Show All Answers

1. Planning to transfer property?

Consider contacting an attorney or other licensed real estate professional. For your convenience, please visit the Hancock County Bar Association website.

2. Did you decide to prepare your own legal documents?

Please keep in mind the Recorder's Office does not prepare documents nor provide legal advice.

3. How much is it going to cost to record your documents?

Please see the Recording/Copy Fees page.

4. Does your document need notarized or another standard statement?

The majority of documents are required to be acknowledged or notarized. In addition, many documents need to have a "Document Prepared By" statement and a separate Social Security Statement: "I affirm, under the penalties for perjury, that I have taken reasonable care to redact each Social Security Number in this document, unless required by law __________." IC 36-2-11-15(d)

5. Does the document meet the exemption for any standard statement?

Federal tax lien, judgments, order and writs of the court, wills, death certificates, Uniform Commercial Code documents instruments executed before July 1, 1959 and documents prepared or acknowledged outside the State of Indiana may be exempt; however, keep in mind there may be other requirements before that document can be recorded.

6. Does the document involve real estate or personal property?

A legal description is usually required for most documents pertaining to real estate, as well as, the Assessors Sales Disclosure Stamp and the Auditor's Transfer Stamp. As far as personal property, a list of the property and location may be required.