Recording a deed in Vanderburgh County, Indiana
Everything you need to get a deed on file in Vanderburgh County. The office that records it, the formatting it checks, what it costs, and the three ways to submit.
- Recording office
- County Recorder
- Witnesses
- Notary only
- Transfer tax
- None
- First-page margin
- 3″ top
- Recording fee
- ~$25 per document
- E-recording
- Approved submitters
Recording a deed in Vanderburgh County
Deeds affecting property in Vanderburgh County, Indiana are recorded with the County Recorder. Recording is what puts the world on notice of your ownership and fixes the priority date. An unrecorded deed can still transfer title between the parties, but it leaves you exposed to anyone who records first.
The recording rules the office applies come from Ind. Code § 32-21-4-1. Deeds themselves are governed by Ind. Code § 32-21-1-13.
Worth knowing
Of Vanderburgh County's e-recording vendors, only Simplifile accepts deeds.
What to bring
- The original signed and notarized deed, endorsed by the Vanderburgh County Auditor before it comes to the recorder (Ind. Code § 36-2-11-14). Recorders do not record photocopies handed over the counter.
- A completed notarial certificate: the date, the county where you signed, the notary's printed name, commission expiration date, county of commission and commission number, and the notary's seal.
- On a sale, the Sales Disclosure Form (State Form 46021), approved by the county assessor and filed with the auditor. A gift or a transfer on death deed needs none.
- Payment for the recording fee, about $25 per document. The Vanderburgh County Auditor's $10 endorsement fee per deed or parcel is paid to that office separately. Many offices do not take personal checks.
Formatting
- Indiana requires 2-inch top and bottom margins on the first and last pages, half-inch margins elsewhere, black ink, type of at least 10 points, and white paper of at least 20-pound weight (Ind. Code § 36-2-11-16.5).
- Deedly's layout, which suits this office: 8.5 × 11 inch paper, a 3-inch clear space at the top of page one for the recording stamp, 1-inch margins on the other edges, a 2-inch top margin on later pages, a 2-inch bottom margin, and type no smaller than 10 point. Deedly formats every document this way automatically.
- A legal description. A street address alone is not enough.
- A 'when recorded, return to' block so the stamped original comes back to you.
How to file
- In personTake the original to the Vanderburgh County Auditor first for the endorsement, then to the County Recorder in Evansville.
- By mailSend the original with a check or money order for the fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Allow one to three weeks for the stamped original to come back.
- E-recordingTitle companies, attorneys, and other approved submitters file electronically through services such as Simplifile, CSC, or ePN. Some offices accept filings from the public through those services; check the office's website. If you prepared the deed yourself, in person or by mail is usually simpler.
Confirm the address before you post anything
Offices move and hours change. Search for "Vanderburgh County Indiana County Recorder" and use the official county website, not a directory listing, which is often years out of date.
Formatted to Indiana requirements, with Vanderburgh County filing instructions included.
Common questions
With the County Recorder, located in Evansville. Deeds are always recorded in the county where the property sits, not where the owner lives.
Around $25 per document. Indiana has no transfer tax. Expect the recording fee plus the county auditor's $10 endorsement fee per deed or parcel (Ind. Code § 36-2-9-18(e)). On a sale, add the $20 sales disclosure fee (§ 6-1.1-5.5-4). Pay each office separately. Confirm current fees with the office before you mail anything; they change.
Usually only through an approved e-recording submitter, such as a title company or attorney, using a service like Simplifile, CSC, or ePN. Some offices accept filings from the public through those services; check the office's website. Otherwise, record in person or by mail.
Keep reading
Deedly is not a law firm
Its software and documents are not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. We provide self-help software and state-specific deed forms; you make your own decisions about your property. Using Deedly does not create an attorney-client relationship, and nothing here is legal advice. If your situation is complex or contested, talk to a licensed attorney in your state.