Lake County IL Recorder: Search Deeds, Land Records, Copies, eRecording & Office
The office many users search as the Lake County Recorder is the Recording Division of the Lake County Clerk’s Office in Waukegan, Illinois. It records, preserves and provides access to public land records such as deeds, mortgages, releases, plats, liens, UCC filings, military discharge records and other documents submitted for public record.
This guide explains how to search the official Lake County land-record index, when to use the property-tax/assessment portal instead, how to prepare a deed for recording, which forms may be needed, what common recording fees look like, where the office is located, and how to sign up for PropertyCheck alerts.
Where Is the Lake County IL Recorder of Deeds?
Lake County, Illinois deed recording is handled by the Recording Division of the Lake County Clerk’s Office. The public office is at 18 N County Street, 6th Floor, Waukegan, IL 60085. The county lists the main Recording Division phone as 847-377-2575, fax as 847-984-5860, and email as recorder@lakecountyil.gov.
Use the Recording Division For
- Deeds, mortgages and releases.
- Plats, liens and UCC filings.
- Recorded document copies.
- Document recording and eRecording questions.
- PropertyCheck alerts and redaction forms.
Use the Property Portal For
If you only know the property address, parcel number or owner name, the Lake County property-tax/assessment search may be the better first stop. It can help you find the Parcel ID before you look for recorded deeds.
Portal tip: Lake County’s tax search says to search using only one parameter at a time.
Legal and Title Warning
Recording a document makes it part of the public record, but the recorder does not guarantee title quality or provide legal advice. For deed drafting, ownership disputes, title defects, trust transfers or probate-related transfers, use a qualified Illinois real estate attorney or title professional.
How to Search Lake County IL Recorder Records Online
Lake County’s official records search is designed for land records. It supports searching by grantor/grantee, subdivision, document type, document number and recorded date. The page also shows a “Certified through” date, so check that date if you are trying to confirm a very recent recording.
Open the Official Lake County Record Search
The official search page is branded for The County of Lake and the Lake County, Illinois County Clerk. Keep the department set to Land Records when searching for deeds, mortgages, releases or recorded land documents.
Search Names in the Recommended Format
The search page advises name searches in lastname firstname format, such as SMITH JOHN. For an exact phrase or exact name search, place quotation marks around the search term. Advanced Search is better when you want to choose Party Names, Grantor or Grantee from indexed options.
Use Recorded-Date Filters
Narrow broad results with date presets such as last 24 hours, last 3 days, last week, last month, last 3 months, last 6 months or last year. This is useful when checking whether a recent deed, mortgage release or lien document has been recorded.
Choose Index Search or Full Text OCR
Use Search Index Only when you have party names, document type, subdivision or document number. Use Search Index & Full Text OCR when you are looking for words inside document images, but verify OCR results carefully because scanned text can be misread.
Open the Result and Save the Reference
Before calling or ordering a copy, save the document number, recorded date, document type, party names and any image/cart details. This avoids vague copy requests and helps staff locate the exact instrument faster.
Use the Property-Tax Search When You Need Parcel Data
If you do not know the owner’s name or document number, use Lake County’s property-tax information search to locate the Parcel ID. The county search instructions say to use only one parameter: Parcel ID without dashes, owner name as Last Name, First Name, or address number and street name with no direction.
What You May See in a Lake County Recorded Document Result
A recorded-document index is not the same thing as a tax assessment record. Use this decoder to understand which field helps with which task.
