Recorder

In 1857 the law provided that Recorders should maintain the books for town lots and other real estate, and set fees for recording deeds and mortgages. In 1860 the law was revised to say that “each organized county” should elect a recorder. At this time, the Recorder also acted as Treasurer for the county. These duties were separated in 1864.

A significant portion of the information acquired by other county offices results from the work performed by the County Recorder because every real estate transaction that takes place in the county starts in the Recorder’s Office. For example, after a deed is recorded it is sent to the Auditor’s Office so the real estate can be changed to the new owner’s name for tax purposes. The Assessor receives a copy of every deed and real estate contract, along with the completed Declaration of Value form. The changes that take place in the Auditor’s and Assessor’s offices subsequently show up on the tax records and receipts in the Treasurer’s Office. The Recorder interacts with the Clerk of Court’s office through changes of title from estates being probated and various recordings concerning mortgage forfeiture actions.

The majority of real estate records are brought to us by lending institutions, law firms and title abstract companies. Occasionally, citizens bring their deeds, real estate contracts and other legal documents for recording. They also come to record or obtain a certified copy of military discharges, birth, death and marriage certificates as well as apply for marriage licenses. The Recorder’s Office also sells hunting, fishing and trapping licenses as well as deer and turkey tags. They also register and title ATVs, snowmobiles, ORV’s, dirt bikes and boats.

The Recorder’s Office also assists Genealogy researchers that want to obtain information on where their ancestors settled and how long they lived in a particular county. 

For help filing or preparing legal documents, or finding a template for a specific form, we recommend contacting an attorney or title company. The Recorder's Office does not practice law and as such we are limited in our capacity to assist with the preparation of legal documents. 

The Recorder's Office is happy to help search for documents but if you require a thorough title search, we suggest you reach out to a title company who specializes in these property record searches.