Search Montgomery County Deed Records

Montgomery County deed records are filed at the Montgomery County Recorder's Office in Crawfordsville, Indiana, where Recorder Nancy Cox maintains the official index of all deeds, mortgages, and real property instruments for the county. Montgomery County has scanned all deed records back to 1823, making it one of the most complete digital deed archives in Indiana.

Montgomery County Recorder's Office

The Montgomery County Recorder's Office is at 1580 Constitution Row in Crawfordsville. Recorder Nancy Cox and her staff handle all deed and mortgage filings for the county. Under IC 36-2-11, the recorder keeps the official public index of real property documents. The office stamps each document with its recording date and time, which determines priority when two instruments affect the same parcel in Montgomery County.

The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Eastern Standard Time. That extra half hour past 4:00 PM is useful for anyone coming from out of town. Reach the recorder at (765) 364-6415. Call ahead if you have questions about older records or need to confirm what search tools are available at the counter. The Crawfordsville office regularly assists both title professionals and members of the public who need to search the deed index.

Before a deed can be recorded, the Montgomery County Auditor must review and stamp it. The auditor's office is also in Crawfordsville. Plan to visit both offices on the same trip if you are recording a deed in person. Under IC 36-2-11-14, the recorder cannot accept a deed for recording until it has the auditor's stamp showing transfer details have been reviewed.

Search Montgomery County Property Records

In-person searches are available at the Crawfordsville office. Staff can help you look up records by grantor name, grantee name, or document type. Counter searches are free; copies carry a per-page fee. Because Montgomery County has scanned deeds going back to 1823, a large portion of the historical record is in digital form, which can make in-person research faster than you might expect in a county of this size.

Online access is available through two platforms. Doxpop indexes recorded instruments from Indiana counties including Montgomery County. You can search by name or document type and buy document images as needed. Tapestry by Fidlar also covers Montgomery County deed records. Both services charge per document or offer subscription plans. Given the depth of digitized records here, these online tools are often the fastest way to find what you need before deciding whether to visit Crawfordsville in person.

For parcel information and ownership history, Beacon by Schneider Corp may carry Montgomery County data as well. Certified copies are available at the recorder's office. Mail requests should include a check and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Call (765) 364-6415 to confirm current fees before mailing.

Recording Requirements in Montgomery County

Documents submitted to the Montgomery County Recorder must meet Indiana's statewide format rules. IC 36-2-11-16.5 sets the standards 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 to allow for the recorder's stamp. Other margins must be at least 0.5 inches. All text must be at least 8-point type and dark enough to reproduce cleanly. Documents that do not meet these standards will be returned unfiled.

All deeds 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 the auditor's stamp under IC 36-2-11-14 before the recorder will accept them. All deeds and mortgages must be notarized under IC 33-42-10-2. When names on a deed are identical or similar to existing entries in the index, the rules of IC 36-2-11-16 apply.

The Indiana Recorders Association publishes the Indiana Recording Manual, which covers all of these requirements in detail. Title companies and attorneys who file regularly in Montgomery County should keep it on hand.

Electronic Recording in Montgomery County

Montgomery County may accept electronic recording for deed and mortgage documents. E-recording allows title companies, lenders, and attorneys to submit land documents digitally without making the trip to Crawfordsville. Contact the recorder at (765) 364-6415 to confirm whether e-recording is currently active and which platforms are approved.

Common e-recording services used in Indiana include Simplifile and CSC eRecording. These platforms handle document submission, fee collection, and return of the stamped document. They add a service fee on top of the Montgomery County recording fee. IC 36-2-11-16.5 allows Indiana counties to accept electronically signed documents that meet state standards, and IC 36-2-11-15 governs how the recorder processes all submitted documents in Indiana.

Indiana Deed Records State Portal

Indiana's State Land Office maintains state-level deed records, maps, and property photos that supplement local Montgomery County deed searches and help users understand how the statewide and county systems work together.

For Montgomery County property tax data linked to deed transfers, visit Indiana Gateway. The Indiana State Land Office covers state-owned property deeds and related maps across Indiana.

Montgomery County Deed Recording Fees

Montgomery 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 sizes up to 11 by 17 inches. Larger copies cost $5.00 per page. Certified copies require an additional $5.00 fee plus the per-page copy cost. Cash or check is accepted at the counter in Crawfordsville. The Indiana State Board of Accounts reviews all county recorder fee schedules for compliance with state law under IC 36-2-7.5-4.

Cities in Montgomery County

Crawfordsville is the county seat and largest city in Montgomery County. All deed records for property anywhere in Montgomery County are filed at the recorder's office in Crawfordsville, regardless of which city or township the land is in.

Other communities in Montgomery County include Darlington, Ladoga, New Ross, Waveland, and Waynetown. None of these communities currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. Deed records for property in all of these areas are recorded at the Crawfordsville office.

Nearby Counties

Montgomery County sits in west-central Indiana and shares borders with these counties, each of which maintains its own recorder's office.