How to Find Owners of Properties
in Illinois
Property records are predominantly accessible to the public in Illinois, but certain restrictions may apply when accessing specific sections. For instance, personal information pertaining to property owners may be redacted or restricted to safeguard privacy. Additionally, property records associated with ongoing legal proceedings or other sensitive matters may have limited public access.
A property owner search in Illinois may not be as straightforward as in other states. But with a bit of digging, it is still possible to find the owner of a property by address, parcel ID, or phone number.
Let's go through some proven ways to do a quick property owner search in Illinois:
Visit the Local County Assessor and Recorder
Like many other states, Illinois does not store property records at the state level. Instead, interested persons can find a property owner by address at the local county recorder's office or the county assessor's office. While the counties may have different ways of assessing these records, they all typically involve visiting the relevant office in person, submitting a written request, or using their online platforms.
Here are some county recorder's offices in Illinois to start your search:
See the Records at the County Treasurer
The county treasurer, or county collector, is another place to carry out an Illinois house owner lookup. Here, you can get the entire Illinois property history, tax situation, and other relevant details to help make an informed buying decision.
Check the Chicago Historic Resources Survey
The Chicago Historic Resources Survey is a document that records information on all historical properties in the city of Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the primary places to start a property owner search if the property is in Chicago.
You can find this survey at the Chicago Public Library or the Chicago Landmarks office. There is also an electronic version on the City of Chicago website. On this website, you can search for a property alphabetically, through a database of over 17,000 properties.
Search the Tract Book at County Clerk's Offices
Another way to conduct a property owner search in Illinois is by going through the tract book records. These records hold information on properties dating back to 1871, which is sufficient to conduct any Illinois house owner look-up.
The tract book shows a detailed chain of ownership, with names, dates, and even court records on the property. But, if you specifically want to find a property owner by address, you can speak to an official at the County Clerk's office for guidance on navigating the pages.
Get Help From a Reputable Title Search Company
Instead of visiting these government offices in person or going through the online databases, you can get a title search company to do all of these. Title search companies help potential buyers find information on properties, usually before they buy it, to ensure that it has a valid title and there are no encumbrances on it.
Title companies save you time and help you get a clear understanding of the property records, so you don't have to interpret them yourself.
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Hire a Trusted Commercial Service Provider
Commercial service providers like PropertyChecker.com also help with conducting an Illinois house owner lookup. PropertyChecker.com has a comprehensive and up-to-date database of all properties in the state and allows users to search using different criteria.
For example, you can find property owners by address, parcel ID, phone number, or email. Where a property is owned by an LLC or some other corporate personality, commercial service providers can help uncover the individuals behind these organizations.
What Are the Different Types of Property Ownership in Illinois?
There are several methods for preserving the title meant for use on residential properties, which defines how a single person or several people own properties in Illinois. It's possible for one person to own a property, or for several people to all be co-owners. The rights associated with the property for the sole owner or joint owners depend on the specific manner in which they take the title.
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Sole Ownership
In Illinois, a single person may have property in their name. The deed reflects this transfer, whereby the seller (referred to by the title grantor) conveys the right to own the piece of real estate to one person, who is known as the grantee. If that purchaser is interested in changing details of the deed in the future it's possible to create a new deed to reflect those changes. For married buyers, holding the title as a sole individual owner is possible, showing to everyone the owner isn't interested in owning the property.
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Tenancy By Entirety
Married couples often make use of tenancy by entirety as opposed to the other options offered above in Illinois. For this type of deed to be possible the document must clearly specify that it is a tenancy by entirety and not one of the other options. This contract gives both spouses an equal interest in the property that cannot be divided. The spouses enjoy full survivorship, meaning if one dies the other gains full ownership over the property. This form of deed can only be applied to one property at a time.
Tenancy by entirety is essentially joint tenancy with rights of survivorship, it's just a special form of it. Only married couples have access to this ownership type and only for a single property known as their homestead. All four ownership requirements must be met as outlined above for this agreement to work, but there is an additional requirement for the person to be married as well. Because of the way the agreement is designed if one spouse dies the other becomes the full owner of the property immediately. It isn't possible for one spouse to sell or give ownership of the property away without the other agreeing to the transaction.
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Joint Tenancy With Right of Survivorship
One common type of ownership in Illinois is called joint tenancy. This is when more than one person maintains an equal right of ownership in a single property. The rights are evenly distributed and they cannot be separated. Joint tenancy is not an ownership type that comes automatically in the state of Illinois. Instead, it's necessary for the deed to specify this type of ownership. Only when it's specified that a joint tenancy with right of survivorship is the type of ownership is the deed treated as such rather than a tenancy in common, which is the standard. To qualify for joint tenancy with rights of survivorship, all four requirements of this type of ownership need to be met. They are as follows:
- Time: Everyone to be placed on the deed must become an owner at the same time.
- Title: Everyone involved is required to get their title by way of the same document.
- Interest: Each person involved has to have the same interest in the property overall.
- Possession: Everyone needs to enjoy a right to own the entire property with undivided rights that cannot be separated.
