Marshall County, IL Property Records: Search Deeds, Owners, Tax Records, and Maps
Marshall County maintains property records through three separate offices, each with a distinct job. The County Clerk doubles as Recorder of Deeds. The Supervisor of Assessments handles parcel data, and the Treasurer handles tax bills. Combined, they cover every parcel across the county's 387-square-mile area.
The county's housing stock is concentrated in Lacon (the county seat), Henry, Wenona, and Toluca. Marshall County sits along the Illinois River in north-central Illinois, with row-crop farmland filling the unincorporated area.
The real estate market in Marshall County aligns with statewide trends, as listed properties typically remain on the market for approximately 70 to 100 days. Most transactions are concentrated in municipalities, such as Lacon, Henry, Wenona, and Toluca. The market is predominantly composed of single-family detached homes.
Recent records reveal the underlying factors influencing the local real estate market, with a median home value of {median_home_value} and median rent of {median_rent}, alongside a median household income of {median_household_income} and a median real estate tax rate of {median_real_est_tax} as a percentage of the property's assessed value.
How to Look Up Marshall County Property Records
Property records in Marshall County are managed by the county Clerk and Recorder, Supervisor of Assessments, and Treasurer, with each office handling separate aspects of real estate records. The three offices are located within the same building at the Marshall County Courthouse in Lacon, making in-person property records research easier.
Property assessments and property tax details can be accessed online at no cost through the Assessor’s Property Tax Inquiry portal and the Treasurer’s Inquiry platform. For deeds, mortgages, liens, and other recorded property documents, copies are available for a fee through authorized vendors like Laredo and Tapestry. Call the Clerk and Recorder’s Office at (309) 246-6325 for inquiries.
If you need… | Use this office | Free online portal |
|---|---|---|
A deed, mortgage, lien, or plat | County Clerk and Recorder | |
Ownership, assessed value, exemptions | Supervisor of Assessments | |
A tax bill or to pay taxes | County Treasurer | |
A parcel map or GIS layer | Marshall County GIS |
Who Keeps Marshall County Property Records?
In Marshall County, three elected offices share the property records workload. The Freedom of Information Act at 5 ILCS 140 governs public access. The Property Tax Code at 35 ILCS 200 governs assessment and collection. Here's how the three offices divide responsibility:
The Supervisor of Assessments equalizes township-level assessments to the statutory 33.33% ratio, administers homestead exemptions, and serves as Clerk of the Board of Review during the appeal season.
The County Clerk and Recorder is the public registry for deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, easements, and similar instruments. In Marshall County, this office is combined with the County Clerk, which is the standard arrangement in counties of this size.
The County Treasurer bills property taxes each May, processes payments, conducts the annual tax sale for delinquencies, and oversees owner redemptions after a sale.
Marshall County was organized in 1839 and named for John Marshall, the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1801 to 1835.
How to Search Marshall County Property Records Online
When you research a property in Marshall County, plan to consult three separate portals, one for each of the offices that hold part of the record. Run them in this order, and you'll have a complete picture in minutes:
Begin with the Marshall County Assessor portal. Address, owner name, and PIN searches all work. Each result reveals current ownership, the assessment value, characteristics like square footage and year built, recent sales prices, and any homestead exemptions filed.
Pull the tax bill from the Marshall County Treasurer. The portal lists current and prior-year amounts, payment history, taxing districts, and flags any delinquency or pending refund.
Recorded documents live with the County Clerk and Recorder. The portal accepts searches by party name, document number, PIN, or recorded date. Free guest searches show the index; full images often require a pay-per-search or subscription option.
Once you have the most recent deed, work backward through the chain of title. On each prior deed, the grantor should match the grantee on the one before. Any gap is a red flag that warrants a professional title search.
The county GIS portal handles mapping needs. Parcel boundaries, zoning overlays, FEMA flood zones, and aerial imagery layer onto a single interactive map.
Assessor: Ownership, Values, and Parcel Data
Property valuation in Marshall County is handled by the Supervisor of Assessments. The office tracks every parcel's owner, characteristics, equalized assessed value, exemption status, and recent sale activity.
Office | Supervisor of Assessments |
|---|---|
Address | Marshall County Courthouse, 122 N Prairie St., P.O. Box 328, Lacon, IL 61540 |
Phone | (309) 246-2115 |
Hours | Mon–Fri (typical office hours; confirm before visiting) |
Search portal | |
Search by | Address, owner name, or PIN |
County Clerk and Recorder: Deeds, Mortgages, and Liens
Deed and lien recording in Marshall County happens at the County Clerk and Recorder's office. Once a document is recorded, it joins the public index and any future title search will find it.
