Knox County Recorder: Deeds, Mortgages, Property Records, Fees & Office Guide
The Knox County Recorder in Vincennes, Indiana is the office that records and preserves public documents tied to real-property rights, including deeds, mortgages, mechanic’s liens, releases, plats and related records.
This guide explains how to use the Recorder’s Office correctly, what fees are listed for deeds and mortgages, what formatting rules can delay recording, why deed transfers need Auditor endorsement, when to use the Assessor or Treasurer instead, and how to sign up for property-fraud alerts.
What Does the Knox County Recorder Do?
The Knox County Recorder provides a public recording location for documents affecting real-property rights in Knox County, Indiana. Typical recorded documents include deeds, mortgages, mechanic’s liens, releases and plats.
Use the Recorder For
- Recording deeds and mortgages.
- Finding deed and mortgage references.
- Mechanic’s liens, releases and plats.
- Copies and certified copies.
- UCC lien filings listed by the county.
- Property Fraud Alert signup.
Do Not Use the Recorder For
- Property-tax payments.
- Assessed-value disputes.
- Tax deduction or exemption applications.
- Legal advice or deed drafting.
- Title insurance or ownership guarantees.
- Property-card assessment questions.
Best First Step
If you need a copy or want to research ownership history, collect the owner name, parcel number, document type, book/page or other reference before contacting the Recorder. If you only have a street address or assessment question, start with the Assessor’s Engage portal.
Recorder vs Auditor vs Assessor vs Treasurer in Knox County, Indiana
Deed recording, tax deductions, property cards and tax bills are connected, but they are handled by different offices. Use this table before calling or visiting.
| Question or Task | Correct Office | Phone | Why This Office Handles It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Record a deed, mortgage, mechanic’s lien, release or plat | Knox County Recorder | 812-885-2508 | The Recorder maintains public records relating to real estate ownership and recorded property-right documents. |
| Deed transfer endorsement, homestead/mortgage deduction forms, tax-sale or redemption questions | Knox County Auditor | 812-885-2502 | The Auditor page says the office works with the Assessor and Recorder and handles exemptions, deed transfers, tax sales and sales redemptions. |
| Property card, assessed value, Form 11, assessment appeal, parcel lookup | Knox County Assessor | 812-885-2513 | The Assessor locates, identifies and appraises taxable property and provides access to Engage for property taxes, property cards, assessment notices and appeals. |
| Property-tax bill, tax payment, due dates, receipts and online payments | Knox County Treasurer | 812-885-2506 | The Treasurer page lists property-tax bills as due May 10 and November 10 and provides payment options. |
| Deed drafting, legal ownership dispute, title search, lien priority, estate transfer or trust issue | Attorney or title company | Not a county staff service | The Recorder records eligible documents but does not replace legal advice, title insurance or a professional title search. |
How to Search Knox County Deeds and Property Records
Knox County’s public property workflow usually starts with either the Recorder for recorded documents or the Assessor’s Engage portal for property cards, parcel information, assessment notices and appeals. Use the right starting point based on the information you already have.
Search by Owner or Name
Use owner names when looking for deeds, mortgages, releases or other recorded documents tied to a person, business, trust or prior owner. Search broadly first, then narrow by document type, recording date or property clues.
Search by Property or Parcel
Use the Assessor’s Engage portal when you need a property card, parcel number, assessment information, tax notice review or appeal access. Engage supports searches by owner, address or property number.
Search Tax Bills Separately
If your question is about paying property taxes, use the Treasurer’s tax tools instead of Recorder records. Treasurer search can use parcel number, name or property address, but it is not a deed-record search.
Best Workflow for Finding a Knox County Deed or Mortgage
Confirm the State and County First
Make sure the property is in Knox County, Indiana. There are several Knox Counties in the United States, and Tennessee, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana use different offices and systems.
Use the Assessor When You Only Have an Address
If all you have is a street address, use Engage or the county property tools to find the owner, property number, parcel details or property-card information before requesting Recorder help.
Collect a Recorder-Friendly Reference
Recorder research is easier when you have a grantor/grantee name, book/page, document type, parcel number, recording date, mortgage lender name or prior deed reference.
Request the Correct Copy Type
Decide whether you need an ordinary copy, a larger plat copy or a certified copy. The county lists copy and certification fees separately, so the final cost depends on the record size and copy type.
