professional title product is required rather than relying on an online screen or informal printout.

Frequently asked questions

Sangamon County Recorder of Deeds FAQs

Where is the Sangamon County Recorder of Deeds office?

The Recorder is on the first floor of the County Building at 200 South Ninth Street, Springfield, IL 62701. The official Recorder page lists 217-535-3150 as the main phone number.

What are the Sangamon County Recorder office hours?

The official county Recorder page currently lists 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Central Time, Monday through Friday. Check the county site before traveling for holiday or administrative closures.

Can I search Sangamon County deeds online for free?

Yes. The Recorder’s official land-record page links to a Free Data Search for land-record data without document images. The office also provides free public search terminals for in-person research.

How far back can I search Sangamon County land records online?

The Recorder’s dedicated search page states that online data and images are available from 1982 to present. Deed books have been scanned back to February 16, 1901, and certain older records have been indexed. Historical searches may still require an in-person visit.

How much does a copy of my deed cost?

The Recorder’s current fee schedule lists non-certified copies at $2 for the first two pages plus $0.25 for every additional page. Certified copies of most documents other than plats are listed at $26. Verify the current schedule before ordering.

How much does Sangamon County charge to record a deed?

The published fee schedule currently lists $64 for a standard real-property recording and $84 for a non-standard recording. Transfer taxes or other charges can also apply depending on the transaction.

Can the Recorder tell me whether a property has clear title?

No. The Recorder provides access to the public land records but says it cannot perform a title search. If you need a complete or guaranteed title examination, use an appropriate title professional or attorney.

Where do I search by property address instead of owner name?

Use Sangamon County’s parcel search. It accepts parcel number, owner name and property-address information. Once you identify the owner, use the name in the Recorder’s grantor/grantee search.

Does Sangamon County have a property fraud alert?

Yes. The Recorder offers a free Property Fraud Alert that can notify you when a document is recorded containing a subscribed name.

Bottom line

Use the Recorder search that matches what you actually need

For most people, the fastest Sangamon County Recorder workflow is simple: use the county’s free land-record data search to identify the correct document, move to an image option only when you need to read the instrument, and order a copy from the Recorder when certification or an official paper copy is necessary.

If your question is really about a parcel owner, assessment, exemption, property-tax bill or map, start with the county property system instead of forcing the Recorder index to answer a question it was not designed to answer. For older title history, collect document numbers and book/page references as you work backward, then use the office’s historical resources when the online index ends.

Search official land records Request a recorded copy Check current fees