Franklin County Property Deed Records

Franklin County deed records are filed at the Franklin County Recorder's Office in Brookville, Indiana. All property transfers, mortgages, and other real estate instruments for land in Franklin County are recorded there and are available to the public for search and inspection. Note that this page covers Franklin County, Indiana, whose county seat is Brookville. The city of Franklin is located in Johnson County, which is a separate county.

Franklin County Recorder's Office

The Franklin County Recorder's Office is at the Government Building Annex, 1010 Franklin Ave, in Brookville. Under IC 36-2-11, the recorder is responsible for receiving, indexing, and preserving all documents that affect real property in Franklin County. The office records deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and related instruments. Franklin County is a smaller, more rural county in southeastern Indiana near the Ohio state line. Despite the county's size, the recorder's office handles the same range of real estate transactions as any other Indiana county.

Office hours run from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The recorder is closed on state and federal holidays. Plan to arrive before 3:45 PM if you need to file new documents, as most Indiana offices stop accepting new recordings 15 to 30 minutes before closing. Call the recorder's office at (765) 647-5131 before visiting to confirm current hours. Staff can help you search by owner name or parcel number and can make copies of recorded documents. For older records that may not be in any digital system, in-person access at the Brookville office is often the only option. Calling first to confirm what is in digital form can save you a trip.

Searching Franklin County Deed and Property Records

In-person searching at the Franklin County Recorder's office in Brookville is the most reliable method for finding deed records. The grantor-grantee index at the office covers all recorded instruments. Staff can pull records by name, parcel number, or document type. This index lets you trace the full chain of ownership for any Franklin County parcel. IC 36-2-11-16 requires the recorder to maintain this index, and it is the primary tool for title searches in the county.

For remote access to Franklin County deed records, contact the recorder's office to find out which online platforms are currently available. Many Indiana counties use Doxpop, Tapestry, or Laredo. Doxpop indexes recorded instruments from many Indiana counties and may cover Franklin County. Tapestry by Fidlar is another option that provides pay-per-search access. The recorder at (765) 647-5131 can confirm current options. For older records that predate any online system, the physical index books at the Brookville office are the only source available.

Every deed submitted to the Franklin County Recorder must name the grantor and grantee, include a legal description of the property, and carry the grantor's signature. IC 36-2-11-14 sets the minimum content requirements for a deed to be accepted in Indiana. Missing information means the document is returned without being recorded. Review your deed against these requirements before bringing it to the Brookville office.

Certified copies of Franklin County deed records are available from the recorder's office. For mail requests, include a check for the correct amount and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Call (765) 647-5131 to confirm the fee before sending.

Franklin County Deed Recording Requirements

Documents recorded in Franklin County must comply with Indiana's statewide standards under IC 36-2-11-16.5. This statute sets rules for paper size, margins, and print quality. White paper in standard sizes (8.5 by 11 or 8.5 by 14 inches) is required. The top margin on the first page must be at least 2 inches for the recorder's stamp. All other margins must be 0.5 inches or more. Print must be at least 8-point type and dark enough to scan clearly. Documents that don't meet these requirements will be returned unfiled.

Every deed in Franklin County must include the physical mailing address of each grantee under IC 32-21-2-3. The document preparer must include their name and address under IC 36-2-11-15. That statute also requires the recorder to redact Social Security numbers from documents before making them publicly available. Deeds that transfer property must carry an auditor's stamp from the Franklin County Auditor under IC 36-2-11-14 before the recorder will accept them. Visit the auditor's office first. All deeds and mortgages must be notarized in compliance with IC 33-42-10-2. The notary must sign and seal the document. IC 36-2-11-16 applies when names on a deed are identical or very similar.

E-recording services like Simplifile (800-460-5657) and CSC eRecording (866-652-0111) may be an option for Franklin County. Contact the recorder's office to confirm which services are currently accepted. E-recording lets title companies and law firms file deeds digitally without making the trip to Brookville. The Indiana Recorders Association publishes the Indiana Recording Manual covering all formatting requirements for Franklin County and all Indiana counties.

Franklin County Deed Records and Indiana State Resources

Indiana's state land office maintains deed records, maps, and photos for state-owned property that may be near or adjacent to private parcels in Franklin County. The portal covers state-managed land in southeastern Indiana, which is useful context alongside Franklin County recorder filings.

The Indiana State Land Office provides access to state property deeds and maps, which can supplement what you find at the Franklin County Recorder in Brookville. For Franklin County property tax data linked to deed transfers, check Indiana Gateway.

Franklin County Deed Recording Fees

Franklin County uses Indiana's standard recording fee schedule. Deeds cost $25.00 to record. Mortgages cost $55.00. Oversized pages carry a $5.00 per-page surcharge. Standard copies cost $1.00 per page for standard size sheets. Larger documents cost $5.00 per page. Certified copies require an additional $5.00 fee plus the per-page copy cost. Pay by cash or check at the recorder's window in Brookville. For mail requests, include a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check to cover the copy fees. The Indiana State Board of Accounts audits county recorder offices and verifies that recording fees are applied correctly under state law.

Cities in Franklin County

No cities in Franklin County exceed the 25,000 population threshold. Deed records for all communities are recorded at the Franklin County Recorder's Office. Brookville is the county seat and largest community. Other communities in Franklin County include Metamora, Laurel, and Cedar Grove. All property documents for land throughout Franklin County are filed at the Government Building Annex in Brookville. Note: the city of Franklin is in Johnson County, not Franklin County.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Franklin County in southeastern Indiana. Each has its own recorder and deed record system. Confirm which county a property falls in before you start your title search.