In an effort to expand services for customers, CCRD is announcing that for the first time ever, “certified digital files” are now available for purchase. Certified Files (PDF format) are more secure than paper copies that have been stamped or embossed with a government seal. They are also easier to send to agencies or authorities […]
A (Temporary) Farewell from Karen Yarbrough
Dear Residents, Taxpayers, and Homeowners of Cook County, Today is a bittersweet day for me, as I submit my resignation as Recorder of Deeds, and take the Oath of Office as your next Cook County Clerk. I say goodbye to you all from this role, but only temporarily. As many of you know, the County […]
New Service! Paperless Record Certification with Blockchain
As her final innovation as Recorder of Deeds, Karen A. Yarbrough is announcing that the Cook County Recorder of Deeds will soon offer paperless Certified Digital Files, in addition to certified paper copies. This expansion of service, made possible with the help of Onyx Electronics, will allow customers to obtain a certified copy of an […]
MyDec to be Required for All County Conveyances
Effective January 21, 2019, prior to recording, all Cook County property conveyance instruments must be accompanied by an electronically-completed Cook County Real Estate Transfer Tax Declaration, aka, a “MyDec,” which can be completed via the Illinois Department of Revenue’s MyDec Transfer Tax Portal – https://mytax.illinois.gov/mydec The requirement to use MyDec is already in effect for all […]
CCRD Fights for Ability to Help Homeowners Invalidate Expired Mechanics Liens
Despite a last-minute attempt to derail the legislation by special interests who benefit from Illinois’ overly-complicated real estate laws, Cook County of Recorder of Deeds Karen A. Yarbrough was successful in passing a bill to allow the Office to help homeowners clear up expired mechanic’s (contractors) liens at no cost to the homeowner. House Bill 5201, which […]
CCRD Adjusts Internal MyDec and PTAX Review Policies
In an effort to better deliver core services in a time of tight government resources, the Cook County Recorder of Deeds Office will be implementing changes to the way it administers its duties and functions as an agent for City, County and State Transfer Tax authorities, specifically to the factors we use when reviewing a […]
Recorder Yarbrough Asks ‘Home Title Lock’ to Stop Using CCRD in Advertisements
Recorder of Deeds Karen Yarbrough is officially asking a company operating under the name “Home Title Lock” to cease and desist from using the name of the Office of the Cook County Recorder of Deeds to sell a fraud monitoring service that CCRD offers for free. In a recent Chicago television interview, a representative from […]
CCRD Releases Blockchain Pilot Final Report
In September of 2016, CCRD announced that it would participate in a Pilot Program to study how blockchain technology could be implemented into current law and practice in Illinois land records, as well as how the state could benefit from this technology. What is blockchain? Simply stated, a blockchain is a distributed database/ledger of chronological, […]
Introducing Onyx Land Records Portal (Open Beta)
CCRD and its partner, Onyx Electronics, have spent months working on a new way to search and purchase official records held by CCRD, and the result is the most versatile source of land data in Cook County. The site is currently in Open Beta, meaning the public is invited to use it and provide feedback. […]
CCRD Releases Annual Report for 2016
Every year since taking office Recorder of Deeds Karen A. Yarbrough has released an Annual Report. This document lays out what has been accomplished, and focuses the office on tasks that lie ahead. The theme for 2016 is “A Government that Innovates.” This is in relation to the industry-leading reforms we are pushing, like stronger […]