Miami County Indiana Property and Deed Records
Miami County deed records are filed and maintained at the Recorder's Office in Peru, Indiana. This office records all deeds, mortgages, liens, and other land documents for property in Miami County. You can visit the office during regular business hours Monday through Friday or contact staff by phone at (765) 472-3901 to ask about available search options for Miami County property records.
Miami County Quick Facts
Miami County Recorder's Office
Recorder Paul Wilson oversees the Miami County Recorder's Office at 25 N Broadway, Room 205, Peru, IN 46970. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Staff record, index, and preserve all real property documents for Miami County. Once a deed or mortgage is recorded here, it becomes part of the permanent public record. Anyone can request to view or copy recorded documents at the office.
The Miami County Recorder operates under IC 36-2-11. This Indiana statute defines the duties of county recorders across the state. The Recorder must accept all eligible documents, check them for format compliance, and stamp them with the official recording date and time. The recording date is legally important in Indiana because it determines priority. The first deed recorded for a given parcel has priority over later recordings for the same property.
When you bring a deed to the Miami County Recorder, the document review takes just a few minutes if everything is in order. The Recorder checks the margins, font size, legal description, and preparer information. Documents that pass are stamped and added to the index. You get a receipt showing the recording date, time, and document number. Keep this for your records. It is the official proof that your deed was recorded in Miami County.
The Indiana Department of Administration publishes information about state property deeds and recording procedures that reflect the same process used at the county level in Miami County.
The Indiana DOA property records page provides useful context on statewide deed recording practices and the statutes that govern county recorders like those in Miami County.
| Office | Miami County Recorder |
|---|---|
| Recorder | Paul Wilson |
| Address | 25 N Broadway, Room 205 Peru, IN 46970 |
| Phone | (765) 472-3901 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
How to Search Miami County Deed Records
The Miami County Recorder's Office maintains a public index of all recorded land documents. You can search this index in person at Room 205 in Peru. Look up records by grantor name, grantee name, or document number. Staff can assist with searches. There is no fee to use the index at the counter. Copies of individual documents cost extra.
Online search options for Miami County may be available through statewide platforms. Check Doxpop to see if Miami County records are accessible online. Doxpop covers many Indiana counties and lets you search by name or parcel. Results show recording dates, document types, and parties to the transaction. Full document images are available for a small fee.
The Beacon property search tool may also carry parcel and ownership data for Miami County. This platform combines assessment information with recorder data and is widely used by title professionals. Visit the Beacon site and search for Miami County to check availability. For information on which platforms currently work with Miami County, call the Recorder's Office at (765) 472-3901.
The Tapestry platform is another option used across many Indiana counties. Tapestry lets you search by name, document number, or parcel and view recorded document images. The Indiana Recorders Association website lists current tools and links to county recorder offices statewide.
Recording a Deed in Miami County
To record a deed in Miami County, the document must comply with Indiana's statewide format rules. Under IC 36-2-11-14, the Recorder has the right to reject any document that does not meet these standards. Getting it right the first time avoids delays and extra trips to Peru.
The deed must be typed or printed on white paper of at least 20-pound weight. Font size must be at least 10-point. Leave at least a 2-inch top margin on the first page for the official recording stamp. All other pages need a half-inch margin on each side. Under IC 36-2-11-16, include the name and address of the person who prepared the document. The legal description of the property must be complete and accurate.
Before presenting the deed to the Miami County Recorder, take it to the County Auditor's office first. IC 36-2-11-14 requires the Auditor to review and stamp any document that transfers property ownership before the Recorder will accept it. The Auditor checks the transfer information and parcel data. Once the Auditor stamps it, proceed to the Recorder's Office in Room 205 with the deed and recording fee. IC 32-21-2-3 requires that the deed be signed by the grantor and notarized to be valid under Indiana law.
Miami County Recording Fees
The Miami County Recorder charges fees that follow the standard Indiana schedule. Recording a deed costs $25. Recording a mortgage costs $55. Oversized pages beyond standard letter size cost $5 extra per page. Pay by check or money order payable to the Miami County Recorder. Call (765) 472-3901 to confirm the current fee before submitting your documents.
Copies of recorded documents are available at the office. Standard-size copies up to 11 by 17 inches cost $1 per page. Larger copies cost $5 per page. Certified copies add $5 per document. For mail orders, contact the office to get the total amount before sending payment. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want the documents returned by mail.
IC 36-2-7.5-4 governs the fee schedule for Indiana county recorders. This statute sets the framework for what recorders can charge and how fees may be structured. Miami County follows this law when setting its recording fees. Confirm current amounts with the office, as the state legislature can update the fee statute.
Electronic Recording and Document Submission
Miami County may accept electronic recording for deed documents. E-recording allows title companies, lenders, and law firms to submit documents digitally without visiting the Peru courthouse. Contact the Recorder's Office at (765) 472-3901 to confirm whether e-recording is active and which platforms are accepted in Miami County.
Common e-recording platforms used in Indiana include Simplifile and CSC eRecording. These services handle submission, fee payment, and return of the recorded document. They charge a service fee in addition to the Miami County recording fee. IC 36-2-11-15 governs the acceptance and processing of documents by Indiana county recorders, and IC 36-2-11-16.5 allows counties to accept electronically signed documents that meet state standards.
Property Title Research in Miami County
A title search in Miami County traces all recorded deeds for a parcel to confirm ownership and uncover any liens or encumbrances. Buyers and lenders require this before any real estate transaction. You can search the chain of title at the Recorder's Office in Peru using the public index, or use online tools if they are available for Miami County.
To trace a chain of title, 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 recorded deed. Gaps in the chain signal potential title problems. The Recorder's index covers all recorded instruments for Miami County land going back to when the county was first established.
The Indiana Recording Manual from the Indiana Recorders Association is a practical guide for title researchers working in Miami County. It covers how the grantor-grantee index works, document requirements, and the overall recording process in Indiana. The Indiana State Board of Accounts sets record-keeping standards for county offices including recorders.
Nearby Counties
Miami County is in north-central Indiana. These neighboring counties all maintain their own recorder offices and public deed record indexes.