Use a Professional for Title Conclusions
Recorder documents are public records, but they do not guarantee ownership status, lien priority, title defects or boundary location. Use a title company, surveyor or attorney when legal reliance matters.
How to Read a Knox County Recorder Search Result
A recorded deed or mortgage is useful, but it must be read carefully. Use these fields to understand what you are looking at before ordering copies or preparing a new document.
| Field or Clue | What It Usually Means | How to Use It Safely |
|---|---|---|
| Grantor | The person or entity transferring, mortgaging, releasing or signing the interest shown in the document. | Check spelling, initials, trust names, estate names, marital status and business names before assuming it is the correct person. |
| Grantee | The person or entity receiving the deed, mortgage interest, release or other recorded benefit. | Compare with the Assessor’s property card if your goal is current ownership research. |
| Document type | May identify a deed, mortgage, mechanic’s lien, release, UCC, plat or other recorded instrument. | Document type changes meaning. A mortgage is not the same as a deed transferring ownership. |
| Book/page or recording reference | The Recorder reference used to find and discuss the exact record. | Save this before calling, mailing a copy request or using the record in a title-review workflow. |
| Legal description | The formal land description used for recording and title purposes. | Do not replace the legal description with only a street address when preparing a conveyance. |
| Recorded date | The date the Recorder accepted the document into public records. | This may be different from the signing date, closing date or effective date. |
How to Record a Deed, Mortgage or Real-Property Document in Knox County
Knox County’s Recorder page lists specific document-formatting requirements. Documents that do not meet Indiana and county recording standards can be delayed, rejected or require correction before recording.
Document Checklist
- Proper acknowledgement for a conveyance or mortgage.
- Printed, stamped or typed names under signatures, witnesses and notary.
- White paper no larger than 8.5" × 14".
- Twenty-pound paper weight and not continuously bound.
- First and last page with at least 2-inch top and bottom margins.
- Additional pages with at least ½-inch margins.
- Typed or computer-generated text of at least 10-point font.
- “This instrument prepared by NAME” or other required preparer statement.
- Notary county residence and commission expiration on notarized documents.
- No full Social Security numbers or personal identification numbers.
Extra Rules for Deed Transfers
For a deed transfer, Knox County says the document needs Auditor endorsement before recording. The grantee’s name and address must appear on conveyance documents, and a Sales Disclosure form is required with the deed.
If the deed involves an estate, trust, divorce, survivorship, contract sale, land split, business transfer or lien issue, have the document prepared or reviewed before bringing it to the Recorder.
Knox County Recorder Fees for Deeds, Mortgages, UCCs, Copies and Searches
The Recorder page lists practical fees for common recordings and copies. Fees can change, so verify the current county page or call the Recorder before mailing or presenting documents.
| Record or Service | County-Listed Fee | What It Means for Users |
|---|---|---|
| Mortgages | $55.00 | Includes rerecorded and subordinate mortgages and supplemental indentures, according to the county page. |
| Deeds, UCCs and other documents | $25.00 | Common starting estimate for deeds and many non-mortgage documents listed by the Recorder. |
| Additional page exceeding 8.5" × 14" | $5.00 | Applies when a page exceeds the listed size requirement within any document. |
| Mechanic’s lien with one first-class mailing | $25.00 | Listed lien recording amount when one first-class mailing is included. |
| Additional mechanic’s lien mailing | $2.00 each | Add for each additional mailing needed with the mechanic’s lien process. |
| Copy 11" × 17" or smaller | $1.00 per page | Use for standard-size paper copies. |
| Copy larger than 11" × 17" | $5.00 per page | Use for larger-format recorded documents, maps or plat-related copies when applicable. |
| Certified document | $5.00 | Add when an official certified copy is needed by a lender, court, agency or title company. |
| UCC liens, initial filing or amendments, 2 pages or less | $6.00 | Listed fee for shorter UCC lien filings or amendments. |
| UCC liens, 3 pages or more | $10.00 | Listed fee for longer UCC filings. |
| Search, one name | $7.00 | Listed search fee for one name. |
| Each additional name | $5.00 | Add when requesting more than one name search. |
Knox County Recorder Fee Estimator
This calculator uses the fees listed on the Knox County Recorder page. It is only an estimate and does not replace an official fee quote from the Recorder.
Extra field means certifications for certified copies, additional mailings for mechanic’s liens, or additional names for name-search requests. Extra-page formatting fees may apply when pages exceed 8.5" × 14"; call the Recorder for unusual documents.