| Field / Item | What It Usually Means | Why It Matters | Common Mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grantor | The person or entity transferring, releasing or granting an interest. | Useful for finding sellers, borrowers, lienholders or releasing parties. | Assuming the grantor is always the current owner. |
| Grantee | The person or entity receiving the interest or release. | Useful for buyer, lender, trust, LLC or recipient research. | Ignoring name variations, trusts and business punctuation. |
| Recorded Date | The date the county accepted the document into public records. | Important for confirming whether a closing document or mortgage release is public record. | Confusing signing date, closing date and recorded date. |
| Document Type | Deed, mortgage, release, lien, UCC, plat, DD214 or another recorded category. | Helps separate ownership transfers from security interests, releases and supporting filings. | Treating a mortgage as a deed transfer. |
| Document Number | The recorder’s reference number for the recorded instrument. | Needed for copy requests, title research and follow-up calls. | Calling the office without the document number or recorded date. |
| Parcel ID / Property Link | A tax-parcel identifier when available or referenced. | Helps connect a recorded document to the assessment/tax record. | Assuming every old document will perfectly match a current Parcel ID. |
| Document Image | The scanned or electronic image of the recorded instrument when available. | Needed to verify legal description, signatures, notary details and recording stamp. | Relying only on index text instead of reviewing the image. |
Which Lake County Property Office or Portal Should You Use?
Choose your task below. This tool points you to the likely starting point without replacing official county instructions.
Best starting point
Choose a task and click the button.
Why You Cannot Find a Lake County Deed or Mortgage
Problems to Fix First
- Searching the tax/assessment portal when you need the recorded document index.
- Searching by full address inside the recorder search instead of using party names or document number.
- Using First Name Last Name instead of the recommended Lastname Firstname format.
- Forgetting quotation marks when you need an exact name phrase.
- Searching by closing date instead of recorded date.
- Using Parcel ID with dashes in the tax search when the instructions say Parcel ID without dashes.
- Combining several tax-search parameters when the portal says to use only one.
Better Search Strategy
- Try the grantor and grantee separately.
- Use Advanced Search for Party Names, Grantor or Grantee.
- Try exact name search with quotation marks.
- Search a shorter date range around the expected recorded date.
- Use the property-tax search first to identify Parcel ID and owner spelling.
- Search business names with and without punctuation, LLC, Inc. or trust wording.
- Call the Recording Division if the document is very recent and the certified-through date may not include it yet.
How to Record a Deed or Land Document in Lake County IL
Lake County lets recordings be submitted in person, by mail, and through approved eRecording services when eligible. Before submitting a deed, review document standards, transfer-tax requirements, PTAX-203 needs, municipal requirements and the current fee schedule.
Use the Correct Deed or Form Packet
Lake County provides courtesy form packets for quitclaim deeds and warranty deeds. The county strongly recommends legal counsel before taking final action because ownership changes may affect taxes, inheritance and other legal rights.
Check Whether PTAX-203 or MyDec Is Needed
For many Illinois real estate transfers, the Real Estate Transfer Declaration PTAX-203 is required. Lake County participates in the Illinois Department of Revenue MyDec program, which allows free online preparation and submission of transfer-tax declarations for participating counties.
Include a Transfer Tax Exemption Statement When Applicable
If the deed is exempt from Illinois Real Estate Transfer Tax, Lake County’s form page says the Transfer Tax Exemption Statement must be included and should identify the applicable exemption paragraph from the PTAX-203 instructions.
Check Standard vs Non-Standard Document Rules
Lake County’s fee page explains standard and non-standard document rules. Standard documents generally use individual 8.5 × 11 sheets, legible black ink, white paper of at least 20-pound weight, clean half-inch margins, a 3-inch by 5-inch blank space in the upper-right corner of the first page, and no stapled or attached pages.
Choose In-Person, Mail or eRecording
Lake County says recordings can be submitted in person to the Recording Division in the County Building or mailed to the Recording Division. The eRecording page explains that submitters use vendors such as CSC, ePN, Hopdox or Simplifile, and that the county reviews packages for approval or rejection.
Pay the Right Recording Fee and Transfer Tax
Lake County’s current recording fee page lists $70 for a standard document, $82 for a non-standard document, $43 for federal/state liens or UCC termination statements, and $58 for UCC-1 and UCC-3 filings. The page also notes that state and county real estate transfer taxes may be additional when due.
