Arlington Heights Deed Records

Deed records for Arlington Heights properties are filed with and maintained by the Cook County Clerk's Recordings Division. Since December 7, 2020, this office has served as the sole recording authority in Cook County, handling property deeds, mortgages, liens, and all related instruments for parcels throughout Arlington Heights.

Cook County Clerk's Office - Where Arlington Heights Deeds Are Filed

All deed records for Arlington Heights parcels are kept at the Cook County Clerk's Recordings Division, 118 N. Clark Street, Room 120, Chicago, IL 60602. The phone number is (312) 603-5050. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with the last customer accepted at 4:45 PM. The main website is at https://www.cookcountyclerkil.gov/recordings.

The former Cook County Recorder of Deeds was its own elected office until December 7, 2020. On that date all recording operations moved into the County Clerk's office. The records themselves were not changed or lost. Documents recorded before December 7, 2020 are still fully accessible through the same online search portal. You look them up the same way you would look up any newer document.

For written questions about document submission or record status, email recording.helpdesk@cookcountyil.gov. Staff handles questions about recording requirements, document formatting, and fee information. For questions that need a quick answer, calling the main number is often faster.

The image below comes from the Cook County Clerk Recordings Division page, which lists all services available for Arlington Heights property owners and researchers.

Services available through this page include the online deed search, eRecording enrollment, fee schedules, fraud alert registration, and contact details for the help desk.

Online Search for Arlington Heights Property Deeds

Use the free search tool at https://www.cookcountyclerkil.gov/recordings/search-recordings. Search options include Parcel Identification Number (PIN), grantor name, grantee name, and document number. PIN searches return the most targeted results. Every Arlington Heights parcel has a PIN assigned by the Cook County Assessor.

If you need to find the PIN for a given address, use the Cook County Assessor's website. Enter the street address and the site will return the PIN. Once you have the PIN, enter it into the Clerk's search to pull up every recorded document for that parcel. Results include deeds, mortgages, releases, liens, easements, and more. You can see the document type, recording date, and parties.

Name searches let you look up by grantor or grantee. This is helpful when you know an owner's name but not the PIN. You can filter by document type and date range. Title professionals and attorneys use this approach when building a chain of title for Arlington Heights properties. There is no charge to use the search and no account is required.

Certified copies can be ordered online as e-certified documents, which are downloadable and valid for most legal purposes. Paper certified copies can also be ordered by mail or at the counter. Fees apply for certified copies and depend on the document type and page count.

Recording Procedures for Arlington Heights Deeds

Property documents can be recorded in person, by mail, or through eRecording. ERecording is the preferred method for most real estate professionals. Approved vendors are Simplifile, CSC, EPN, Hopdox, and Indecomm. Electronically submitted documents are usually recorded the same day or the next business day. You receive confirmation of recording right away through the vendor platform.

In-person recording requires you to bring the signed and notarized original to Room 120 at 118 N. Clark Street. Staff will review the document and calculate the fee. You pay at the counter and get the document back with the recording stamp. If there is a problem with the document, staff will identify it before you pay so you can fix it and resubmit.

Standard recording fees run from $27.50 to $107, depending on document type and number of pages. Non-standard fees range from $2 to $142. Standard documents meet the requirements in 765 ILCS 5. Documents that fall outside those rules pay the non-standard fee in addition to the base fee. Call or email the help desk to verify the correct fee before submitting to avoid surprises.

Transfer Declarations and Tax Requirements

Illinois requires a Real Estate Transfer Declaration (PTAX-203) when ownership of real property changes hands. The form accompanies the deed at the time of recording. The state real estate transfer tax is $0.50 per $500 of the stated purchase price. Cook County charges an additional $0.25 per $500. Both are paid when the deed is recorded.

The PTAX-203 must be completed through the Illinois MyDec portal at https://mytax.illinois.gov/MyDec/. The portal walks you through the form and produces a transaction number when you finish. Include that number with the deed when you submit it for recording. Without a valid MyDec confirmation, the Clerk will not record the deed in most cases.

Certain transfers qualify for an exemption from the transfer tax. Common exempt transfers include gifts between family members, transfers correcting a prior deed, and some government transfers. Even exempt transfers require the PTAX-203 to be filed. Select the correct exemption code and give the reason. The Clerk's staff reviews the form when the deed is submitted.

Guarding Against Property Fraud

The Cook County Clerk offers a free Property Fraud Alert program at https://www.cookcountyclerkil.gov/recordings/property-fraud-unit. Register your PIN and you will get an email notice every time a document is recorded against your property. This is one of the easiest ways to catch a fraudulent deed filing early.

Criminals sometimes file false deeds claiming ownership of properties they don't own. They tend to target homes with no mortgage, since there's no lender checking on the title. Arlington Heights homeowners who own their property free and clear should register right away. The alert program is at no cost, and you can sign up more than one PIN per account.

If you receive an alert about an unfamiliar recording, call the Recordings Division at (312) 603-5050 immediately. The fraud unit can explain what was filed and what your options are. An Illinois real estate attorney can also advise you. Courts have the authority to cancel fraudulent recordings, but you need to act quickly to protect your rights.

Reading and Using Arlington Heights Deed Records

A deed shows the grantor (seller or transferor), the grantee (buyer or recipient), the legal description of the property, the type of deed, and usually the consideration amount. Common deed types in Cook County include warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, trustee's deeds, and sheriff's deeds. Each type carries different legal warranties about the title.

A warranty deed gives the buyer the strongest protection. The grantor promises that title is clear and will defend against any future claims. A quitclaim deed transfers whatever interest the grantor has without any warranty. Quitclaims are common for transfers between family members or to correct a title problem. A trustee's deed is used when a trust is selling property.

Beyond the deed itself, the Cook County recorded instrument database includes mortgages, lien releases, easements, plat documents, and court-ordered instruments. A title examiner looking at an Arlington Heights property will review all of these together to give a complete picture of title status. If you are buying or refinancing, your title company does this work as part of producing a title commitment.

The image below shows the Illinois Legal Aid page on filing documents with the county recorder, which explains recording procedures in plain language for property owners.

This resource can help you understand what is needed before you visit the Clerk's office or hire a professional to handle the recording for you.