Property Fraud Alert, Copies and Public-Record Privacy
Property Fraud Alert
Knox County says it offers a free service that alerts you if a document is recorded in the Recorder’s Office with your name on it. This can help you notice suspicious recordings earlier.
Certified Copies
Use a certified copy when a court, lender, agency or title company requires official proof of a recorded document. The county lists certification separately from ordinary copy-page fees.
Public Record Caution
Knox County’s formatting rules say documents should not contain full Social Security numbers or other personal identification numbers. Review documents carefully before recording.
Knox County Recorder Office Address, Phone and Contact Details
The Recorder’s Office is located in the Knox County Courthouse area in Vincennes. Bring or mail documents with the correct fee and required Auditor endorsement when a deed transfer is involved.
Knox County Recorder
Recorder: Kelley Kopp Hopwood
Address:
111 North 7th Street, Suite 2
Vincennes, IN 47591
Phone: 812-885-2508
Fax: 812-885-2509
Email: kcr@knoxcounty.in.gov
Recorder email listed for official: KHopwood@knoxcounty.in.gov
Open Recorder Map ↗Official Knox County Recorder Links and What to Do After Opening Them
Use these official and county-linked resources for current contact details, recording rules, property search, tax bills and fraud-alert setup. Each important link includes a short action guide.
Knox County Recorder — Official Department Page
Official county page for Recorder contact details, deed/mortgage recording fees, formatting requirements and Property Fraud Alert.
- Confirm the page is for Knox County, Indiana.
- Review Recorder contact details and the 111 North 7th Street, Suite 2 location.
- Scroll to Recording Fees before mailing or visiting.
- Read Document Formatting Requirements before signing, notarizing or submitting a deed.
- Use the Property Fraud Alert link if you want recording notifications.
Knox County Assessor — Official Department Page
Use the Assessor for property cards, assessed value, property characteristics, assessment notices and appeals.
- Open this page if your question is about assessed value or property characteristics.
- Use the Engage link for property taxes, property card, Form 11 notices and appeal access.
- Collect parcel or property-number details before contacting the Recorder for document research.
- Use DLGF or IBTR links only when the issue is statewide assessment law or appeal review.
Knox County Engage Property Portal
Official county-linked property portal for searching by owner, address or property number.
- Enter owner name, property address or property number.
- Open the property record and verify the parcel/property details.
- Use the property card, tax or Form 11 tools if needed.
- Do not rely on Engage data as legal title proof; use Recorder records and title professionals for legal reliance.
Knox County Auditor
Correct office for deed-transfer endorsement, deductions/exemption forms, tax-sale and redemption-related routing.
- Use this page before recording a deed transfer that needs Auditor endorsement.
- Look for property tax deduction forms such as homestead, mortgage, over-65 and disability-related forms.
- Contact the Auditor if a deed transfer, deduction or tax-sale question is involved.
- Return to the Recorder only after required Auditor steps are complete.
Knox County Treasurer
Official county page for property-tax due dates and payment options.
- Use this page for tax bills and payment questions.
- Note the county-listed May 10 and November 10 property-tax due dates.
- Use the online payment link or mail payment to the Treasurer’s Suite 1 address as instructed.
- Do not contact the Recorder to pay property taxes.
Knox County Treasurer Tax List
County-linked tax-list search for parcel number, name or property-address tax-bill lookup.
- Search by parcel number if known.
- If a parcel was split or combined recently, search by last name to find all bills.
- Use address search for tax-bill lookup, not deed-record research.
- Contact the Treasurer if you are unsure which bill to pay.
Knox County GIS Map
County map tool useful for parcel location, map context and property research before document requests.
- Open the map on a desktop browser if possible.
- Search by parcel, address or map tools to identify the property.
- Use the parcel and location details to support Recorder or Assessor questions.
- Do not treat online map lines as a boundary survey or legal description.
Property Fraud Alert
Free alert service linked by the Recorder for name-based recording notifications.
- Select Indiana and Knox County if the service asks for state and county.
- Register your name or monitored name carefully.
- Use an email address or phone number you check regularly.
- If an alert looks suspicious, verify the record with the Knox County Recorder and seek title/legal help.
Common Knox County Deed and Recorder Mistakes
Mistakes That Cause Delay
- Using the wrong Knox County in another state.
- Trying to record a deed without Auditor endorsement when required.
- Forgetting the Sales Disclosure form with a deed.