Lake County IL Recording Fees, Copy Fees and Transfer Tax Notes
Fees can change, and some documents require real estate transfer taxes or extra review. Use this as a current plain-English guide, then verify the official fee schedule before recording or mailing payment.
| Item | County-Published Detail | What to Check Before You Pay | Best Starting Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard document | Lake County’s fee page lists $70. | Confirm the document meets standard format rules and does not trigger non-standard treatment. | Recording & Copy Fees page |
| Non-standard document | Lake County’s fee page lists $82. | Check whether the document creates a parcel split, is UCC-related, references too many PINs, lacks required margins or fails standard-document rules. | Recording & Copy Fees page |
| UCC filings | The county lists $58 for UCC-1 and UCC-3 filings and $43 for UCC termination statements. | Confirm document category and whether it is a lien, release, termination or financing-statement filing. | Recording & Copy Fees page |
| Recorded document copies | The county lists recorded documents at $1 per page. | Have document number, party name or recorded date ready before ordering. | Recording Division |
| Plat copies | The county lists plats at $5 per page. | Confirm whether you need a plat image, survey record or recorded subdivision document. | Recording Division / official record search |
| PTAX forms | The county lists PTAX forms at $1 per form and participates in MyDec for free online preparation/submission of transfer declarations. | Confirm whether PTAX-203, PTAX-203-A, PTAX-203-B or PTAX-203-NR applies. | PTAX-203 Forms / MyDec |
| Military discharge copies | Lake County lists military discharges as free to the veteran. | Use the DD214 request form and follow privacy rules for military discharge records. | Forms English page |
| Transfer tax | Lake County’s transfer-tax guide states the State of Illinois rate is 50 cents per $500 and Lake County’s rate is 25 cents per $500. | Check sale consideration, exemptions, municipal transfer stamps and whether PTAX-203 is required. | Transfer tax guide + PTAX-203 Forms |
Lake County IL Recorder Office Address, Phone, Email and Map
For recording questions, document copies, deed packets, eRecording issues and public land-record questions, contact the Recording Division of the Lake County Clerk’s Office. The office is inside the Lake County administrative complex in Waukegan.
Recording Division of the Lake County Clerk’s Office
Physical address:
18 N County Street, 6th Floor
Waukegan, IL 60085
Mailing address for recordings:
Lake County Clerk’s Office
Recording Division
18 N County St – 6th Floor
Waukegan, IL 60085-4358
Phone: 847-377-2575
Fax: 847-984-5860
Email: recorder@lakecountyil.gov
Open Office Map ↗Before You Visit
- Bring the original document or approved copy for recording.
- Check the current fee schedule and transfer-tax requirements.
- Confirm whether your document needs PTAX-203 or a transfer-tax exemption statement.
- Do not expect recorder staff to draft deed language or provide legal advice.
- Use the county’s “Plan your visit” information for parking and security screening at the complex.
Recorder vs Assessor vs Treasurer in Lake County Illinois
Lake County property questions often involve more than one office. Use the correct office based on the problem you are trying to solve.
| Question | Best Office / Portal | What to Search or Ask | What It Does Not Do |
|---|---|---|---|
| I need a deed, mortgage, release, lien or plat. | Recording Division / official records search. | Grantor, grantee, document number, document type or recorded date. | Does not provide legal advice or guarantee title quality. |
| I need Parcel ID, owner, billing name, assessed value or tax-cycle data. | Lake County Property Tax Information search. | Parcel ID without dashes, owner as Last Name, First Name, billing name, or address number and street name. | Does not replace the recorded deed image. |
| I want to challenge my assessment. | Township assessor and Lake County Board of Review. | Assessment appeal evidence, recent sale documents, comparable properties or factual errors. | Recording a deed alone does not automatically change an assessment. |
| I need to pay property taxes or ask about billing. | Lake County Treasurer / tax-payment services. | Tax bill, payment status, due dates, receipts and installment questions. | The Recording Division does not collect ordinary property-tax installments. |
| I need birth, marriage or death records. | Vital Records Division of the Lake County Clerk’s Office. | Vital record request forms and eligibility. | The Recording Division FAQ says vital records are maintained separately. |
Lake County PropertyCheck: Free Recorded Document Alerts
Lake County’s PropertyCheck service is designed to alert subscribers by email and/or text message when a document is recorded against their name and/or property. It is a monitoring tool; it does not block a recording or determine whether a document is legally valid.
