Find Deed Records in DuPage County

DuPage County deed records are held by the DuPage County Recorder of Deeds in Wheaton, Illinois. The Recorder's office maintains a free online search tool that lets you look up property documents by name or document number, and a full suite of recording services handles everything from standard deeds to plats of subdivision. This page covers how to search DuPage County deed records, what to expect when you file, and where to get help.

DuPage County Recorder of Deeds Office

The DuPage County Recorder of Deeds is led by Elizabeth Chaplin and is the official keeper of all land records in DuPage County. The office is in the Jack T. Knuepfer Administration Building at 421 North County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. You can reach the main line at (630) 407-5400, or call the research line directly at (630) 407-5401 if you have questions about a specific document. The fax number is (630) 407-5300.

For general questions about DuPage County deed records, email Recorder@dupagecounty.gov. For research inquiries on specific documents, use recorderresearch@dupagecounty.gov. The full office website is at dupagecounty.gov/elected_officials/recorder. This is the best source for current fee information, recording requirements, and any policy updates that affect DuPage County deed records.

The Recorder's Office records deeds, mortgages, assignments of mortgage, modifications, releases and satisfactions, lis pendens, liens, judgments, UCCs, and plats of subdivision. All of these become part of the permanent DuPage County deed records once they are filed, indexed, and imaged.

Search DuPage County Deed Records Online

DuPage County offers a free online records search at recorder.dupageco.org/Search.aspx. You can search DuPage County deed records by grantor name, grantee name, document number, or other criteria. The system is free to use and covers recorded documents in the county's electronic database. This is the fastest way to look up a deed, mortgage, or lien without going to the Wheaton office in person.

The screenshot below is from the DuPage County Recorder's online search database, the primary free tool for finding deed records in the county.

This portal lets anyone search DuPage County deed records at no cost, with results including document type, recording date, and grantor/grantee names.

Copies from the online system cost $1 per page. If you need the original document returned to you after recording, note that the office keeps it for about three days for processing, then mails it back by U.S. mail to the name and address you provide. You do not get it back the same day you file in DuPage County.

The Illinois Conveyances Act at 765 ILCS 5/ governs what deeds must contain and how they must be prepared. DuPage County deed records that comply with this act are eligible for recording. Documents that do not meet statutory requirements are returned unfiled to the submitter.

Recording Fees for DuPage County Deed Records

DuPage County updated its recording fee schedule as of January 1, 2025. Standard documents cost $79.00 to record. Documents that qualify for the RHSP (Rental Housing Support Program) exemption are $60.00. Irregular or non-standard documents run $99.00, and the RHSP-exempt version of those is $80.00. Plats of subdivision and condominium plats cost $109.00. Copies are $1.00 per page.

Illinois sets the base rules for county recorder fees under 55 ILCS 5/3-5018. DuPage County follows this statute and adds the state-required RHSP surcharge of $18 per document for most recorded instruments. The state real estate transfer tax under 35 ILCS 200/ also applies to deed recordings that involve a sale. The state rate is $0.50 per $500 of value, with the county adding $0.25 per $500.

DuPage County accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and UnionPay for in-person payments. If you are recording by mail, contact the office to confirm acceptable payment methods before you send your package. All real estate documents submitted to DuPage County for recording must include the Property Index Number (PIN) on the document.

Note: Deed forms are not available from the Recorder's Office, and staff cannot help you fill them out. You will need to get a blank deed form from a legal forms provider or work with an attorney to prepare the document before bringing it to DuPage County for recording.

DuPage County Deed Records FAQ

The DuPage County Recorder's FAQ page at dupagecounty.gov/elected_officials/recorder/faqs.php answers many common questions about deed records in the county. One of the most frequent is whether the office keeps your original document after recording. The answer is no: your document is returned to you by mail after processing, which takes about three days. The office keeps a permanent imaged copy in the DuPage County deed records system.

