Find Deed Records in Shelby County

Shelby County deed records are filed at the Shelby County Recorder's Office in Shelbyville, Indiana, where Recorder Jessica Pile maintains the official index of all recorded real property documents in the county. All property transfers, mortgages, and real estate instruments for land in Shelby County are recorded there and available to the public, though the office keeps an unusual schedule that closes on Fridays.

Shelby County Recorder's Office

The Shelby County Recorder's Office is in Room 101 at 25 W. Polk Street in Shelbyville. Recorder Jessica Pile manages all real property records for the county. Under IC 36-2-11, the recorder is responsible for maintaining the official index of all instruments affecting real property and making records available to the public. Note the schedule before you plan a visit: the office is open Monday through Thursday from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It is closed on Fridays. If you need to record a deed in Shelby County, plan to go or send documents on a weekday that is not Friday.

Phone is (317) 392-6370. Staff can assist with recording requirements, fees, and how to search the index. If you plan to record a document and are uncertain whether it meets Indiana's format requirements, call ahead. Documents that don't pass the formatting check will be returned unfiled. E-recording is an option for submitting Shelby County deeds without a trip to Shelbyville. Vendors like Simplifile (800-460-5657) and CSC eRecording (866-652-0111) connect directly to the Recorder's system and allow electronic submission. This is especially practical given the Monday-Thursday office schedule.

Mail-in recording is also accepted. Send the original document with a check or money order made out to the Shelby County Recorder, plus a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of the stamped original. Call (317) 392-6370 to confirm current fees and any special instructions before mailing.

Shelby County Property Records Search

Shelby County deed records can be searched in person at Room 101 in Shelbyville, but only Monday through Thursday. Staff can assist with searches by grantor name, grantee name, parcel number, or document type. Most counter searches are free. Copies carry a per-page fee. For older records that predate electronic indexing, an in-person visit is often necessary. Keep in mind the office closes on Fridays. Plan accordingly.

Online searches are available for Shelby County property records. Doxpop indexes deed and mortgage records from Indiana counties and may cover Shelby County. You can search by name or document type and purchase document images as needed. Tapestry by Fidlar is another pay-as-you-go option that may cover Shelby County. Beacon by Schneider Corp provides free parcel data for Shelby County, including owner name, assessed value, and sale history. This is a good starting point before requesting a deed copy from the recorder. The Indiana Gateway portal provides property tax and financial data for Shelby County that can support due diligence alongside deed records.

Certified copies of Shelby County deed records are available from the Recorder's Office. Contact the office by phone or visit in person at Room 101 in Shelbyville. Mail requests should include a check for the correct amount and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Call (317) 392-6370 to confirm fees before mailing. Remember that the office is closed on Fridays, so plan mail-in requests accordingly.

IC 32-21-2-3 is Indiana's recording priority law. A deed that is not recorded can be defeated by a later buyer who does record. Any buyer of Shelby County property should record their deed right after closing. E-recording works on business days Monday through Thursday, the same as in-person filing.

Shelby County Recording Requirements

Documents submitted for recording in Shelby County must meet Indiana's statewide standards. IC 36-2-11-16.5 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. All other margins must be 0.5 inches or more. Text must be at least 8-point type and dark enough to reproduce clearly. Documents that do not comply will be returned unfiled at the Shelby County Recorder's Office.

All deeds in Shelby 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 directs the recorder to redact Social Security numbers before documents become publicly available. Deeds that transfer property must carry an auditor's stamp from the Shelby County Auditor under IC 36-2-11-14 before being accepted for recording. All deeds and mortgages must be notarized under IC 33-42-10-2. The notary must sign and seal the document. When names on a deed are identical or similar, IC 36-2-11-16 applies.

The Indiana Recorders Association publishes the Indiana Recording Manual, which covers all of these requirements. Title companies and attorneys who record in Shelby County should review the manual to reduce the chance of rejected filings.

Indiana Deed Records State Portal

Indiana's State Land Office maintains state-level deed records, maps, and property photos. These resources supplement local Shelby County deed searches and provide context for how the statewide and county recording systems relate to each other in Indiana.

For Shelby County property tax data linked to deed transfers, visit Indiana Gateway. The Indiana State Land Office covers state-owned property deeds and maps that may be useful for Shelby County research.

Shelby County Deed Recording Fees

Shelby County uses Indiana's standard recording fee schedule under IC 36-2-7.5-4. 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 Shelbyville. For e-recording, fees are the same as in-person submissions, though the e-recording platform may add its own transaction charge. The Indiana State Board of Accounts reviews all county recorder fee schedules for compliance with state law.

Cities in Shelby County

Shelbyville is the county seat of Shelby County. All deed records for property in Shelby County, including property in Shelbyville and surrounding communities, are filed at the Shelby County Recorder's Office at 25 W. Polk Street in Shelbyville.

Other communities in Shelby County include Morristown, Edinburgh, and St. Paul. Deed records for property in all of these areas are recorded at the Shelby County Recorder's Office. No cities in Shelby County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

Shelby County is in central Indiana south of Indianapolis. These Indiana counties share borders with Shelby County and each has its own recorder's office.