Franklin County Deed Records

Franklin County deed records are maintained by the Franklin County Clerk/Recorder in Benton, Illinois, and document every property ownership transfer across the county's 36 townships. If you need to search deed records in Franklin County, the Clerk/Recorder's office is your starting point for grantor-grantee indexes, warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, trustee deeds, and related instruments filed since the county was organized. Researchers, attorneys, title companies, and property owners all rely on these public records to confirm ownership chains, check for liens, and verify legal descriptions before any real estate transaction closes.

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Franklin County at a Glance

  • County Seat: Benton
  • Population: 37,323
  • Office: Franklin County Clerk/Recorder
  • Address: 202 E. Main St., Benton, IL 62812
  • Phone: (618) 438-3221
  • Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

The Franklin County Clerk/Recorder Office

The Clerk/Recorder in Franklin County handles both election records and real estate recordings under one roof. That combined structure is common in smaller Illinois counties. The office at 202 E. Main St. in Benton accepts new documents for recording, maintains the public index of all recorded instruments, and issues certified copies. If you want to verify current ownership on a parcel or trace a chain of title back several decades, staff can pull document images from the index.

The official office website is a good first stop before you make the drive to Benton. You can confirm current hours and any closures, and get contact details for specific recording questions. Visit the Franklin County Clerk/Recorder homepage for the latest information.

Franklin County sits in southern Illinois, bordered by Williamson, Saline, Hamilton, Jefferson, Wayne, White, Perry, and Jackson counties. Property that straddles a county line may have instruments recorded in more than one county, so always check adjoining recorder offices if a legal description runs near a boundary.

The image below shows the Franklin County Clerk/Recorder office homepage, where you can find recording hours, contact details, and links to online search tools for Franklin County deed records.

Source: Franklin County Clerk/Recorder

Franklin County Clerk Recorder homepage for deed records

The Clerk/Recorder homepage gives you a direct path to recording requirements and staff contact info without having to search through multiple department pages.

How to Search Deed Records in Franklin County

In-person searches are free of charge. Walk in during business hours and use the public terminals to search the grantor-grantee index by name or by property index number (PIN). Staff can assist if you are not sure how the index is organized. Document images for older instruments may be on microfilm or bound volumes rather than in a digital database, so allow extra time for historical research.

When you find a document you need, certified copies can be ordered at the counter. Certification confirms the copy matches the original on file. Title companies and attorneys often need certified copies for closings or litigation. Uncertified copies cost less and work fine for general research or personal reference.

The state also provides guidance on what to expect when you walk into any Illinois Recorder's office. The Illinois Legal Aid recording guide explains the public nature of these records and what staff can and cannot help you with.

Recording Requirements

Illinois deed recording rules come from 765 ILCS 5, the Conveyances Act. Every deed submitted in Franklin County must meet these baseline standards or it will be rejected at the counter.

Required elements for a deed to record:

Documents that are missing any of these items will not be accepted. The Clerk/Recorder's office does not draft or correct documents, so make sure everything is in order before you submit.

Fees and Real Estate Transfer Tax

Recording fees in Illinois are set by 55 ILCS 5/3-5018. The base fee covers the first page; additional pages cost less. Contact the Franklin County Clerk/Recorder at (618) 438-3221 to confirm the current fee schedule before you come in, as rates can change with legislative updates.

On top of recording fees, most deed transfers trigger transfer taxes. The state transfer tax is $0.50 per $500 of consideration (or fraction thereof) under 35 ILCS 200. Franklin County adds a county transfer tax of $0.25 per $500. A Real Estate Transfer Declaration (PTAX-203 or the online MyDec system) is required for most transfers. Certain transfers are exempt, including transfers between family members that meet statutory criteria, but you still need to file the declaration even for exempt transactions.

The image below shows the Illinois PTAX-203 instruction page from the Illinois Department of Revenue, which covers how to complete the transfer declaration required for deed recording in Franklin County.

Source: Illinois PTAX-203 Instructions

Illinois PTAX-203 instructions for deed recording

The PTAX-203 instructions walk through each line of the transfer declaration so you know exactly what the state expects when you record a deed in Franklin County or anywhere else in Illinois.

A Rental Housing Support Program (RHSP) surcharge of $18 applies to most recorded documents. That $18 goes toward a statewide affordable housing fund. It applies per document, not per page, and very few recording types are exempt from it.

Real Estate Transfer Declarations and MyDec

Since 2011, Illinois has offered the MyDec online portal as an alternative to the paper PTAX-203 form. Many counties now require MyDec rather than the paper form, and Franklin County may follow that requirement. Check with the office before you bring a paper declaration. You can access MyDec at mytax.illinois.gov/MyDec. You create an account, enter the transaction details, and print the completed declaration to submit with your deed.

Exempt transactions still require a declaration. Use the MyDec portal or the PTAX-203 form to indicate the reason for exemption. Errors on the declaration can delay recording or trigger follow-up from the Illinois Department of Revenue, so double-check consideration amounts and parcel data before you submit.

eRecording in Franklin County

Electronic recording lets title companies, law firms, and settlement agents submit deeds and other instruments digitally without mailing physical documents or sending a courier. Illinois authorized eRecording under 765 ILCS 33, the Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act. The state-approved vendors include Simplifile, CSC, EPN, Hopdox, and Indecomm.

Contact the Franklin County Clerk/Recorder at (618) 438-3221 to confirm which vendor connections are active. Not every county is connected to all vendors, and setup is typically done through the vendor's platform rather than through the county office directly. Once enrolled, documents are submitted, reviewed, stamped, and returned electronically, often within one business day.

What Gets Recorded

The Clerk/Recorder's office records a wide range of real estate instruments beyond the typical warranty deed. Understanding the full list helps when you're doing title research or tracking down a specific encumbrance.

Each instrument type has its own requirements. A plat, for example, must meet size and signature standards that differ from those for a standard deed. Call ahead if you are recording something other than a routine deed to confirm requirements.

Veterans and DD-214 Recording

Franklin County, like most Illinois counties, records DD-214 military discharge documents for veterans at no charge. Recording a DD-214 creates a permanent, protected public record that can be used to access veterans' benefits, apply for property tax exemptions, or replace a lost original. The document is indexed but marked to prevent unauthorized copying, protecting the veteran's personal information while keeping the record available when needed.

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Nearby Counties

Properties near Franklin County's borders may have deed records filed in an adjoining county recorder's office, so it is worth checking those offices if a parcel description runs close to a county line.