The screenshot below is from the DuPage County Recorder FAQ page, which covers questions about recording procedures, deed preparation, and access to records.

The FAQ page is a useful first stop if you have questions about how DuPage County handles deed submissions, what counts as a non-standard document, and which record types go to a different county office.

Another common question: can the Recorder's Office help you change or add names to a deed? No. The office is not permitted to complete forms or assist customers in filling them out, as preparing legal documents is a process that requires an attorney. If you need to change ownership of DuPage County property, consult a licensed attorney or title company to draft the correct type of deed. Birth, marriage, and death records are not held by the Recorder either; those go to the DuPage County Clerk's Office.

eRecording DuPage County Deed Documents

DuPage County accepts electronic recording through several approved vendors. The Illinois Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act, 765 ILCS 33/, provides the legal basis for eRecording in Illinois, and DuPage County uses this framework for deed filings submitted digitally. Title companies, law firms, and lenders make up most of the eRecording users in DuPage County.

The approved eRecording vendors for DuPage County deed records are:

• Corporation Service Company (CSC) at (866) 652-0111
• eRecording Partners Network (EPN) at (888) 325-3365
• Hopdox at (385) 501-5103
• Indecomm Global Services at (877) 272-5250
• Simplifile at (800) 460-5657

Plats of subdivision and DD-214 military discharge documents are not accepted for eRecording in DuPage County. Those must be submitted in person or by mail to the Wheaton office. All other standard deed types can be submitted through the eRecording vendors listed above.

Transfer Tax and MyDec for DuPage County

Any deed recorded in DuPage County that involves a sale requires a completed Real Estate Transfer Declaration. Illinois uses the PTAX-203 form for this. Since January 14, 2015, DuPage County has accepted PTAX-203 forms completed through the MyDec online system at mytax.illinois.gov/MyDec. Using MyDec before you come to the office can speed up the recording process considerably.

The Illinois Department of Revenue publishes detailed PTAX-203 instructions at tax.illinois.gov. These instructions explain which exemptions may apply to your DuPage County deed and how to complete each field correctly. Deeds that are gifts or transfers between certain family members may qualify for a full or partial exemption from the state transfer tax. Check the instructions or the MyDec portal to confirm before you file.

The Illinois Legal Aid Online guide at illinoislegalaid.org explains the general process for filing documents with any Illinois county recorder's office, including DuPage County. This is a free resource that covers the basics of deed recording in plain language.

Note: Documents submitted with an incomplete or missing PTAX-203 will be returned to the submitter without being recorded. Make sure the form is done before you bring your deed to the DuPage County Recorder's office.

Veterans Services and DuPage County Deed Records

DuPage County offers a free service for military veterans: the recording and retrieval of DD-214 discharge documents at no charge. Veterans can bring their DD-214 to the Recorder's office in Wheaton and have it recorded in the DuPage County deed records system. Once recorded, certified copies are available at no cost, which makes replacing a lost original much easier.

The office also runs an Honor Rewards program that recognizes veterans' service in connection with recording services. For veterans who need to research their recorded DD-214 or get a copy of a previously filed discharge document, call the research line at (630) 407-5401 or email recorderresearch@dupagecounty.gov.

If a DuPage County deed record was damaged, lost, or destroyed, the framework for dealing with that situation is found in 765 ILCS 45/, the Destroyed Records Act. This statute provides a process for re-recording or reconstructing documents that no longer exist in the official records. Contact the Recorder's research staff if you believe a DuPage County deed record may have been lost or destroyed.

Cities in DuPage County

DuPage County includes Wheaton as its county seat and many well-known suburban communities in the Chicago metro area. All deed records for property in DuPage County go through the Recorder's office in Wheaton, no matter which city the property is in. The qualifying cities below all have their own pages with local information.

Nearby Counties

DuPage County borders six other Illinois counties. If you are searching for deed records near a county line, make sure you know which county holds the land before you search. Each county has its own recorder or clerk managing its land documents.