Lake County, IN Property Records: Search Deeds, Owners, Tax Records, and Maps

Property records researchers in Lake County must consult four county offices for comprehensive property records research. These offices are the Lake County Recorder. County Assessor, County Auditor, and the County Treasurer. Their records cover the over 244,000 parcels of land in the county. The county’s real estate market is driven by its proximity to Chicago, IL.

Home listings in the county typically close in about 60 to 75 days, which is faster than the state average. The most popular housing stock in the county is the single-family detached home, which accounts for about 70% of the houses in the county. This housing style is most prevalent in municipalities like Munster, Cedar Lake, St. John, Hammond, Gary, East Chicago, and Crown Point.

Recent records reveal the underlying factors influencing the local real estate market, with a median home value of $132,900 and median rent of $1,079.5, alongside a median household income of $58,684 and a median real estate tax rate of 1.04 as a percentage of the property's assessed value.

How to Look Up Lake County Property Records

Each of the four offices that handle property records in Lake County allows members of the public to access records in person and online. All four offices are located at 2293 North Main Street, Building A, 2nd floor, Crown Point, IN 46307. You can access property ownership details and valuations through the Assessor’s Engage portal.

You can access detailed property tax records online through the Property Tax Search platform. Deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other recorded property documents are available to registered users through the Lake County Recorder of Deeds Search.

Who Keeps Lake County Property Records?

The Access to Public Records Act gives the public the right to view, request, and obtain Lake County property records. These records are run through the following four offices:

• The Lake County Recorder records, indexes, and maintains property-related documents, such as deeds, liens, releases, plats, and mortgages. It maintains the county’s chain of titles and provides public access to the records in electronic and physical formats.

• The Lake County Assessor equitably values all real estate in the county and maintains the records. It works in collaboration with the Auditor to determine the county’s property tax. It must also clear documents that transfer property ownership before they can be recorded in the county.

• The Lake County Auditor handles property tax deductions, identifies delinquencies, and processes refunds. The office works in collaboration with the Treasurer to conduct annual tax sales. It also endorses deeds and land contracts for property transfers.

• The Lake County Treasurer handles tax notices, property tax collection, tax payment history, and delinquent accounts. It manages the county’s annual tax sale.

How to Search Lake County Property Records Online

You can search Lake County property records online by following these steps:

1. Search the Lake County Engage portal by address, property number, or owner’s name. Select the most appropriate result to view details such as the owner’s name, address, gross assessed value, valuation history, and tax district.
2. Use the Lake County Recorder of Deeds Search portal to confirm the details from the Engage platform. Verify the listed owners and review prior transfers to establish the chain of title. Confirm that the property’s deeds are current and check for mortgages and liens against the property.
3. Confirm the property’s current tax status through the Treasurer’s Property Tax Search portal. You can view the property’s current tax, payment dates, tax history, applicable deductions, and any delinquent balance.
4. Order certified copies of recorded property records for a fee from the Recorder.

Recorder: Deeds, Mortgages, and Plats

The Recorder is responsible for recording property documents and maintaining the county’s official chain of titles. It records and maintains warranty deeds, covenant deeds, quitclaim deeds, mortgages, assignments, discharges, land contracts, tax liens, mechanics liens, subdivision plats, and surveys. The office provides remote access to its records through the Lake County Recorder of Deeds Search portal.

Assessor and Auditor: Ownership, Values, and Parcel Data

Under Indiana law, the Assessor and the Auditor must work together to assess and bill properties within counties. The Lake County Assessor values properties annually and maintains the records, while the County Auditor applies relevant deductions and calculates the property tax due. The Auditor also applies the circuit breaker caps to property taxes.

The Assessor manages the Engage portal, which provides free remote access to the county’s property records. The platform includes the owner's name, address, property number, gross assessed value, net assessed value, tax district, and transfer history.

Both offices must endorse all documents intended for recording that transfer ownership interests in real estate. Route documents involving the Indiana Sales Disclosure Form (SDF) through both offices before the County Recorder can record them.