- Submitting documents with full Social Security numbers or personal identification numbers.
- Using paper larger than 8.5" × 14" without checking extra fees.
- Missing printed names under signatures, witnesses or notary information.
- Calling the Recorder about tax-payment questions that belong to the Treasurer.
Better Workflow
- Verify the property is in Knox County, Indiana.
- Use Engage for property-card or parcel research.
- Use the Auditor for deed-transfer endorsement and deductions.
- Check Recorder formatting before signing and notarizing.
- Verify fees before mailing documents.
- Use certified copies only when required.
- Use a title company or attorney for legal title conclusions.
What Should You Do Next?
| Your Situation | Best Next Step | Correct Office / Tool |
|---|---|---|
| You need a copy of a deed or mortgage. | Collect owner name, document reference, book/page or parcel details, then contact the Recorder for copy instructions. | Knox County Recorder |
| You need to record a deed. | Prepare the deed, confirm formatting, complete Sales Disclosure, get Auditor endorsement if required, then present to the Recorder. | Auditor → Recorder |
| You only know the address. | Use Engage or GIS to find parcel/property details before requesting recorded-document help. | Assessor Engage / GIS |
| You want to pay or verify property taxes. | Use the Treasurer page or tax-list search instead of Recorder records. | Knox County Treasurer |
| You want alerts for suspicious recordings. | Sign up for Property Fraud Alert and monitor your name. | Property Fraud Alert |
| You need title certainty or legal ownership advice. | Use a title company, surveyor or Indiana attorney. Recorder records are research material, not legal advice. | Professional title/legal help |
Knox County Recorder FAQs
Where is the Knox County Recorder located?
The Knox County Recorder is located at 111 North 7th Street, Suite 2, Vincennes, Indiana 47591. The main phone number is 812-885-2508, and the Recorder’s Office lists Kelley Kopp Hopwood as Knox County Recorder.
What documents does the Knox County Recorder record?
The Recorder records documents relating to real-property rights, including deeds, mortgages, mechanic’s liens, releases and plats. The office may also handle UCC liens and copy/certification requests listed on the county page.
How much does it cost to record a deed in Knox County, Indiana?
The Recorder page lists $25 for deeds, UCCs and other documents. Fees are subject to change and special situations may add cost, so verify with the Recorder before mailing or presenting a document.
How much does it cost to record a mortgage?
The county lists $55 for mortgages, including rerecorded and subordinate mortgages and supplemental indentures. Confirm the current amount with the Recorder before recording.
What does a document need before recording?
Documents generally need proper acknowledgement, printed names under signatures and notary/witness information, acceptable paper size and margins, at least 10-point typed or computer-generated text, a preparer statement and no full Social Security or personal identification numbers.
Does a deed need Auditor approval before Knox County records it?
Yes, for deed transfers for taxation, the county Recorder page states that the County Auditor must endorse the deed before recording takes place. A Sales Disclosure form is also required with the deed.
Who handles Knox County property cards and assessments?
The Knox County Assessor handles property cards, assessment notices, appraisal information and appeals. The Assessor’s Engage portal allows searches by owner, address or property number.
Who handles Knox County property-tax payments?
The Knox County Treasurer handles property-tax payments. The county Treasurer page lists property-tax bills as due May 10 and November 10 each year and provides online, mail and courthouse drop-box payment options.
Does Knox County offer property fraud alerts?
Yes. Knox County’s Recorder page links to a free Property Fraud Alert service that can alert you if a document is recorded in the office with your name on it. The alert is a monitoring tool and does not prevent recording.
Is this website the Knox County Recorder?
No. County-Appraisal-District.org is an independent educational resource. It is not the Knox County Recorder, Knox County Government, the Assessor, the Auditor, the Treasurer, a title company, a law firm or a consumer reporting agency.
Independent Educational Guide
County-Appraisal-District.org is an independent informational resource. It is not the Knox County Recorder, Knox County Government, the Knox County Auditor, the Knox County Assessor, the Knox County Treasurer, a title company, a law firm or a consumer reporting agency.
This guide explains how to use official public-record tools and county offices. It is not legal advice and does not replace official recorded documents, title insurance, a boundary survey, court order, Assessor records, Auditor records, Treasurer records or professional legal review.
Do not use property-owner data, deed records, lien records, tax records or public-record search results for employment screening, tenant screening, credit eligibility, insurance underwriting or other regulated consumer-reporting purposes.