When PropertyCheck Is Useful
- You own residential or commercial property in Lake County.
- You recently bought, inherited or transferred property.
- You manage a family trust, estate or LLC-owned parcel.
- You want alerts for name/property activity between manual record checks.
What PropertyCheck Does Not Do
- It does not stop a document from being recorded.
- It does not prove a document is fraudulent.
- It does not replace a title search or legal review.
- It does not guarantee every name variation will be caught unless registered correctly.
Official Lake County Recorder Links and What to Do After Opening Them
Use these official resources for searching, recording, copies, fees, forms, transfer declarations and fraud alerts. Each link includes the next steps to reduce wrong-office and wrong-form mistakes.
Lake County Official Records Search
Search Lake County recorded land records by grantor/grantee, subdivision, document type, document number and recorded date.
- Confirm the page says The County of Lake and County Clerk Anthony Vega.
- Keep the department set to Land Records.
- Enter a grantor, grantee, subdivision, document type or document number.
- For name searches, use LASTNAME FIRSTNAME and quotation marks for an exact phrase.
- Use Advanced Search for Party Names, Grantor or Grantee when the quick search is too broad.
- Check the certified-through date before assuming a recent document is missing.
Lake County Recording Division
Official county hub for the Recording Division of the Lake County Clerk’s Office.
- Use this as the starting point for Lake County recording services.
- Open Services & Programs for eRecording and fee information.
- Open Forms for deed packets, PTAX forms, redaction forms and recording cover sheets.
- Use the contact block for phone, fax, email and location details.
Recording & Copy Fees
Official county fee page for recording categories, copy fees, payment options and standard/non-standard document rules.
- Check the fee for your document category before mailing or eRecording.
- Review standard and non-standard document definitions.
- Check copy fees if you need a recorded image or plat copy.
- Confirm payment options before visiting the office.
Lake County eRecording
Official eRecording information for submitting eligible documents through approved electronic recording vendors.
- Read how the submitter enters data and attaches scanned document images.
- Choose an approved vendor: CSC, ePN, Hopdox or Simplifile.
- Ask the vendor about its separate processing fee.
- If rejected, correct the package and resubmit after reviewing the county rejection reason.
Lake County Forms English
Official forms page for deed packets, cover sheet, PTAX-related forms, redaction request, eReceipt, Plat Act Affidavit and DD214 request forms.
- Choose the specific form you need instead of downloading a random deed template.
- For ownership changes, review the quitclaim or warranty deed packet carefully.
- Check whether a Plat Act Affidavit or PTAX-203 is also needed.
- Use the Document Image Redaction Request Form if a recorded image contains qualifying personal numbers.
PTAX-203 Forms and MyDec
Lake County’s official page for Illinois Real Estate Transfer Declaration forms and MyDec participation.
- Use MyDec for free online preparation and submission when applicable.
- Choose PTAX-203 for ordinary real estate transfer declarations.
- Review PTAX-203-A, PTAX-203-B or PTAX-203-NR only when your transaction matches those categories.
- Call the Recording Division if you are unsure whether the declaration is required.
Lake County Property Tax Information Search
Use this for Parcel ID, owner, billing name, address, assessment and tax-cycle data—not for recorded document images.
- Choose only one search parameter.
- Enter Parcel ID without dashes, or owner name as LastName, FirstName.
- For address search, enter address number and street name with no direction.
- Use the result to save Parcel ID and owner spelling before deeper deed research.
Lake County PropertyCheck
Free alert service for email and/or text notice when a document is recorded against a registered name or property.
- Open PropertyCheck and begin registration.
- Add the owner name or property details you want monitored.
- Use an email or phone number you check regularly.
- If an alert looks suspicious, search the document number and contact the Recording Division or a legal professional immediately.
