Dubois County Deed Records

Dubois County deed records are maintained at the County Recorder's office in Jasper. Search recorded deeds, mortgages, and land documents to find property ownership history, verify transfers, or get copies of filed instruments in Dubois County.

Dubois County Recorder Office

The Dubois County Recorder's office is inside the Dubois County Courthouse in Jasper. J.S. McPherron serves as the elected recorder. The office files and stores all land records for Dubois County, including deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and plat maps. IC 36-2-11 requires the recorder to accept all documents that meet Indiana's recording standards and to maintain a public index of recorded instruments.

You can reach the recorder's office by phone at (812) 481-7067 or by email at jsmcpherron@duboiscountyin.org. The office address is 1 Courthouse Square in Jasper. Staff can help you search records in person, identify what documents exist for a given parcel, and process requests for certified copies. If you have questions about whether a document meets recording standards before you bring it in, calling ahead can save you a trip.

Dubois County accepts e-recording through CSC, Simplifile, ePN, and Indecomm. This lets title companies and law firms send documents digitally without having to visit the courthouse. The county recording fee still applies, and the e-recording service charges its own fee as well.

How to Search Dubois County Property Records

Dubois County offers online deed record searches through two platforms. Tapestry, a product of Fidlar Technologies, charges about $8.75 per search and works well for occasional users. You pay per search, so you only spend money when you need something. Visit tapestry.fidlar.com to create an account and start searching Dubois County land records by name, parcel number, or document type.

Laredo is the subscription-based option for the same data. Law firms, title companies, and others who search Dubois County deed records frequently tend to use Laredo because the cost per search drops with volume. Both platforms connect to the same recorder database, so the records are identical. If you need one search per year, use Tapestry. If you need dozens per month in Dubois County, Laredo is worth the subscription.

For in-person searches, visit the Dubois County Courthouse. Staff will pull index records and help you find documents for any parcel. For older deeds that predate the online systems, the physical index books at the courthouse are the best resource. Copies cost $1.00 per page for standard documents and $5.00 per page for oversized sheets. Certified copies add $5.00 for the certification.

IC 36-2-11-14 sets out what a deed must contain for the Dubois County Recorder to accept it. The deed needs the names of both the grantor and grantee, a legal description of the property, and the grantor's signature. Documents missing these items will be returned unfiled. Review your deed carefully before bringing it to the courthouse in Jasper.

Dubois County Deed Recording Fees

The standard fee to record a deed in Dubois County is $25. Mortgages cost $55 to record. Oversized pages add $5 each to the total. These fees are set by Indiana state law and apply across all 92 counties. Pay at the recorder's window when you bring your documents. The recorder will stamp your deed with the date and time of filing, which is your proof of recording.

Copy fees in Dubois County are $1.00 per page for standard size sheets. Larger pages cost $5.00 each. Certified copies carry an extra $5.00 fee. Most closing attorneys order certified copies of deeds and mortgages to put in their files. Title insurance companies also want certified copies when they issue policies on Dubois County properties.

E-recording through Simplifile (800-460-5657) or CSC eRecording (866-652-0111) is available for Dubois County. These services charge a per-document fee on top of the county's recording fee. The trade-off is speed: documents submitted electronically are processed faster than paper filings, and you get a digital confirmation when recording is complete.

The Indiana Recording Manual from the Indiana Recorders Association covers the full set of document formatting rules for Indiana counties. It includes margin requirements, font size minimums, and what must appear on the first page of every instrument. Following this guide helps ensure your Dubois County deed is accepted the first time.

What Dubois County Deed Records Contain

The Dubois County Recorder holds many types of land documents. Deeds are the most common, but the office also records mortgages and mortgage satisfactions, mechanic's liens, easements, covenants, plat maps, and survey documents. All instruments are indexed by name and document type. A full title search in Dubois County covers all of these categories, not just the deed records.

IC 32-21-2-3 requires that any deed submitted for recording in Indiana must first be acknowledged before a notary public. The notary verifies the identity of the person signing and confirms that the signature was given freely. The notary's certificate must appear on the face of the deed. No certificate means the Dubois County Recorder will not record it. Always have a licensed Indiana notary acknowledge your deed before you submit it for recording.

IC 36-2-11-16 sets the indexing requirements for county recorders in Indiana. The Dubois County Recorder must maintain a grantor-grantee index. This dual index lets you search for deeds by the name of the person who gave the property and the name of the person who received it. Using both sides of the index, a title examiner can trace the complete chain of ownership for any parcel in Dubois County going back through the full record history.

Dubois County Land Records and Indiana State Resources

Indiana maintains a state-level property portal with deed records, maps, and photos for state-owned land that may border or overlap with private parcels in Dubois County.

The Indiana State Land Office maintains deed records and maps for state-controlled property throughout Indiana, including areas near Dubois County.

State land records are useful for researching parcels near state-managed areas or when a property history involves a past transfer from or to the state of Indiana in Dubois County.

IC 36-2-11-15 explains constructive notice in Indiana deed law. When you record a deed with the Dubois County Recorder, the law treats all future buyers and lenders as having notice of your ownership. Delaying the recording after closing creates risk. If someone else records a claim to the same property before you do, they may have a stronger legal position. Record promptly after closing in Dubois County. IC 36-2-11-16.5 establishes standards for electronic recording that allow the county's e-recording program to operate under state law.

Indiana Recording Laws for Dubois County

IC 36-2-7.5-4 sets out the core duties of Indiana county recorders. The Dubois County Recorder must maintain a system that gives the public access to all recorded documents, accept documents that meet legal standards, and keep a permanent archive of every instrument filed. These duties are non-discretionary. The recorder cannot refuse to record a document that meets all state requirements.

IC 33-42-10-2 governs notarial acts in Indiana. For a notary to properly acknowledge a deed, they must confirm the signer's identity, watch the person sign (or confirm they signed earlier), and certify that the signing was voluntary. The notary's seal and signature go on the deed as part of the acknowledgment certificate. This step is what makes a deed legally sufficient for recording at the Dubois County Recorder.

The Indiana Recorders Association supports all 92 Indiana county recorders, including Dubois County. They publish guidance, provide training, and help county offices stay current with changes in Indiana law. The association's website is a useful resource for anyone who records deeds regularly in Indiana.

The Indiana State Board of Accounts audits county offices and reviews recording fee collections to ensure that county recorders charge only the fees authorized by state law. This oversight applies to the Dubois County Recorder and all Indiana counties.

Nearby Counties

Dubois County shares borders with several neighboring counties in southwestern Indiana. Each has its own recorder's office. Check the correct county when searching for a property near a county line.