Search Martin County Deed Records

Martin County deed records are maintained at the Recorder's Office in Shoals. This office records all deeds, mortgages, and land documents for real property in Martin County. You can search Martin County property records through Doxpop online or visit the Recorder's Office in person at 129 Main Street in Shoals.

Martin County Recorder's Office

Recorder Sheri Crandall leads the Martin County Recorder's Office in Shoals. The office is located at 129 Main Street, with a mailing address of PO Box 147, Shoals, IN 47581. Staff record, index, and maintain all real property documents for land in Martin County. This includes deeds, mortgages, liens, releases, easements, and any other instrument that affects real estate in the county.

Martin County is a smaller county in south-central Indiana. The Recorder's Office handles a manageable volume of documents compared to urban counties, which means staff often have time to help you search for records or answer questions about the recording process. Call (812) 247-2420 to reach the office. Check hours before visiting since smaller county offices sometimes have limited or adjusted schedules.

Under IC 36-2-11, the Martin County Recorder must accept and record all eligible documents in the order received. The recording date and time stamped on each document are legally significant. Indiana follows a first-in-time priority rule, meaning the first deed recorded for a given parcel takes legal priority over any later recording for the same property. This is why prompt recording matters after a sale in Martin County.

The Indiana Department of Administration maintains information on state property deeds and recording practices that apply across all Indiana counties.

State property deed practices follow the same Indiana statutes as county-level recording, making this a useful reference for anyone researching property in Martin County.

Search Martin County Land Records Online

Martin County deed records are available online through Doxpop. You can access this tool at doxpop.com. Doxpop lets you search by owner name, grantor, grantee, or document number. Results show the document type, recording date, and the names of parties involved in the transaction. Full document images are available for a fee. Basic search results may be free depending on the account type you use.

Doxpop covers most Indiana counties, so you can also search nearby counties like Lawrence or Daviess from the same interface. This is useful if you are researching a property near a county line or want to compare ownership records across counties. Visit the site and search for Martin County to see what records are available and what they cost to view.

For parcel data and assessment information, the Beacon property tool may carry Martin County data. Beacon combines assessment records with recorder data and is used by title professionals across Indiana. The Indiana Recorders Association also links to county recorder offices and statewide search tools on its website.

Recording Deeds in Martin County

Documents submitted to the Martin County Recorder must meet the format requirements set by Indiana law. Under IC 36-2-11-14, the Recorder may reject documents that do not comply. A rejected document does not get a recording date. This can delay a property closing and create legal uncertainty about ownership.

All deed documents must be typed or printed clearly. Paper must be white and at least 20-pound weight. Font size must be at least 10-point. The top margin on the first page must be at least 2 inches to leave room for the official recording stamp. All other pages need at least a half-inch margin on each side. Under IC 36-2-11-16, the name and address of the person who prepared the document must appear on the face of the deed. A complete and accurate legal description of the property is required.

Before bringing a deed to the Martin County Recorder, you must first have the County Auditor review and stamp the transfer document. IC 36-2-11-14 requires this step for any document that changes property ownership. The Auditor checks the transfer information and parcel data. Once the Auditor has stamped the document, bring it to the Recorder's Office with the correct recording fee.

IC 32-21-2-3 defines what makes a deed valid in Indiana. A deed must be written, signed by the grantor, and acknowledged before a notary public. The Recorder cannot record a deed that lacks proper notarization. If you are mailing the document to the Martin County Recorder, include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return of the recorded document.

Martin County Recording Fees

Martin County follows the standard Indiana fee schedule for recording land documents. A deed costs $25 to record. A mortgage costs $55. Oversized pages cost an extra $5 per page beyond the standard document size. Pay by check or money order made out to the Martin County Recorder. Call (812) 247-2420 to confirm fees before submitting.

Copies of recorded documents are available at the office. Standard copies up to 11 by 17 inches cost $1 per page. Larger copies cost $5 per page. Certified copies cost an additional $5 per document. If you need copies by mail, contact the office to get the total cost before sending payment. Include a return envelope if you want the copies mailed back to you.

IC 36-2-7.5-4 is the Indiana statute that governs county recorder fee schedules. Martin County sets its fees within the framework this law provides. Fees can change if the state updates the fee statute, so check with the Recorder's Office for the most current amounts before you file.

Title Research and Property History in Martin County

Searching the title of a property in Martin County means reviewing all recorded deeds for a given parcel to trace ownership from the current owner back through time. This is a standard step in any real estate transaction. It reveals who has owned the property, what liens are recorded, and whether any easements or restrictions affect the land. Title companies and real estate attorneys handle most of this work professionally, but the records at the Martin County Recorder's Office are open to the public.

The index at the Recorder's Office lets you search by name. You start with the current owner as the grantor on the most recent deed and work backward through each prior owner. Each transfer should have a corresponding deed in the index. If there is a gap, it can mean a title defect. The Martin County Recorder's index covers all recorded documents and is the official source for land title history in the county.

The Indiana Recording Manual from the Indiana Recorders Association explains the recording process, index structure, and document format rules for all Indiana counties including Martin. It is available free online. The Indiana State Board of Accounts also provides standards for county recorder offices across the state.

Submitting Documents to Martin County

Martin County accepts deed documents in person and by mail. Bring your document to 129 Main Street in Shoals during business hours. Make sure the County Auditor has already stamped it before you arrive at the Recorder's window. If you are mailing a deed for recording, send it to PO Box 147, Shoals, IN 47581. Include the full recording fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope for return.

For e-recording availability in Martin County, call the Recorder's Office at (812) 247-2420. Some smaller Indiana counties have added e-recording in recent years. If Martin County accepts it, you would use a service like Simplifile or CSC eRecording to submit documents digitally. IC 36-2-11-16.5 allows Indiana counties to accept electronically signed and submitted documents when they meet state standards. IC 36-2-11-15 covers the processing of recorded documents in Indiana including electronic submissions.

Nearby Counties

Martin County is in southern Indiana, bordered by several other counties with their own recorder offices and deed record indexes.