Monroe County, Indiana

Emergency Office Closure Notice

To Our Title Companies, Abstractors, and All Customers,

As you know, Monroe County Government offices are closed to the public under emergency procedures during the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. We – Assessor, Auditor, Treasurer, and Recorder – apologize for the inconvenience this situation has brought about.

[Update, 28 May 2020: We have received notification from our Commissioners that we are tentatively on track to begin allowing searchers into the Courthouse building by appointment only beginning June 15. We expect to have more information about scheduling soon.]

We are making every effort to maintain all essential services. With regard to the recording of documents, we are asking everyone to prioritize current business, including any closings which are already scheduled. We will have the resources to record closing documents, although there may be a longer delay than usual in returning them.

We have three methods available for submitting documents for recording:

• US mail to our PO box, as normal (preferred address).
  • Monroe County Recorder
  • PO Box 1634
  • Bloomington, Indiana 47402
• Mail to the Courthouse (this likely will take longer to reach us):
  • 100 W. Kirkwood Ave., Room 122
  • Bloomington, Indiana 47404
• Drop-off at our Justice Center. Please enclose documents in a clearly marked envelope. Leave it with security at the side entrance of the Justice Building.
• Electronic recording:
  • Non-transfer documents can be submitted via Simplifile or CSC/iRecord.
  • Update: As of Friday, 17 April 2020, we are able to accept transfer documents (deeds, etc.) via Simplifile. We strongly encourage using this method if at all possible.

Our schedule of fees can be found here.

At this time, we are not permitted to accept in-person delivery of documents at the Courthouse, so please use the drop box on the exterior of the Justice Building associated with the Clerk’s office, or leave your materials with security at the side entrance. 

We ask for your patience while we assess how this “new normal” is going to flow, before resuming new, as-yet-unscheduled closings and other business.

With regard to searching recorded documents, Doxpop.com continues to be available. In addition, Doxpop is offering discount subscriptions to any new users referred to them by Recorders who offer this service. This includes abstractors who normally spend a lot of time searching records in our office and are currently unable to work. Please contact me, Recorder Eric Schmitz (see below), and I will have Doxpop contact you with details and assistance in getting your new account set up.

Update, 20 April 2020: Our Miscellaneous Record Indexes are now available on Doxpop for the years 1963 to 1991 (Misc Indexes 1 through 11). You will need to be logged in and use Advanced Search, or access them directly at this link. I am working on scanning older Misc Indexes.

Indiana Recorders are currently looking at manageable ways to provide access to records that have not yet been digitized. We hope to have more information soon.

Update: Since we have been running with only one or two people in the office during this time (sometimes it's just me), catching someone by phone here will be hit and miss. If you have a question or request that can be put into email, that is my best way to stay organized on such requests and address them more completely and accurately: eschmitz@co.monroe.in.us

Stay home, and stay well!

-Eric

What Does the Monroe County Recorder Do?

In 1816, the Office of County Recorder was the first local office created by the State of Indiana constitution.  It is the primary duty of County Recorders to record instruments submitted for recording and maintain those records for perpetuity.

A County Recorder processes and stores a range of documents, most related to real estate, that are submitted for recording.  Documents must meet all necessary conditions.  Please visit our "Fee Schedule" and “Recording Requirements”  pages for more information. 

Visit the GIS Website

Some of the Recorder's Office documents, along with a multitude of other property information, can be found on Monroe County's newly updated and innovative GIS website at https://www.co.monroe.in.us/department/division.php?structureid=150

Documents Processed by Indiana County Recorders

• Deeds
• Mortgages
• Assignments
• Releases
• Powers of Attorney
• Real Estate Contracts
• Annexations
• Trustee Elections
• Affidavits
• Surveys
• Federal Tax Liens
• Mechanics Liens
• Delinquent Sewer Liens
• Military Discharges (often referred to as the "DD-214" forms)
• Cemetery Deeds
• Officials' Bonds
• Subdivision Plats
• Horizontal Condominium Plats
• Firms Doing Business Under Assumed Names
• Miscellaneous Documents

Other Office Responsibilities Include:

• File Uniform Commercial Code instruments
• Supply copies of any recorded instrument and certifies, upon request, to those recorded

Access Records Online

Online document viewing from January 1991 to present.  Residents get six free searches per month, and businesses pay a subscription fee based upon usage. Directions for use of the DoxPop service can be found in the comprehensive help section on their website.

If you require a document older than January 1991 that is not yet available in DoxPop, please contact our office and let us know what you need. Requests made before 2pm should be available in DoxPop by the following morning.

Property watch fraud alert system free to Monroe County residents. The service allows you to receive alerts whenever your name or property information is entered on a new recorded document. This new service is provided to the residents of Monroe County at no charge.