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1. Where is the Recorder of Deeds Office located and what are the office hours?

Our office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. We are located on the sixth floor of the administration tower of the Lake County Building at 18 N. County Street in Waukegan. Please call 847-377-2575 for directions.

2. How do I obtain a copy of my deed or other recorded document?

You can request a copy from our office in person, by mail, fax, phone or email. If your request is by phone or fax you will need to pay with a credit card. Please call our office at 847-377-2575 if you wish to place an order.

3. Can I view data or images over the Internet?

If you need to research recorded property records over the Internet you may wish to obtain online access. This product will allow you to conduct business 24/7!

For more information, please refer to our Online Access Information page. It is our hope that you find this new product easy to use from the convenience of your office.

Online Access Information Page

4. How much will it cost to record or obtain copies of my document(s)?

Please refer to our fee schedule to determine the applicable recording and copy fees charged by our office in accordance with state regulations.

5. Do you maintain a database containing individual plats of survey?

No - Individual plats of survey are not normally submitted to the Lake County Recorder of Deeds Office. If you did not receive a plat of survey at your closing, then you will most likely need to contact a professional land surveyor to prepare a new plat for you.

6. Do you maintain a database containing blueprints or other construction-related documentation?

No - Blueprints or other construction-related drawing documents are not normally submitted to the Lake County Recorder of Deeds Office.

7. I recently paid off my mortgage and my bank sent me a release deed. What do I need to do now?

If the release deed has already been recorded you'll see a file stamp with a document number, recording date and other information from the Recorder of Deeds Office. If that's the case, there is nothing you need to do except file the document away in a safe place.

If the release deed has not been recorded, you should submit that document to the Recorder of Deeds Office for recording. This may be done by mail or in person on the sixth floor of the County Building.

If you mail it in, please write the words "Mail To" somewhere on the document followed by the address where the original document should be mailed back to after processing.

Please refer to our fee schedule to determine the applicable recording fees charged by our office in accordance with state regulations.

8. How do I do a title search?

By law, the Recorder of Deeds Office is not allowed to perform title searches, and we can only provide you with information we have available. You may visit our office, and we will assist you in tracing property ownership and other property tax-related information that is accessible on one of our public access terminals.

Please note that only a title company can perform and guarantee a full search of the property; something we are unable to do for you.

9. How can I pay for the recording or copies fees?

We accept cash or checks (made payable to the Lake County Recorder), as well as Discover, MasterCard and VISA credit card payments for all of the services that we provide. Frequent customers also have the option of opening a charge account, which enables them to be billed on a monthly basis.

10. How do I open a charge account?

Requests for a charge account must include a company name, mailing address, phone/fax numbers and a point of contact for billing issues. Requests must be written and may be submitted via mail or fax. Once your request is approved, you will receive a confirmation letter with your charge account code to be used for your transactions.

For further information regarding charge accounts and/or billing questions, please contact our Billing Accounts Supervisor at 847-377-2334 or send a request via email.

Contact the Recorder of Deeds

11. Do you maintain birth, marriage and death record archives?

No - These records are maintained by the Vital Records Department of the Lake County Clerk's Office, which is located on the first floor of the County Administration Building. Their phone number is 847-377-2411.

12. How can I get in contact with a supervisor to address a concern I may have?

Please call our main office number at 847-377-2575 and your call will be transferred to the appropriate supervisor. In the event that the office supervisor is unavailable to take your call at that time, please leave a voice mail message. One of our office supervisors will respond back to you ASAP - so please do not hesitate to leave a message.

Office supervisors receive email and you can send your messages, comments, suggestions, compliments or concerns directly to them.

Contact the Recorder of Deeds