Treasurer: Tax Bills and Payments

The Treasurer sends out property tax notices and collects taxes in two equal installments. The first installment is due by May 10, and the second installment is due by November 10 each year. Indiana tax bills typically cover the previous year's assessment. Delinquent taxes incur penalties and interest from the day after the due date.

The Treasurer manages delinquent tax payments and the county's annual tax sales. You can access property tax records on the Treasurer’s Property Tax Search platform. The platform provides details such as applied deductions, tax district, net assessed value, installment payments, and payment history. Alternatively, access statewide tax bills on the DLGF Gateway portal.

Property Tax in Lake County: Caps, Deductions, and Appeals

Real estate in Lake County is assessed at 100% of fair market value to obtain the gross assessed value by the Assessor. The Auditor then applies all eligible deductions to get the net assessed value. This value is then multiplied by the county rate to determine the tax bill. However, the Auditor will apply the circuit breaker credit if the tax bill exceeds the cap set by the Indiana Constitution.

Circuit-breaker caps

Circuit breaker caps limit property tax to a set percentage of the gross assessed value. Per Indiana's constitution, the cap on an owner-occupied homestead is 1% of value, while the cap on other residential and farm properties is 2%.

For non-residential and commercial real estate, the cap is 3% of their gross assessed value. If the calculated tax bill exceeds the cap, the Auditor applies a circuit-breaker credit to reduce it. Note that the cap limits only the tax bill, not the gross assessed value, which may keep rising year on year.

Deductions and relief

Appealing your value

File Form 130 with the Lake County Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals through the Assessor by June 15, stating reasons for the appeal. If dissatisfied with the decision, escalate to the Indiana Board of Tax Review.

GIS Maps and Parcel Viewer

You may access Lake County parcels graphically through the Lake County Parcel Viewer platform. The platform allows users to navigate directly to parcels of choice or search by address. You can view parcel boundaries, subdivision, lot, zoning, floodplain, and environmental layers in the viewer.

Foreclosure and Tax Sales

Indiana uses distinct processes for its two types of foreclosures, and understanding each is essential when conducting property research in Lake County.

Mortgage foreclosure

Unlike states that use deeds of trust for nonjudicial foreclosures, mortgage foreclosure in Indiana is judicial. If a loan in Lake County goes unpaid for more than 120 days, the lender can file a foreclosure suit in court. Once the court rules in favor of foreclosure, the county sheriff can then hold a public auction to sell the property. However, Indiana law typically allows homeowners to request settlement or a mediation conference before the sale to explore repayment options.

Tax sale

IC 6-1.1-24 allows for the sale of a property after its property tax remains unpaid and has been certified for tax sale by the Treasurer. The law requires advertising the sale in a local newspaper and on the treasurer’s website.

Lake County conducts its annual tax sale auction online through Zeus Auction. The buyer receives a tax-sale certificate, which can be used to obtain a tax deed after a year by court order. The original owner has one year to redeem the property by paying all outstanding taxes and penalties.

Costs to Access Property Records

The following statutory fees typically apply for obtaining copies of records and recording documents in Lake County, per IC 36-2-7-10.

How to Record a Document

Property document recording in Lake County is governed by Indiana law, and the following steps are generally required to record an instrument in the county:

1. Prepare the document in accordance with state standards. Verify that the margins, font size, legal description, mailing address, perjury affirmation statement, original signatures, and notary acknowledgment of the grantor's signature are correct
2. Submit the deed and a completed sales disclosure form to the Assessor and the Auditor for endorsement. Pay disclosure and parcel transfer fees.
3. Submit the endorsed deed to the Recorder in person, by mail, or through an approved e-recording vendor. Pay the recording fee, which is $25 for a deed.
4. The Recorder will update the county’s property records to reflect the transaction and return the original to the filer.

FAQs

Quick Reference: Your Lake County Property Records Checklist

Key Contacts and Official Portals