Office | County Clerk and Recorder |
|---|---|
Address | 122 N Prairie St., P.O. Box 328, Lacon, IL 61540 |
Phone | (309) 246-6325 |
Online search | https://marshallcountyillinois.gov/directory/county-clerk-and-recorder/ |
Search by | Grantor, grantee, document number, PIN, or recorded date |
Treasurer: Tax Bills and Payments
The Marshall County Treasurer mails the tax bills, processes payments, runs the annual tax sale, and handles tax-deed redemption. The Treasurer's portal is the source for current bills, payment history, and delinquency status.
Office | Marshall County Treasurer |
|---|---|
Address | 122 N Prairie St, Lacon, IL 61540 |
Phone | (309) 246-6315 |
Payment portal | https://payments.municipay.com/il_marshall/item/R/1216200006 |
Property Tax in Marshall County: Rates, Exemptions, and Appeals
Marshall County's property tax bill is built by the Illinois Property Tax Code in stages. Fair market value becomes assessed value at 33.33%. The state may apply an equalization multiplier. Exemptions come off, and taxing-district rates apply to the result.
Homestead exemptions
The main exemptions that Marshall County homeowners qualify for fall into five categories. Each reduces the EAV before the combined tax rate is applied:
General Homestead Exemption: Up to $6,000 EAV reduction for owner-occupied homes (35 ILCS 200/15-175). Marshall County uses the baseline tier (applicable in most Illinois counties) under the three-tier statutory structure.
Senior Homestead Exemption: Up to $5,000 EAV reduction for owners 65 and older under 35 ILCS 200/15-170.
Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze: Freezes assessed value at a base year for seniors with household income at or below $75,000 (indexed to CPI from 2026).
Disabled Veterans Standard Homestead: Tiered by VA disability rating: $2,500 EAV at 30-49%, $5,000 at 50-69%, full exemption at 70%+.
Persons with Disabilities and Home Improvement: $2,000 EAV reduction for permanent disability; separate four-year exemption shielding up to $75,000 of improvement value.
Appealing an assessment
Appeals run through a two-stage process here. Stage one: file with the Board of Review within 30 days of receiving the assessment notice. Stage two: if the Board rules against you, file with PTAB within 30 days of the Board's final decision.
GIS Maps and Parcel Viewer
Parcel mapping in Marshall County runs through the county GIS portal. Beyond parcel boundaries, the GIS includes zoning, school districts, voting precincts, floodplains, and historical aerial imagery from multiple dates.
County GIS portal: The county's web GIS layers parcels, zoning, and floodplains with recent aerial imagery for Marshall County.
Illinois Geological Survey clearinghouse: The state-level ISGS clearinghouse hosts statewide layers including soil, hydrology, and DEM data.
Foreclosure and the Annual Tax Sale
Illinois runs judicial mortgage foreclosures through the Marshall County Circuit Court, under 735 ILCS 5/15-1101 et seq A separate annual tax sale handles unpaid property taxes under 35 ILCS 200, Article 21. The two processes work differently and produce different rights.
Annual tax sale
Tax delinquency runs through an annual sale conducted by the Treasurer. The bidding begins at 9%, with buyers bidding the penalty rate down; the lowest rate wins. Winners receive tax certificates rather than deeds.
Right of redemption
Owners get a redemption window of roughly two and a half years under 35 ILCS 200/21-345. To redeem, the owner pays the original taxes plus the bid penalty rate (compounding every six months) plus buyer costs and subsequent-year tax payments.
Scavenger sales
Properties three+ years tax-delinquent that didn't clear at the annual sale go to the biennial scavenger sale. Scavenger bidding uses dollar amounts (not interest rates), which produces a different bidder dynamic.
Costs to Access Property Records
Marshall County's online search portals are free. The county charges fees only when you need a copy of a recorded document, request a certified copy, or file a new document for recording. Illinois sets a predictable fee schedule for new recordings under 55 ILCS 5/3-5018.1.
Marshall County adopted the Illinois Predictable Fee Schedule under 55 ILCS 5/3-5018.2. The schedule replaces per-page fees with a flat fee per document class. Five classes exist: deeds, mortgages, leases, miscellaneous, and non-conforming. Non-conforming documents pay double.
On top of the recording fee, Illinois imposes a state real-estate transfer tax of $0.50 per $500 of consideration. Marshall County adds another $0.25 per $500. Most municipalities outside Chicago and a few suburbs do not impose a separate transfer tax.
