Lake County, Illinois Recording Fees
Recording a deed in Lake County costs about $50 and a mortgage about $50 (flat per-document fee for a standard-format document, regardless of page count), per the Lake County Recorder of Deeds (Recording Division)'s fee schedule, effective 2023-07-01. Lake County's most recently published fee schedule (effective 7/1/2023) lists $50.00 flat for a standard real estate document (deed or mortgage) and $62.00 for a non-standard one, not broken out by page. Illinois recorder fees include a statutory Rental Housing Support Program surcharge and other state add-ons that the legislature has raised more than once (Public Act 102-1135). Neighboring Will County raised its equivalent standard real estate document fee to $90.00 effective 10/1/2025, so Lake County's current fee may also be higher than $50. Confirm the current fee with the Lake County Recorder.
Fee schedule
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Deed, first page | $50 |
| Deed, each additional page | $0 |
| Mortgage, first page | $50 |
| Mortgage, each additional page | $0 |
| Non-standard document surcharge documents that do not meet Illinois formatting standards (paper size, margins, font) cost $62 total instead of $50 | $12 |
Lake County closing costs → Illinois transfer tax → Lake County home buyer guide →
County transfer tax
Lake County Real Estate Transfer Tax: $0.25 per $500, paid by the seller. Illinois transfer tax →
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to record a deed in Lake County?
$50 for the first page, about $50 for a typical deed, per the Lake County Recorder of Deeds (Recording Division)'s fee schedule.
And the mortgage?
$50 for the first page, about $50 for a typical mortgage or deed of trust. The buyer pays this at closing.
Sources
- Lake County Recorder of Deeds (Recording Division) fee schedule
- Lake County, IL Code Sec. 34.17, Tax on Real Estate Property Transfer
Figures are computed from the documents above and rounded to the dollar. All sources.
Lake County closing costs → Lake County home buyer guide →
Fees as published by the recorder; e-recording and courier charges may apply. General information, not legal advice.
Lake County overview