Property Records

Marion County property records are essential public documents that verify who owns a property, how it has changed hands, and what financial obligations may be attached to it. The Marion County Recorder’s Office maintains over 11 million vital records, including deeds, liens, mortgages, easements, and certified survey maps, making it the primary resource for anyone researching property ownership or history in Indianapolis and the surrounding area.

How to Find and Obtain a Property Deed

A deed is the legal document that transfers ownership, or title, of a property from one party to another. Once a deed is recorded with the Marion County Recorder’s Office, it serves as the official proof of ownership—no separate certificate of title is issued afterward. Before a deed or any other property transfer document can be recorded, it must first be stamped by the Assessor’s Office in Room 1360. Deeds are searchable through the online real estate records search, which lists instrument numbers, party names, document types, and recorded dates. Copies of a deed can be obtained directly from the Recorder’s Office at 200 E. Washington Street, Suite T-741, Indianapolis, IN 46204, or by calling 317-327-4020, for $1 per page, with certified copies available for an additional $5.

Property Appraisals and Tax Information

Property appraisals and tax information are handled separately through the Marion County Assessor’s Office. The Property Report Card allows residents to look up ownership, assessed value, and tax details by parcel number, owner name, or address. This tool is particularly useful when trying to confirm the exact legal name listed on a deed before conducting a records search, since the Recorder’s search system requires names to match the indexed records exactly.

Liens, Mortgage Releases, and Property Fraud Protection

Liens and mortgage releases are also part of the public record. A mortgage release, or satisfaction, confirms that a homeowner has fully repaid their lender and the terms of the mortgage have been met; this document can take several months to be filed after the final payment is made. Property owners can search for liens using the same online document search tool used for deeds. To guard against unauthorized transfers or fraudulent liens, Marion County offers a free Property Fraud Alert service that notifies property owners whenever a document is recorded under their name.