Service | Fee (Marshall County) |
|---|---|
Online search at the Recorder's portal | Free |
Plain copy of a recorded document | Per-page fee set by county ordinance |
Certified copy | Plain-copy fee plus certification charge |
Deed (flat fee, all-in) | Set per Predictable Fee Schedule under 55 ILCS 5/3-5018.2 |
Mortgage (flat fee, all-in) | Set per Predictable Fee Schedule |
Non-conforming document penalty | Doubled fee under 55 ILCS 5/3-5018.2 |
State real estate transfer tax | $0.50 per $500 of consideration |
County real estate transfer tax | $0.25 per $500 of consideration |
How to Record a Document
Most Marshall County homeowners never record a document directly. The title company handles recording at closing. But if you're filing a quitclaim, a mortgage release, or a personal lien, this is the path through the Recorder's office:
Start with formatting compliance: The statute (55 ILCS 5/3-5018.2) requires 8.5x11 white paper, 20-lb minimum weight, black ink, half-inch margins, and a 3x5 blank space in the first page's upper right corner for the recording certificate.
Pull the fee from Marshall County's Predictable Fee Schedule: The flat per-document-class fees replace the old per-page system. Skipping formatting requirements in step 1 doubles the fee under statute, so it's worth double-checking your document.
File the PTAX-203 real estate transfer declaration through Illinois MyDec at the same time you file the deed: Almost every property transfer requires this declaration, including exempt transfers. The MyDec filing accompanies the recording packet.
Submit through one of three channels: walk-in at 122 N Prairie St., Lacon, IL 61540; mail-in to P.O. Box 328 (include payment and return envelope); or e-recording through Simplifile, CSC, or another approved vendor. Most filings are recorded within a few business days.
Once recorded, the document is part of the public index. The recording number is its permanent identifier; store it with the original document for any future research, certified copy request, or title work.
FAQs
Yes, property records in Marshall County, Illinois, are generally considered public records. Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140), documents such as deeds, mortgages, liens, property assessments, and property tax records are typically available for public inspection. However, certain sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers and financial account details in property records, is typically withheld or redacted to maintain privacy and security.
The Illinois Predictable Fee Schedule standardizes recording fees for land-related documents by replacing variable, page-based charges with fixed amounts. It applies to five categories of documents, including deeds, mortgages, leases, miscellaneous filings, and non-conforming records, with non-conforming documents subject to double fees under 55 ILCS 5/3-5018.2. This system enhances transparency and helps filers estimate recording costs before submission.
The County Clerk is responsible for vital records such as birth, death, and marriage certificates, along with elections and other administrative duties. In contrast, the Recorder of Deeds manages property-related documents, including deeds, mortgages, and liens. However, in many smaller Illinois counties, including Marshall County, these two roles are consolidated within one office known as the County Clerk and Recorder’s Office.
Yes, you can record property documents online in Marshall County. The County Clerk and Recorder accepts electronic filings through approved third-party vendors, such as Simplifile, CSC, and eRecording Partners Network (ePN). These services allow you to upload documents like deeds, mortgages, and liens electronically for official recording in the county system for a fee.
Yes. In Marshall County, you can file a quitclaim deed yourself without an attorney as long as it meets state and county recording requirements, as outlined in 55 ILCS 5/3-5018.2. The deed must include the grantor and grantee, a legal description of the property, and must be signed and notarized. At the time of submitting to the County Clerk/Recorder’s Office, you must also file the PTAX-203 real estate transfer declaration through Illinois MyDec.
To obtain a certified copy of a deed in Marshall County, submit a request to the County Clerk and Recorder either in person or by mail. Include key property identifiers such as the owner’s name, property address, or document ID. A processing fee is required, which covers the per-page copy fees and a separate certification charge.
Quick Reference: Your Marshall County Property Records Checklist
The seven most frequent Marshall County property records workflows are summarized here. Each row points you to the right office and the right portal.
If you want to… | Do this |
|---|---|
Verify ownership | Use the Assessor portal to identify the listed owner. The Recorder's most recent deed is the legal source if there's a mismatch. |
Pull a deed copy | Search the County Clerk and Recorder index. Documents older than the digital index typically need on-site research. |
Check the tax bill | Use the Treasurer portal. Bills are mailed in May; installments are due June 1 and September 1. |
File a homestead exemption | Submit the homestead application at the Assessor's office. General Homestead is once-and-done in most cases; Senior, Senior Freeze, and Disability exemptions reapply yearly. |
Appeal your assessment | File with the Board of Review within 30 days of the notice. Escalate to PTAB if needed. |
Find tax-sale inventory | Check the Treasurer's published delinquent list ahead of the annual tax sale. |
Record a new document | Check formatting against 55 ILCS 5/3-5018.2. File MyDec for PTAX-203 simultaneously. Walk-in, mail-in, or e-recording all work. |
Key Contacts and Official Portals
Office | Details |
|---|---|
Supervisor of Assessments | Marshall County Courthouse, 122 N Prairie St., P.O. Box 328, Lacon, IL 61540 · (309) 246-2115 · portal |
County Clerk and Recorder | 122 N Prairie St., P.O. Box 328, Lacon, IL 61540 · (309) 246-6325 · portal |
County Treasurer | 122 N Prairie St., Lacon, IL 61540 · (309) 246-6315 · portal |
Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board |