Cook County, Illinois • beginner-friendly recorded property guide
Cook County Recorder of Deeds Search: Where to Go Now and What to Do
If you are looking for the Cook County Recorder of Deeds,
the old CCRD Cook County Recorder, a deed search,
recorded lien, mortgage release or copy of a recorded property document,
you should now use the Cook County Clerk’s Recordings Division.
Cook County transferred the Recorder of Deeds operations and duties to
the County Clerk on December 7, 2020. That means a first-time
visitor should not waste time searching for a separate Recorder office.
Simple route:
If you know only the property address, first find the property’s
14-digit PIN using the Cook County Property Tax Portal or
CookViewer. Then use the official Cook County Clerk Recording System to
locate deeds and other recorded instruments.
Former office
Cook County Recorder of Deeds
Current authority
Cook County Clerk — Recordings Division
Office
118 N. Clark Street, Room 120, Chicago, IL 60602
Main parcel identifier
14-digit Property Index Number (PIN)
Independent guide:
County-CAD.us is not affiliated with Cook County Government, the Cook County
Clerk, Cook County Assessor, Cook County Treasurer or another public agency.
We explain how to use official systems; live searches, filings, payments and
official document purchases happen on the linked government websites.
Start here
What Are You Trying to Do?
Visual workflow
For Most Beginners: Follow This Order
1
Address
Start with what you know.
2
Find PIN
Confirm the exact parcel.
3
Pre-screen
Review Deeds & Liens summary.
4
Clerk Search
Search recorded instruments.
5
Verify
Match parties and document number.
6
Copy / Action
Buy or file only when required.
The progress line uses lightweight CSS only—no JavaScript, animation library,
image file or external dependency.
Official websites
Which Official Website Does What?
1
Cook County Property Tax Portal
Use for address/PIN lookup and deed/lien summary.
This is usually the easiest starting point for a beginner who knows
the property but does not yet know the recorded document number.
Open Official Property Tax Portal
2
CookViewer
Use for parcel maps, tricky addresses and condo PINs.
CookViewer can search PINs, addresses and intersections and can display
several parcels where properties are stacked.
Open Official CookViewer
3
Cook County Clerk Recording System
Use for the actual recorded-document search.
This is the important system when your goal is to locate a deed,
mortgage, lien, release, assignment or another recorded instrument.
Open Official Recording Search
4
Cook County Clerk Recordings
Use for forms, fee guides and recording instructions.
Open Clerk Recordings
Beginner route A
I Only Know the Property Address—What Do I Do?
Open the official Property Tax Portal above.
Look for the section labeled Find Your Property.
Choose the address-search route.
Use the address option because you do not yet know the PIN.
Enter the property address.
Use the house number, street name and city. Enter the unit when applicable.
Open the matching property.
Do not simply pick the first result when several parcels or units appear.
Find and save the 14-digit PIN.
Write it down or copy it into your notes.
Review the property information.
Confirm that the address, parcel and unit correspond to the property you meant.
Find “Documents, Deeds & Liens.”
The county portal can show a summary of recent recorded documents associated
with the property.
Write down useful recording clues.
Save the document number, document type and recorded date when shown.
Why this route works:
the Property Tax Portal helps you identify the correct parcel first.
That is safer than beginning with a common person’s name in a large county.
Beginner route B
I Already Know the Cook County PIN—What Do I Do Next?
Open the PIN Search above.
Enter the 14-digit PIN exactly.
Use the number from the tax bill, assessment notice, deed, closing
document or official Cook County property system.
Open the property result.
Verify the property address/unit before moving forward.
Review Documents, Deeds & Liens.
Use the recent-record summary to identify likely instruments.
Save the document number when shown.
Use the strongest available search information.
The exact document number or parcel information is generally preferable
to a broad name-only search.
Where Can You Find Your Cook County PIN?
A Cook County PIN is the Property Index Number used to identify a parcel
or separately assessed property interest.
Property tax bill
Look for the Property Index Number.
Assessment notice
Cook County assessment correspondence normally identifies the parcel.