What to Do Next Based on Your Lake County Records Problem
| Your Situation | Best Next Step | Correct Office / Portal |
|---|---|---|
| You need a recorded deed, mortgage, release or lien. | Search the official land-record portal by grantor/grantee, document number, document type or recorded date. | Lake County Official Records Search |
| You only know the street address. | Use the property-tax search first, following the “one parameter only” rule, then save the Parcel ID and owner spelling. | Lake County Property Tax Information Search |
| You are recording a quitclaim or warranty deed. | Review the deed packet, standard-document rules, PTAX-203 requirements, transfer-tax exemption statement and current fee schedule. | Recording Division / Forms English |
| You need a copy of a recorded document. | Search the document number first, then request the copy from the Recording Division with the reference ready. | Recording Division, 847-377-2575 |
| Your eRecording package was rejected. | Fix the rejection reason, check margins and first-page recording space, verify PTAX/transfer-tax requirements, then resubmit through the vendor. | eRecording vendor + Recording Division |
| You received a suspicious deed, lien or property notice. | Search the official records, sign up for PropertyCheck, and contact the Recording Division or legal counsel if a document appears suspicious. | PropertyCheck + Official Records Search |
Lake County IL Recorder FAQs
What is the official Lake County IL Recorder office?
The recorder function is handled by the Recording Division of the Lake County Clerk’s Office. The office records, preserves and provides access to public records such as deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, UCC filings and other recorded documents.
Where is the Lake County IL Recording Division located?
The Recording Division is located at 18 N County Street, 6th Floor, Waukegan, IL 60085. The county FAQ lists office hours as Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
How do I search Lake County IL deed records online?
Open the official records search, keep the department set to Land Records, and search by grantor/grantee, subdivision, document type, document number or recorded date. For names, the search page recommends lastname firstname format, such as SMITH JOHN.
Should I use the recorder search or the property-tax search?
Use the recorder search for recorded documents such as deeds, mortgages, releases and liens. Use the property-tax information search when you need Parcel ID, owner, billing name, address, assessment data or tax-cycle information.
What does Lake County’s tax search mean by “only one parameter”?
The property-tax search instructions say to search using only one parameter at a time, such as Parcel ID without dashes, owner name as Last Name, First Name, or address number and street name with no direction. Combining multiple fields can cause the search to fail.
How much does it cost to record a standard document in Lake County IL?
Lake County’s recording fee page lists $70 for a standard document and $82 for a non-standard document. State and county real estate transfer taxes may be additional when due. Always verify the current fee schedule before recording.
What forms may be needed to record a deed in Lake County?
Depending on the transaction, you may need a quitclaim or warranty deed packet, PTAX-203, PTAX-203-A, PTAX-203-B, PTAX-203-NR, Plat Act Affidavit, Transfer Tax Exemption Statement, cover sheet or other supporting documents. Lake County says it cannot provide legal advice for completing these forms.
Can Lake County documents be eRecorded?
Yes. Lake County’s eRecording page says submitters can use approved vendors such as CSC, eRecording Partners Network, Hopdox or Simplifile. The county reviews submitted packages and either records approved documents or returns rejected packages for correction and resubmission.
What is Lake County PropertyCheck?
PropertyCheck is Lake County’s free recorded-document alert service. It can alert subscribers by email and/or text when a document is recorded against their name and/or property. It is a monitoring tool and does not block recordings or determine legal validity.
Is this website the Lake County Recorder?
No. County-Appraisal-District.org is an independent informational resource. It is not Lake County, the Lake County Clerk’s Office, the Recording Division, the Chief County Assessment Office, a title company, a law firm or a consumer reporting agency.
Independent Educational Guide
County-Appraisal-District.org is an independent informational website and is not affiliated with Lake County, Illinois, the Lake County Clerk’s Office, the Recording Division, the Chief County Assessment Office, the Lake County Treasurer, the Illinois Department of Revenue, any title agency or any law firm.
Recorded document indexes, deed images, recording fees, copy fees, transfer-tax treatment, eRecording acceptance, property alerts and legal ownership issues must be verified with the responsible government office, title professional or qualified Illinois attorney. This page does not provide legal, tax or title advice.
Public property and deed records should not be used for employment screening, tenant screening, credit eligibility, insurance underwriting or other regulated consumer-reporting purposes. This website is not a Consumer Reporting Agency.