Each co-owner, or joint tenant, enjoys access to the same rights for property use, income, real estate taxes, and more. When one member of the joint tenancy disrupts any of the four requirements above their interest in the property can be terminated while the others remain intact. If a new owner results from the disruption of the requirements that individual will be a tenant in common.
In contrast to tenants in common, if a joint tenant dies the remaining co-owners maintain full control of the property, and the deceased's portion of the real estate does not pass on via their will.
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Tenancy in Common
Tenancy in common is a type of co-ownership where two or more individuals hold undivided, but not necessarily equal, fractional interests in the property. In this arrangement, each co-owner has an equal right to use the entire property, regardless of their specific ownership percentage.
In Illinois, if the deed does not specify the manner in which title is held among two or more residential property owners, the law presumes the property ownership is shared jointly as tenants in common. Additionally, if the deed does not indicate specific ownership percentages, Illinois law assumes that each co-owner holds an equal ownership interest.
Summary of the Forms of Property Ownership in Illinois
| Ownership Structure | Description | Benefits | Implications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sole Ownership | Refers to ownership by a single individual. It can also apply to ownership by a business or a trust. | Full control over the property. | If you are married, you cannot transfer the property without obtaining your spouse's signature on the deed. |
| Joint Tenancy | Two or more people hold joint title to the property. Each has the right to occupy the full property during their lifetime | Property maintenance, tax obligations, insurance, and other expenses are shared by the joint tenants. | A creditor who obtains a legal judgment against either owner can claim the property, requiring it to be divided to settle the debt. |
| Tenancy in Common | Two or more persons hold title to real estate jointly in equal or unequal percentages. | Each owner has the right to occupy and use all of the property. The ownership percentages define the financial ownership of the real estate. | Each owner is responsible for debts against the property, including taxes payable by the property. |
| Tenancy by Entirety | Tenancy by entirety is ownership available only to married couples. It acts the same way as joint tenants with the right of survivorship. | The surviving spouse's interest in the property is protected from the decedent spouse's creditors. | When one spouse dies, the decedent's interest automatically goes to the surviving spouse. |
Common Methods of Property Transfer in Illinois
A deed is a written document that facilitates the transfer of real property from the seller to the buyer. It must comply with Illinois law and include specific information, such as the legal description of the residential property, the tax identification number, the address, and the manner in which the title is held.
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Warranty Deed
The most common deed form in Illinois is the warranty deed, which offers protection to the buyer by guaranteeing that there are no issues with the title. While warranty deeds are prevalent, other forms of deeds, such as limited warranty deeds and quitclaim deeds, are also available and insurable in Illinois. The insurability of a specific deed depends on the circumstances surrounding its issuance. Therefore, additional underwriting may be required for non-warranty deeds in some cases.
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Special Warranty Deed
Another common type of deed is the special warranty deed. This deed provides protection only against claims that arose during the time the seller owned the property. It does not safeguard against any claims or liens from prior owners. Special warranty deeds are frequently used for new construction homes or properties purchased at foreclosure sales.
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Quitclaim Deed
A quitclaim deed offers the least protection for property buyers, as it does not provide a warranty of title. It does not guarantee that the person transferring the property actually owns it, nor does it ensure that there are no encumbrances on the property. This means that if the previous owner failed to pay a tax bill, a tax lien could be placed on the property. The grantee of a quitclaim deed has no recourse against the grantor, as the quitclaim deed makes no guarantees.
Step-by-Step Guide to Property Ownership Transfer in Illinois
Here are the steps you need to take when transferring property in Illinois:
- Get the property deed: Begin by obtaining the current deed for the property. You can search for online listings on the county recorder's website or visit the county recorder's office in person to acquire it.
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Complete the deed form: Fill up the required information for Illinois deeds, which typically includes the following:
- Details about the property.
- The names and addresses of all parties involved in the transfer.
- The name and address of the party completing the quitclaim deed.
- Notarize the form: A deed must be notarized to be valid. You should sign the paperwork in front of a notary, who will attest to the legality of the document and affix their seal. It's important not to sign the form until you are in the presence of the notary.
- Present documents to the county recorder: Visit the county recorder of deeds to present your document for filing. They will stamp and file it for you. It's advisable to contact them beforehand to inquire about the current fees, so you will know how much to expect to pay at the time of the transfer.
- Make copies of the documents: Before leaving the county recorder of deeds office, make any necessary copies of the document. Both the grantor and the grantee may need copies of the deed for their records.
State transfer taxes in Illinois are set at $0.25 per $500 of property value specified in the transfer tax declaration. However, individual counties may establish their own transfer tax rates, which will also need to be paid during the transfer process.
Illinois Homeowner Lookup
- Owner(s)
- Deed Records
- Loans & Liens
- Values
- Taxes
- Building Permits
- Purchase History
- Property Details
- And More!
Illinois Homeowner Lookup
- Owner(s)
- Deed Records
- Loans & Liens
- Values
- Taxes
- Building Permits
- Purchase History
- Property Details
- And More!