Closing paperwork
Settlement and title documents commonly contain parcel identifiers.
Your existing deed
A recorded deed may contain the PIN along with the legal description.
?
Official Cook County Assessor PIN help
Use if you are unsure where the parcel number appears.
Open Official PIN Help
Best backup for difficult parcel searches
How to Use CookViewer If the Property Portal Is Confusing
The current CookViewer interface accepts several search formats.
Search type
Accepted input
Best use
10-digit PIN
Example format supported by CookViewer.
Useful when you have a shortened PIN.
14-digit PIN
Complete parcel identifier.
Strongest parcel lookup route.
PIN with dashes
Dashed PIN format.
Convenient when copying directly from paperwork.
Property address
Street address.
When the PIN is unknown.
Street intersection
Two intersecting streets.
Locate the general area first.
Exactly What to Do in CookViewer
Open CookViewer using the official button above.
Use the search bar at the top.
Enter your PIN, property address or intersection.
Wait for the Property Results panel.
Matching properties will appear in a list.
Select the matching parcel.
CookViewer will open property details and zoom to the parcel.
For a condo/high-rise, review all stacked parcels.
Multiple separately assessed units can exist at one physical location.
Copy the correct 14-digit PIN.
Review the property’s Data / Resources links.
Use the Clerk property-record resource when you are ready to research
recorded documents.
Useful 2026 feature:
CookViewer can export property results to CSV or Excel. That is helpful when
researching several condo units, adjacent parcels or a transaction involving
multiple PINs.
Older parcel research:
open the Layers tool and locate
Parcel Archive. CookViewer provides annual parcel-boundary
layers from 2000 through the current year.
Historical imagery:
CookViewer provides aerial imagery reaching back to 1998. Use imagery to
understand redevelopment or physical changes—not as proof of legal ownership.
Beginner route C
I Only Know the Owner, Seller or Buyer Name
Open the official Clerk Recording Search above.
Use the available party-name / grantor-grantee search route.
Search using the person, trust, estate, company or other party name you know.
Review more than one result.
Do not assume a common name represents the property you are researching.
Compare the document type.
Determine whether the result is a deed, mortgage, lien, release or another instrument.
Compare the date and property information.
Confirm the PIN or legal-description connection where available.
Save the document number only after confirming the match.
Name match ≠ identity proof.
Cook County is a large jurisdiction. A matching grantor or grantee name
should be verified against the parcel, dates, document type and transaction context.
The actual deed-search stage
How to Search the Cook County Clerk Recording System
Open the CRS link above.
This is different from the general Cook County Property Tax Portal.
Select the search option matching the information you have.
Use a document number or parcel identifier when available. Use party names
when those identifiers are unknown.
Enter the information carefully.
If you copied a PIN or document number from another Cook County system,
use that exact identifier.
Review the returned instruments.
A property can have many recorded documents over time.
Identify the document type you actually need.
Do not confuse a deed with a mortgage, lien, release or assignment.
Open the likely entry.
Compare the parties and recording date.
Confirm the property connection.
Compare the parcel/PIN, legal-description clues or other available identifiers.
Save the document number.
This becomes your most useful identifier for copy requests or follow-up questions.
If the direct CRS page does not open:
use
CookViewer
→ search/select the parcel → open its property details → follow the
Clerk property-record resource link.
Understand the result
Cook County Recorded Document Result Decoder
PIN
Property Index Number. Confirm that it represents the correct parcel
or condo unit.
Document number
Recording identifier used to return to the exact document.
Grantor
Generally the party conveying or granting the interest represented
by the instrument.
Grantee
Generally the party receiving the interest represented by the instrument.
Document type
Indicates whether the entry is a deed, mortgage, lien, release,
assignment or another recording.
Recording date
Date the instrument entered the public recording system.
Legal description
Formal description of the real property. It can be especially useful
when addresses or parcel configurations changed.
Related recording
A document may reference an earlier deed, mortgage, release, easement
or other instrument. Follow those references when needed.
What Types of Cook County Property Documents May Be Recorded?
Deeds
Documents transferring or otherwise affecting an interest in real property.
Mortgages
Recorded financing instruments secured by real estate.
Assignments
Instruments transferring certain previously recorded rights or interests.
Releases / satisfactions
Documents showing release or satisfaction of certain prior recorded interests.
Liens
Recorded claims that may affect the property.
Easements
Recorded rights affecting access, utilities or other use of real property.
Covenants
Recorded restrictions or obligations affecting property.
Transfer on Death Instrument
A property-after-death instrument for which the Clerk maintains forms.
Corrective recordings
Documents submitted under the applicable correction procedure.
Does the Most Recent Deed Automatically Prove Current Ownership?
A recent deed is an important part of property research, but the newest
result in an online database is not automatically a complete title examination.
Before relying on the document, compare:
- the correct PIN;
- the legal description;
- grantor and grantee names;
- document number;
- the order in which instruments were recorded;
- later corrective documents;
- trust or estate-related instruments;
- liens and releases; and
- other later recordings affecting the parcel.
Use professional title/legal review when the stakes are high.
Probate, foreclosure, suspected forgery, disputed ownership, trust questions
and purchase/title-insurance issues can require more than a public database search.
Common homeowner question
I Paid Off My Mortgage—Should I Look for a New Deed?
A deed and mortgage are different instruments. Paying off a mortgage does
not normally mean the Clerk creates a new ownership deed.
Open the Clerk Recording Search.
Identify the correct property/PIN.
Find the original mortgage recording if possible.
Save its document number and lender information.
Review later recordings.
Look for a release, satisfaction or another instrument connected to that mortgage.
Compare document references and parties.
If an expected release cannot be found, contact Recordings.
Call
(312) 603-5050 and have the
PIN and mortgage document number ready.
Find first, purchase second
How to Get a Cook County Deed Copy or Certified Copy
Confirm the correct instrument.
Match the PIN/property, parties, document type and date.
Save the exact document number.
Open the Recordings Instructions link above.
Locate the Electronic Certified Document User Guide.
Determine whether you need an ordinary copy or certified document.
Ask the lender, court, title company or other requesting organization when uncertain.
Follow the current Clerk purchase/certification process.
Check the current price before paying.
Copy and certification methods or charges can change.
Filing is different from searching
How to Start Recording a New Cook County Deed
Open Cook County Clerk Recordings above.
Identify what instrument is being recorded.
Do not assume every ownership-related transaction uses the same deed or form.
Confirm all applicable PINs.
One transaction can include several parcels.
Use the legal description from the deed or reliable transaction documents.
A mailing address is not a legal description.
Check whether Illinois PTAX-203/MyDec applies.
Use the official Illinois workflow explained below.
Check municipality-specific transfer-tax requirements.
Use the Clerk’s current Transfer Tax by Municipality resource.
Check the Clerk’s current recording-fee instructions.
Review e-recording guidance when applicable.
Confirm the actual submission method before traveling or paying.
The Clerk records documents; it does not choose the correct deed
or legal ownership structure for you.
Obtain legal/title assistance when drafting an instrument or changing ownership rights.
Illinois transfer declaration
PTAX-203 and MyDec: What a Cook County Filer Needs to Know
Illinois states that Form PTAX-203 is filed with many
real-estate transfers unless the transfer qualifies for an applicable
exempt-status notation.
Item
What the form needs
Why it matters
Property location
Address, municipality, ZIP and township information.
Connects the declaration with the correct real estate.
All PINs
Applicable parcel identifying numbers.
Multi-parcel transactions need complete parcel identification.
Condominium
Parcel identifier and condominium-unit square footage.
High-rise buildings can contain many separately assessed parcels.
Instrument type
Applicable deed/trust/instrument information.
Ownership style such as joint tenancy is not itself a deed type.
Legal description
Legal description from the deed.
Do not substitute a postal address.
PTAX-203-A
Illinois instructions state that PTAX-203-A can be required with
PTAX-203 when the sale price is over $1 million and the property’s
current use falls within specified nonresidential categories identified
by the official instructions.
PTAX-203-B
PTAX-203-B applies to certain transfers involving beneficial interests
where the transfer is made using instruments other than deeds or trust documents.
How to Use MyDec
Open the official Illinois MyDec resource above.
Follow the link to MyDec at MyTax Illinois.
Determine which declaration applies to the transfer.
Have the deed and every relevant PIN ready.
Enter the property and transaction information.
Use the legal description from the deed.
Review the declaration carefully before submitting.
Return to the Cook County Clerk recording process.
MyDec handles the transfer declaration; it is not the deed-record database itself.
Chicago transactions:
Illinois MyDec resources also support City of Chicago Form 7551 where applicable.
Illinois instructions require complete and truthful responses on PTAX-203
and describe penalties for willful falsification or omission.
Do not search the Clerk website randomly
Which Cook County Recording Guide Should You Open?
After opening it, look for the guide matching your task:
Recording Fee Tutorial – 2024
Use for the Clerk’s published recording-fee explanation.
Changes to Recordings Fee Structure
Use to understand current fee-structure guidance.
eFile Documents
Use when researching electronic recording procedures.
Deed Types
Use for Clerk guidance relating to deed categories.
Electronic Certified Document User Guide
Use when obtaining electronic certified records.
How to Correct a Previously Recorded Document
Use when the legal instrument—not merely database indexing—needs correction.
Transfer Tax by Municipality
Use to check applicable municipality-specific transfer-tax requirements.
Fee rule:
use the Clerk’s current live fee material immediately before recording
or purchasing a document. Do not rely on an old search-result snippet or blog fee.
Do You Need to Check a Municipal Transfer Tax?
Confirm the correct PIN.
Confirm the property’s actual municipality.
Open the official Clerk resource above.
Locate “Transfer Tax by Municipality.”
Find the municipality connected with the parcel.
Review current stamp/declaration requirements.
Recheck before recording.
Local procedures can change.
Local tip:
do not determine the municipality only from the postal city written in a
mailing address. Use official parcel information when the jurisdiction is unclear.
Identify what is wrong first
How to Correct a Cook County Recording
Database / indexing appears wrong
If the underlying recorded document is correct but searchable/indexed
information appears incorrect, review the Clerk’s
Database Management Correction Form.
The actual recorded document contains the error
Review the Clerk’s Corrective Recording Affidavit and
How to Correct a Previously Recorded Document instructions.
Search the existing recording first.
Save the document number.
Determine whether the index or the legal document is wrong.
Open the forms library above.
Select the form matching the problem.
Read the current Clerk instructions before preparing a correction.
Call Recordings if you cannot determine which route applies.
Phone:
(312) 603-5050.
Changes affecting ownership, legal description, parties, estate interests
or other substantive property rights may require professional legal/title advice.
Suspicious deed or lien
Cook County Property Fraud Alert and Suspicious Recording Steps
Confirm the exact property/PIN.
Save the document number, date, parties and document type.
Review nearby recordings in time.
Determine whether the item could relate to a legitimate mortgage,
closing, estate or other known transaction.
Open the fraud-alert forms library above.
Locate the Property Fraud Alert Registration Form.
Contact Recordings regarding an unfamiliar instrument.
Call
(312) 603-5050.
A property-fraud alert is a monitoring tool. It does not by itself decide
whether a document is legally valid or automatically remove a recorded instrument.
Found an Unlawful Restrictive Covenant in an Older Record?
The Clerk’s recording-form library includes resources concerning modification
of unlawful restrictive covenant language.
RC
Official forms library
Look for the restrictive-covenant modification petition.
Open Official Forms
Save the original recorded document number.
Open the forms library above.
Locate the unlawful restrictive covenant modification resources.
Read the official eligibility and submission instructions.
Use the official modification process.
Do not alter a historical recorded document yourself.
Property after an owner’s death
Cook County TODI and Property-After-Death Recording Resources
Current Clerk publication titles include resources such as:
- Transfer on Death Instrument – TODI; and
- TODI Acceptance Deed and Notice of Death Affidavit.
Search the property-record system first.
Determine whether an existing TODI or relevant instrument is already recorded.
Save the original recording/document number.
Open the official forms library.
Select the form relevant to the actual situation.
Read the current instructions before filing.
Death, probate, trust and succession matters can affect legal title.
Use official Clerk forms for recording requirements, but obtain appropriate
legal advice when ownership rights are uncertain.
Can’t find an old deed?
How to Research Older Cook County Property Records
An unsuccessful online search does not automatically prove that a historical
document was never recorded. Property identifiers, parcel boundaries and
ownership names can change.
Find the current parcel and PIN.
Open CookViewer’s Layers panel.
Find Parcel Archive.
Compare earlier parcel years.
Look for splits, consolidations or boundary changes.
Try earlier owner/grantor names in the Clerk Recording Search.
Use any old legal description or document reference you possess.
Contact the Recordings Division when the online route stops helping.
Give staff the PIN, approximate year, party names and document type.
Cook County-specific practical tips
Local Tips That Can Save You Time
Search parcel-first when possible.
A PIN is safer than assuming a common surname identifies the correct property.
A Chicago condo building can contain many PINs.
Always verify the actual unit parcel instead of selecting the first address match.
Parking may be separately assessed.
A parking interest associated with a condo can have a separate PIN
and separate recording history.
Pre-screen before purchasing.
Check Documents, Deeds & Liens in the Property Tax Portal before
buying a document.
Save the document number immediately.
It is much easier to return to the exact instrument using its recording number.
Export CookViewer results for several parcels.
CSV/Excel export is useful for condos, adjoining lots or multi-PIN transactions.
Use parcel archives when an old deed looks inconsistent.
The parcel may have been split or consolidated after the old document was recorded.
Do not confuse the mortgage with ownership.
Paying off financing does not normally create a new deed.
County Clerk ≠ Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Recorded deeds are County Clerk records; lawsuits and court dockets belong
to the Circuit Court system.
Call with identifiers ready.
Have the PIN, document number, approximate date and document type before calling.
Use Room 120 for recording questions.
Do not assume every office inside the Cook County Building performs
Recordings Division services.
Recheck fees immediately before filing.
Use the Clerk’s current fee publication instead of an old article or screenshot.
Which Cook County Office Handles Your Question?
Task
Correct office
What to do
Deed, mortgage, lien or release
Cook County Clerk — Recordings
Use the Clerk’s recorded-property search and recording services.
Find parcel/PIN
Property Tax Portal / CookViewer
Search address/PIN and confirm the exact parcel.
Assessment or exemption
Cook County Assessor
Review valuation, property characteristics and exemptions.
Property-tax bill or payment
Cook County Treasurer
Search current bills and payment information.
Court foreclosure case
Clerk of the Circuit Court
Search the court docket rather than the deed database.
Current recording office
Cook County Recorder of Deeds Address, Phone and Email
The historical search phrase remains “Cook County Recorder of Deeds,”
but the current operational office is the Cook County Clerk’s Recordings Division.
Before Visiting in Person
Open the current Clerk Recordings page.
Confirm current counter/visitor information.
Check whether your task can be completed online.
Have the PIN and document number ready.
Confirm the current fee and payment requirements.
Bring all applicable forms for a filing transaction.
Open Directions to 118 N. Clark Street
What Should You Have Ready Before Calling Recordings?
Instead of saying only “I need my deed,” prepare as many of these details as possible:
- 14-digit PIN;
- property address;
- document number;
- grantor or grantee name;
- approximate recording year;
- document type;
- whether you need a search, ordinary copy, certified copy, correction or filing guidance.
Before You Rely on a Cook County Recorded Document
- Correct county: confirm the property is in Cook County.
- Correct PIN: verify the complete parcel number.
- Correct condo/unit: do not confuse stacked parcels.
- Correct document type: deed, mortgage, release, lien or another instrument.
- Correct parties: do not rely solely on a matching name.
- Correct document number: save the exact recording identifier.
- Correct chronology: review later related instruments.
- Correct legal description: compare it when parcel identity is uncertain.
- Correct copy type: know whether you need an index result, ordinary copy or certified copy.
- Correct level of reliance: obtain professional title/legal review for high-stakes ownership questions.
Official research sources
Government Sources Used for This Guide
Cook County Recorder Transition Notice
Used to verify that Recorder of Deeds duties transferred to the County Clerk.
Open Cook County Source
Cook County Clerk Recordings
Used for current recording services, forms and guidance.
Open Clerk Recordings
Cook County Property Tax Portal
Used for parcel/PIN searches and Documents, Deeds & Liens information.
Open Property Tax Portal
CookViewer
Used for parcel searching, stacked parcels, export tools,
parcel archives and historical imagery guidance.
Open CookViewer
Illinois PTAX-203 Instructions
Used for transfer-declaration requirements, parcel fields,
instrument type and legal-description instructions.
Open PTAX-203 Instructions
Illinois MyDec
Used for current electronic transfer-declaration guidance.
Open MyDec Guide
Reviewed August 13, 2026:
office information, online systems, forms, fees and filing procedures can
change. This page explains the current practical workflow, while final live
transactions should be confirmed through the linked government system.
10 title-specific questions
Cook County IL Recorder of Deeds FAQs
1. Does the Cook County Recorder of Deeds office still exist?
No. Cook County states that the County Clerk assumed the former Recorder
of Deeds operations and duties on December 7, 2020. Current land-record
services are handled through the Cook County Clerk’s Recordings Division.
2. What official website should I use to search a Cook County deed?
Use the Cook County Clerk Recording System at
crs.cookcountyclerkil.gov/Search for the recorded-document search.
If you do not know the PIN yet, first use the Cook County Property Tax
Portal or CookViewer to identify the correct parcel.
3. How do I search Cook County deeds if I only know the property address?
Open the Cook County Property Tax Portal, choose the property-address
search, open the correct property and save its 14-digit PIN. Review the
Documents, Deeds & Liens area for useful document clues, then open the
County Clerk Recording System and search the actual recorded instruments.
4. What is a Cook County PIN and where can I find it?
PIN means Property Index Number. It identifies a Cook County parcel or
separately assessed property interest. You may find it on a property-tax
bill, assessment notice, closing paperwork or deed, or locate it through
the official Property Tax Portal or CookViewer.
5. Why can one Chicago condo address show several PINs?
Condominium and high-rise properties can contain multiple separately
assessed parcels at the same physical location. CookViewer can display
stacked parcels, so confirm the exact unit and 14-digit PIN before
searching or buying a recorded document.
6. How do I get a certified copy of a Cook County deed?
First locate the correct deed in the Cook County Clerk Recording System
and save its document number. Then open the Clerk’s Recordings Instructions
library, locate the current Electronic Certified Document User Guide and
follow the current purchase/certification procedure.
7. Where do I check current Cook County recording fees?
Open the Cook County Clerk’s Recordings Instructions library and review
the current fee publications, including the Recording Fee Tutorial and
fee-structure guidance. Verify the live fee immediately before filing or
purchasing a document.
8. Do I need PTAX-203 or MyDec when recording a Cook County deed?
Many Illinois real-estate transfers require Form PTAX-203 unless an
applicable exempt-status rule applies. Certain transactions can involve
PTAX-203-A or PTAX-203-B. Illinois MyDec supports electronic real-property
transfer declarations, including applicable Cook County and City of
Chicago declarations.
9. What should I do if a Cook County recording contains an error?
First determine whether the problem is only in the searchable database/index
or in the actual recorded legal document. For an indexing issue, review the
Clerk’s database-management correction resources. For an error in the
underlying instrument, review the Corrective Recording Affidavit and the
instructions for correcting a previously recorded document.
10. What is the Cook County Clerk Recordings Division address and phone number?
The Cook County Clerk’s Recordings Division is listed at
118 N. Clark Street, Room 120, Chicago, IL 60602.
The recordings phone number is (312) 603-5050 and the email is
clerk.recordings@cookcountyil.gov. Confirm current visitor/counter
information before traveling.
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