Rock Island County Deed Records

Rock Island County deed records are maintained by the Rock Island County Recorder, located on the third floor of the county building at 210 15th Street in Rock Island. The office records deeds, mortgages, plats, liens, and other land documents that affect property title throughout the county. You can visit the office in person to search Rock Island County deed records or contact the Recorder directly to request copies of recorded documents going back to the mid-1800s.

Rock Island County Recorder Office

The Rock Island County Recorder handles all land records for the county. The office sits on the third floor at 210 15th Street in Rock Island, IL 61201. Phone is (309) 558-3691 and email contact is recorder@ricco.illinois.gov. The office is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours. The Rock Island County Recorder website covers office details, recording requirements, and information on how to get copies of deed records. Under 765 ILCS 5, the Illinois Conveyances Act, all instruments that affect real property title must be recorded in the county where the land sits. That means every deed, mortgage, and lien tied to Rock Island County property belongs in this office.

Rock Island County deed records go back to the mid-1800s. That is a long run of land history for a county that has been home to significant Mississippi River commerce and industry. Older records may be available on microfilm, while computerized records cover more recent filings. Contact the Recorder directly to ask about access to historical deed documents.

The Recorder began accepting credit and debit cards on October 7, 2019. A $3.99 minimum fee applies per card transaction. This is worth knowing if you plan to pay a small recording fee by card, since you will owe at least $3.99 regardless of the document cost. Cash or check may be a better choice for very low-cost transactions.

The office also runs an Honor Rewards Program for veterans. This program recognizes military service and offers certain benefits for qualifying veterans who need to record or access land documents. Contact the Recorder's office directly for details on what the program covers and how to qualify.

The Recorder's website at rockislandcountyil.gov is the best starting point for current fee schedules, forms, and recording requirements for Rock Island County deed records.

The Rock Island County Recorder's website provides access to recording requirements, fee schedules, and contact details for the office handling all deed records in the county.

The Recorder's office page lists contact information, office hours, and resources for searching and recording deed documents in Rock Island County.

Recording Deed Documents in Rock Island County

To record a deed in Rock Island County, you bring the original signed and notarized document to the Recorder's office at 210 15th Street. The Recorder makes a permanent record of the document and returns the original to you after processing. Most deed recordings in Illinois require a completed PTAX-203 Real Estate Transfer Declaration. You submit this form through the Illinois Department of Revenue's MyDec online portal before going to the Recorder. The MyDec portal is where property transfer tax data gets logged at the state level before local recording happens.

State transfer tax under 35 ILCS 200 runs at $0.50 per $500 of consideration. The county adds $0.25 per $500. An RHSP surcharge of $18 per document also applies to most recordings. Recording fees are set by 55 ILCS 5/3-5018. The Recorder's staff cannot help you prepare deed forms or review them for errors. If you need help writing a deed, work with an attorney or title professional before you come to the office. The staff can record what you bring, but they cannot advise on content or legal form.

Some transfers are exempt from the PTAX-203 requirement. Check the PTAX-203 instructions at tax.illinois.gov to see if your transfer qualifies for an exemption before you head to the Recorder's office. Getting this right the first time saves a trip back.

Note: Credit and debit cards have been accepted since October 7, 2019, with a $3.99 minimum per transaction, so plan accordingly if you are recording a low-cost document.

Illinois Transfer Laws and Rock Island County Deeds

Illinois has several statutes that govern how deeds are recorded and what must accompany them. The Conveyances Act at 765 ILCS 5 sets the rules for what documents affect real property title and must be filed with the county recorder. Every deed recorded in Rock Island County must meet the requirements laid out there, including proper acknowledgment, notarization, and correct legal description of the property.

The Electronic Recording Act at 765 ILCS 33 allows for electronic submission of deed documents in counties that have adopted eRecording. Contact the Rock Island County Recorder to find out if eRecording is currently available for deed submissions in this county. Electronic recording speeds up the process for title companies and attorneys who record deeds frequently.

The Plat Act at 765 ILCS 45 governs the recording of subdivision plats. Plats must meet specific requirements before the Recorder can accept them. If you are filing a plat for new development or a subdivision in Rock Island County, review the Plat Act requirements and contact the Recorder before you submit.

State Resources for Rock Island County Deed Records

Several state-level resources help property owners, attorneys, and title professionals handle deed matters in Rock Island County. The Illinois Department of Revenue runs the MyDec system, which is the required portal for filing real estate transfer declarations before most deed recordings.

The Illinois Legal Aid Online site has a plain-language guide on recording documents with county recorders. It walks through what recording means, why it matters, and how to get copies of filed documents. This is useful if you are handling a deed transaction without a title company and want to understand the process before you go to the Rock Island County Recorder's office. You can read it at illinoislegalaid.org.

The Illinois Department of Revenue publishes PTAX-203 instructions that cover what the form requires and which exemptions may apply to your deed transfer. Reading these before you fill out the MyDec form can prevent delays at the Recorder's office.

The MyDec portal through the Illinois Department of Revenue is where you submit the required PTAX-203 transfer declaration before recording a deed at the Rock Island County Recorder's office.

Illinois Legal Aid Online provides clear guidance on how to record documents with county recorders, including what to expect at the Rock Island County office and how to get copies of filed deed records.

Cities in Rock Island County

Rock Island County contains several communities along and near the Mississippi River. All deed recordings for property within the county go through the Rock Island County Recorder in Rock Island, regardless of which city or village the property sits in. Communities in the county include Rock Island, Milan, Moline, East Moline, Silvis, Coal Valley, Port Byron, and Hampton, among others. No cities in Rock Island County exceed the 50,000 population threshold that qualifies for a separate city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

Rock Island County borders several Illinois counties. If you are searching deed records for property near a county line, confirm which county the land is in before you search or submit documents. Records from nearby counties are kept by those counties' recorders.