Search Starke County Deed Records

Starke County deed records are filed at the Starke County Recorder's Office in Knox, Indiana, where Recorder Jennifer Madsen maintains the official index of all recorded real property documents for the county. All property transfers, mortgages, and real estate instruments for land in Starke County are recorded there and available to the public for search and inspection during regular office hours.

Starke County Recorder's Office

The Starke County Recorder's Office is at 53 East Mound Street in Knox, Indiana. Recorder Jennifer Madsen 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. The office files and indexes deeds, mortgages, releases, easements, mechanic's liens, and plats. Every document recorded here receives an instrument number and date stamp, making it part of the permanent public record for Starke County land.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. Phone is (574) 772-9109. Staff can answer questions about recording requirements, fees, and how to search the index. Under IC 36-2-11-14, every deed submitted must have margins of at least one inch, a complete legal description, and the preparer's name and address on the face. Missing any of these elements means the document will be returned without recording. The correct fee must be paid at the time of filing.

Mail-in recording is accepted in Starke County. Send the original document with a check made out to the Starke County Recorder. Once processed, the office returns the stamped original to you by mail. E-recording through approved vendors like Simplifile (800-460-5657) and CSC eRecording (866-652-0111) gives title companies and real estate attorneys a faster way to record Starke County deeds and mortgages without traveling to Knox.

Starke County Property Records Search

Starke County deed records can be searched in person at the Recorder's Office at 53 East Mound Street in Knox. Bring the property owner's name or the property address. Staff can search the index and retrieve document images. Records going back many decades are available at the Starke County Recorder's Office.

Online tools are also available for Starke County. Doxpop is an Indiana-focused platform with deed and mortgage records searchable by name, document type, or date range. Tapestry by Fidlar offers pay-as-you-go access to Starke County land records without a monthly subscription. For parcel and assessment data, Beacon by Schneider Corp provides free property and ownership information for Starke County. This can help you confirm the correct parcel before searching deed records online. The Indiana Gateway portal has financial and property data for Starke County that can support due diligence when researching land in the county.

Certified copies of Starke County deed records are available from the Recorder's Office. Contact the office by phone at (574) 772-9109 or visit in person at 53 East Mound Street in Knox. Mail requests should include a check for the correct amount and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Call to confirm fees before mailing payment.

IC 32-21-2-3 is Indiana's recording priority statute. A deed that is not recorded can be defeated by a later buyer who does record. Any buyer of Starke County property should file their deed with the Recorder as soon as their closing is complete. Waiting creates unnecessary title risk.

Starke County Recording Requirements

Documents submitted for recording in Starke 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. All 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 Starke County Recorder's Office.

All deeds in Starke 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 making documents publicly available. Deeds that transfer property must carry an auditor's stamp from the Starke 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 Starke County should review the manual to reduce the chance of rejected filings at the Knox office.

Indiana Deed Records State Portal

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

For Starke County property tax data linked to deed transfers, visit Indiana Gateway. The Indiana State Land Office covers state-owned property deeds and maps relevant to northern Indiana research.

Starke County Deed Recording Fees

Starke 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 Knox. The Indiana State Board of Accounts reviews all county recorder fee schedules for compliance with state law.

Cities in Starke County

Knox is the county seat of Starke County. All deed records for property in Starke County, including property in Knox and surrounding communities, are filed at the Starke County Recorder's Office at 53 East Mound Street in Knox.

Other communities in Starke County include Bass Lake, North Judson, and San Pierre. Deed records for property in all of these areas are recorded at the Starke County Recorder's Office. No cities in Starke County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

Starke County is in north-central Indiana. These Indiana counties share borders with Starke County and each has its own recorder's office.