Cook County Recordings / Transfer Tax Stamps:
– 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. Those municipalities are listed below:
Alsip
Bartlett
Bedford Park
Bellwood
Berkeley
Berwyn
Broadview
Buffalo Grove
Burbank
Burnham
Calumet City
Calumet Park
Chicago
Chicago Heights
Cicero
Country Club Hills
Countryside
Des Plaines
Dolton
East Hazel Crest
Elgin
Elk Grove
Elmhurst
Elmwood Park
Evanston
Evergreen Park
Forest Park
Franklin Park
Glenwood
Hanover Park
Harvey
Harwood Heights
Hillside
Hoffman Estates
Hodgkins
Lansing
Lincolnwood
Maywood
Markham
McCook
Melrose Park
Midlothian
Morton Grove
Mount Prospect
Niles
Norridge
Northlake
North Riverside
Oak Lawn
Oak Park
Park Forest
Park Ridge
Riverdale
Riverside
River Forest
River Grove
Robbins
Rolling Meadows
Schaumburg
Skokie
South Holland
Stickney
Stone Park
Streamwood
University Park
Westchester
Wheeling
Wilmette
Worth
