Marion County IN Recorder: Deeds & Records

Several Marion County departments work with property records, but they do different jobs.

Marion County provides several ways to research recorded real estate documents.

The best option depends on whether you need a free index lookup, a full document image or frequent professional access.

Choose the Right Search Tool

Step-by-Step Deed Search

1. Find a name connected to the property.

   Use the owner, seller, buyer, lender or another party appearing on the document.

2. Open the recorded document search.

   Start with DirectSearch or the Recorder’s official search-options page.

3. Enter the name or recording reference.

   Search by available party-name, date or instrument-number fields.

4. Review the results.

   Compare the document type, recording date and parties before opening a record.

5. Save the instrument number.

   Keep the document number for a copy request or further title research.

6. Request the document if needed.

   Use the Recorder’s copy service when you need a plain or certified copy.

A common problem is having the property address but not knowing the owner’s exact recorded name.

Marion County’s Assessor Property Report Cards can help you find parcel and ownership information before searching recorded deeds.

1. Open the Assessor Property Report Card. Open Property Report Card Search
2. Choose Search by Address.

   The county tool also allows searches by owner name, parcel number and state parcel number.

3. Enter the street address.

   Select the correct property from the suggestions.

4. Note the parcel and owner information.

   Save the identifying information shown on the report.

5. Search the Recorder’s index.

   Use the owner or transaction parties and the approximate recording year.

You can also use IndyGIS for parcel maps, aerial imagery and location-based property research.

The Marion County Recorder provides copies of deeds, mortgage releases and other recorded documents.

You do not need to pay a private company a large fee just to obtain a basic copy of your own recorded deed.

Deed Copy Fees

How to Request a Copy

1. Locate the recorded document.

   Search using the owner name and approximate recording date.

2. Save the document number.

   The instrument number helps the Recorder identify the exact recording.

3. Choose a regular or certified copy.

   Ask the receiving organization whether certification is required.

4. Contact the Recorder or order online.

   The office accepts some copy requests by telephone with credit-card payment when the document number is available.

The Recorder says documents are generally provided within one business day after a request is received.

This is a general processing guideline, not a guaranteed delivery time.

The Recorder accepts documents in person, by mail and through approved electronic recording partners.

However, property-transfer documents need the required county approvals before they can be recorded.

Complete Deed Recording Steps

1. Prepare a legally appropriate deed.

   Confirm the grantor, grantee, property description, signatures and acknowledgment.

   If you are uncertain about the transfer, use an Indiana attorney or qualified title professional.

2. Review the recording requirements.

   Check the document format, original signatures, notarial acknowledgment and other Indiana recording standards.

3. Get the Assessor’s stamp.

   Marion County explicitly requires deeds and other property-transfer documents to be stamped by the Assessor’s Office in Room 1360.

4. Complete the required sales disclosure.

   Indiana generally requires a Sales Disclosure Form for applicable real estate transfers, with exemptions depending on the transaction.

5. Complete Auditor transfer steps where applicable.

   Confirm whether the transfer needs an Auditor endorsement and any associated fees.

6. Submit the document to the Recorder.

   Visit Suite T-741, submit by mail or use an approved electronic recording provider.

Indiana recording rules apply to deeds, mortgages and many other instruments.

Special requirements depend on document type, so confirm the current checklist before submitting.

Marion County has a different recording fee schedule from many other Indiana counties.

Most standard documents cost $35 to record. Mortgages cost $65.

Why Marion County Fees Are Higher

Indiana’s recording-fee system generally uses predictable flat charges for standard instruments.

Marion County’s schedule includes a local housing trust fund component, making its standard recording charges higher than the basic rates in most other Indiana counties.

Assessor and Sales Disclosure Fees

A deed transfer may require other fees beyond the Recorder’s recording charge.

Marion County’s property-transfer guidance identifies an Assessor endorsement fee of $10 per parcel and a $20 sales disclosure fee when applicable.

Not every transaction has the same requirements. Confirm the current amount and exemptions before paying.

The association’s published reference provides the underlying fee categories. Confirm the latest payable amount with the Marion County Recorder before submitting.

Marion County accepts eligible recorded documents electronically through approved recording partners.

This is particularly useful for title companies, lenders, law firms and other businesses handling regular document submissions.

Why eRecording Is Useful

Approved vendor fees are separate from county recording fees.

For property transfers, confirm that Assessor and Auditor requirements have been satisfied before electronic submission.

Marion County Recorder offers a free Property Fraud Alert service to help homeowners monitor recorded-document activity.

Subscribers can receive notifications when certain recorded documents match their registered names or monitoring criteria.

How to Register

1. Open the official Marion County registration service.

   Use the Property Fraud Alert page linked by the Recorder.

2. Choose the registration option.

   Follow the provider’s account or notification setup instructions.

3. Add matching information.

   Register the owner name and applicable variations supported by the service.

4. Confirm the notification setup.

   Check your email or text-message settings as directed.

5. Review unexpected alerts.

   Look up unfamiliar instruments and contact the Recorder if you need a copy.

The Recorder’s index can help identify deeds of trust, mortgages, releases, easements and many recorded liens.

Search the relevant owner and lender names, then compare recorded dates and instrument numbers.

After Paying Off a Mortgage

Paying off a mortgage does not usually result in a new deed from the Recorder.

Instead, the mortgage holder generally arranges a recorded satisfaction or release.

Some liens are recorded with different agencies or may require additional searches.

For a complete title review, consult a qualified title company or attorney.

Marion County’s Recorder maintains a large collection of historic property documents dating back to the county’s early years.

Some older materials are preserved on microfilm or in archived recording systems.

If your deed is not available through the modern online search, contact the Recorder to ask about historical index and microfilm access.

How to Research an Older Deed

1. Find a previous owner’s name.

   Use family documents, a title report or another historical reference.

2. Estimate the transaction date.

   Narrow the search to a likely year or period.

3. Check the online index.

   Search the names and known instrument references.

4. Ask about historical records.

   Contact the Recorder if the index does not include the needed period.

5. Request the correct document.

   Provide the available book, page or instrument reference.

The Marion County Recorder handles more than ordinary property deeds.

Its official website provides separate service instructions for specialized document types.

Use these official resources to check recording procedures, search recorded documents and verify office services.