Cook County Recordings
– Documents recorded at the Cook County Recorder of Deeds
The Cook County Recorder accepts documents for recordation, and maintains records of real estate documents going back to the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Municipal transfer tax stamps must be obtained ahead of recordation, but the Recorder’s Office sells transfer tax stamps on behalf of the State and the County. Please note, effective 1/1/16, MyDecs are required for Cook County deed recordings.
A signed / notarized Statement by Grantor and Grantee is required when recording an exempt deed in Cook County. Plat Act Affidavits are not required in Cook County.
Recorded docs going back to 1985 can be obtained online or in-person (Certified or Non-Certified copies). Documents from approximately 1970 to 1985 can be obtained in-person and are printable from an online database. Documents and plats recorded prior to 1970 are on microfilm and research must be done to locate the microfilm in the Recorder’s Office microfilm vault. Tract books are available for the general public to research the chain of title on a property.
Cook County has many municipalities that have a transfer tax and/or a property transfer requirement which is enforced by the Cook County Recorder. See here for municipality list:
