Title search in Cook County, Illinois
HeritageDeed runs title searches in Cook County, Illinois, against the Cook County Clerk, Recordings and the Cook County Assessor's Office. A report lists the deeds, open mortgages, liens and court records found, with the source of each, usually within minutes. Prices start at $49.
Covers Cook County, including Chicago, Evanston, Cicero, Oak Park, Schaumburg.
What the public record shows
Measured from official open data for Aug 13, 2025 to Aug 12, 2026, refreshed nightly.
| Deed type on recorded sales | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Warranty | 44,359 | 70% |
| Other | 9,001 | 14% |
| Trustee | 8,467 | 13% |
| Quit claim | 865 | 1% |
| Executor | 508 | 1% |
Where Cook County land records are kept
| Office | What it holds |
|---|---|
| Cook County Clerk, Recordings | Records deeds, mortgages and liens since taking over from the Recorder of Deeds |
| Cook County Assessor's Office | Owner, parcel (PIN) and assessment data, plus parcel sales |
How recording works here
Cook County no longer has a Recorder of Deeds. Voters approved merging the office into the County Clerk in a binding referendum on November 8, 2016, and the Recorder of Deeds ceased to exist on December 7, 2020. Deeds and mortgages are now recorded and searched through the Cook County Clerk's Recordings division.
Parcels are identified by a 14-digit Property Index Number (PIN) issued by the Assessor.
What a HeritageDeed report searches in Cook County
- Deeds, mortgages, releases and liens recorded with the Cook County Clerk
- Owner, PIN and assessment from the Cook County Assessor, plus recorded sale history
- Federal court records matched to the owner
- FEMA flood zone and EPA-listed sites near the parcel
What it does not cover
The report is a public-records search, not title insurance or an attorney's opinion of title.
How to search Cook County records yourself
- Find the parcel and the current owner at the Cook County Assessor's Office. Note the parcel number and the owner's exact name.
- Search the Cook County Clerk, Recordings by parcel or by name for every deed, so you can see how the current owner took title and from whom.
- List every mortgage or deed of trust recorded against the parcel, then look for a matching satisfaction or release for each one. Anything without a release may still be open.
- Search the same names for liens, judgments and lis pendens, including state and federal court indexes, and check property tax status with the tax office.
- Write down document numbers and dates so a title company or attorney can pull the originals.
A HeritageDeed report runs those steps automatically and shows the source of every finding.
Pricing
Current deed, open mortgages, active liens, tax status, court judgments, UCC liens
Everything in Current Owner + previous owner's deed and encumbrances
Full 30-year chain of title, all mortgages and releases, and recorded liens
Questions about Cook County title searches
Does Cook County still have a Recorder of Deeds?
No. Cook County voters approved merging the Recorder of Deeds into the County Clerk on November 8, 2016, and the office ceased to exist on December 7, 2020. Deeds, mortgages and liens are now recorded and searched through the Cook County Clerk's Recordings division.
Where are property records kept in Cook County, IL?
Recorded documents such as deeds, mortgages and liens are kept by the Cook County Clerk, Recordings. Owner and parcel data come from the Cook County Assessor's Office.
How much does a title search cost in Cook County, IL?
A HeritageDeed Current Owner Search is $49, a Two Owner Search is $79 and a 30-Year Search is $129, plus sales tax where it applies. There is no subscription, and you get a full refund if we cannot deliver the report.
How long does a title search take in Cook County, IL?
Most reports are generated within minutes, because the sources are searched automatically and in parallel. A slow or temporarily unavailable government source can make it take longer, and the order page shows live progress.
Can I search Cook County, IL property records for free?
Yes. The Cook County Clerk, Recordings lets anyone search recorded documents, usually by name or parcel. A report saves you from reading each office separately and matching every mortgage to its release yourself.
Order a Cook County title search
From $49. Usually ready in minutes. Full refund if we can't deliver.