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

To research property records in Randolph County, you will need to consult records from four county offices. The County Recorder, County Auditor, County Assessor, and County Treasurer maintain property records. These records cover over 18,000 parcels across the county’s 452 square miles. Randolph County’s real estate market is driven by its rural agricultural community and affordable housing.

Home listings in the county typically close in 45 to 70 days, faster than the state average. The single-family detached home is the most popular housing type in the county, accounting for over 75% of listings. You will find this housing stock in municipalities like Union City, Winchester, Modoc, Farmland, Lynn, Ridgeville, and Parker City.

Recent records reveal the underlying factors influencing the local real estate market, with a median home value of $99,100 and median rent of $650, alongside a median household income of $60,678 and a median real estate tax rate of 0.75 as a percentage of the property's assessed value.

How to Look Up Randolph County Property Records

Access information about property ownership and valuation from the Assessor, and deduction records from the Auditor. Tax bills and delinquent accounts are available at the Treasurer’s office. You can remotely access these records on the Engage portal.

You can access information about deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other recorded property documents at the Recorder’s office or through the Doxpop platform. Call the office at (765) 584-7300 for inquiries.

Who Keeps Randolph County Property Records?

Under the Access to Public Records Act, the public has the right to review and request copies of county property records. The four offices that maintain property records in Randolph County are the following:

• The Randolph County Recorder maintains and indexes permanent records of property transactions in the county. The office maintains records including deeds, liens, easements, mortgages, plats, releases, and certified survey maps.

• The Randolph County Assessor locates, identifies, and assesses properties in the county and maintains the records. It also oversees property valuation appeals and clears deeds of property transfers before they can be recorded in the county.

• The Randolph County Auditor oversees property tax deductions, processes refunds, identifies delinquencies, and conducts annual tax sales with the Treasurer. It also endorses deeds for property transfers.

• The Randolph County Treasurer handles property tax notices, tax collections, annual tax sales, and payment history maintenance.

How to Search Randolph County Property Records Online

Search Randolph County property records online by taking these steps:

1. Search the Assessor’s Engage portal for basic information about the property. You can access property details such as the owner’s name, parcel number, assessed value, legal description, property characteristics, and address on the portal.
2. Use the Doxpop portal to view the property’s recorded documents. Verify the listed owners and review prior transfers to establish the chain of title. Confirm the property’s deeds are current and check for encumbrances.
3. View the property’s current tax, payment dates, tax history, and possible delinquencies on the Pay Online platform.
4. Order certified copies of recorded property records, if needed.

Recorder: Deeds, Mortgages, and Plats

The County Recorder records and maintains real estate documents and the county’s official chain of title. Property records maintained by the office include deeds, mortgages, assignments, land contracts, discharges, federal and state tax liens, mechanics liens, judgment liens, subdivision plats, and surveys.

Instruments intended for recording must be cleared by the Assessor and the Auditor before the County Recorder can record them.

Assessor and Auditor: Ownership, Values, and Parcel Data

Valuation work and tax work are divided between the Assessor and the Auditor offices in Indiana. The Assessor values properties, while the Auditor applies deductions and the circuit-breaker credits. You can use the Engage platform to access details about a property, including the owner's name, transfer history, address, parcel number, valuation record, assessed value, legal description, and property characteristics.

Treasurer: Tax Bills and Payments

The Treasurer prepares the tax bill based on the tax roll received from the Auditor. The office sends tax notices and collects property taxes from real estate owners in Randolph County in two installments. The first installment is due by May 11, and the second installment is due by November 10.

The office manages delinquent taxes and the annual tax sale. You can access current property taxes and make payments on the Pay Online platform. In addition, you can access property tax bills through the statewide DLGF Gateway portal.

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

The Assessor values properties based on fair market value, and the Auditor applies eligible deductions to obtain the net assessed value. This value is then multiplied by the local rate to get the property tax bill due. However, if the calculated value exceeds the constitutional circuit breaker cap, the Auditor applies the circuit-breaker credit to reduce it.

Circuit-breaker caps

Indiana's constitution limits the maximum tax a property owner can pay in Indiana to a proportion of the property’s gross assessed value. The cap limit on a homestead is 1% of gross assessed value; the limit on other residential and agricultural properties is 2%. Taxes on commercial and non-residential properties are limited to 3% of their gross assessed value. If a tax exceeds the cap, the Auditor applies a circuit-breaker credit to reduce it.

The circuit breaker cap was enacted to ensure property owners are not overburdened by the local government’s needs. The circuit breaker cap limits only the property tax; it does not affect a property’s gross assessed value.

Deductions and relief

Appealing your value

Complete and submit Form 130 by mail, in person, or online to the Assessor’s Office by June 15 of the tax year. Attend the informal meeting scheduled by the Assessor’s Office and present your case. If you are dissatisfied with the decision, escalate to the Randolph County Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals (PTABOA). You may further appeal the PTABOA decision at the Indiana Board of Tax Review.

GIS Maps and Parcel Viewer

Access Randolph County's geographic information through the Think GIS platform. You can navigate directly to your desired parcel on either platform. Layers available on the platform include parcel boundaries with parcel number, township/city boundaries, lot, subdivision, zoning information, and environmental layers

Foreclosure and Tax Sales

Indiana has two types of foreclosure with different timelines, and both matter when researching property records in Randolph County.

Mortgage foreclosure

A lender may initiate a mortgage foreclosure suit in court after the borrower has defaulted for a period exceeding 120 days. Once the court gives the foreclosure order, the county sheriff can sell the property to the highest bidder at a public auction. Indiana allows homeowners to request settlement/mediation conferences before the sale.

Tax sale

According to IC 6-1.1-24, the Treasurer may certify a property for the county's annual tax sale after it has been delinquent for a statutory period. The buyer is given a tax-sale certificate rather than the deed. Typically, the original owner may redeem the property by paying all outstanding taxes and penalties within a year of the tax sale. If the parcel is not redeemed, the buyer can seek a tax deed from the court.

Costs to Access Property Records

Indiana law (IC 36-2-7-10) sets recording and record access fees for the county. The following property records fees apply.

How to Record a Document

The following steps are generally required to record an instrument in Randolph County:

1. Prepare the document in line with the state standard. Follow the instructions on the Instrument Preparation Requirements webpage.
2. Submit the completed sales-disclosure form and applicable fees to the Assessor and the Auditor for clearance and to update the tax records.
3. File the endorsed document with the Recorder at 100 South Main Street, Room 101, Winchester, IN 47394, by mail or through an approved e-recording vendor. Pay the $25 recording fee per deed.
4. After recording the document, the Recorder assigns a number to the instrument and returns the original to the filer. The office then updates the county’s property records.

FAQs

Quick Reference: Your Randolph County Property Records Checklist

Key Contacts and Official Portals