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

Wells County has more than 12,000 housing units, most of which are single-family detached homes. Other housing types in the inventory include multi-family houses and mobile homes. Bluffton accounts for the highest number of residential real estate.

On average, it takes 15 to 38 days for a property in Wells County to get an offer. A requesting party may get property information from the Treasurer, Auditor, Assessor, and Recorder.

Recent records reveal the underlying factors influencing the local real estate market, with a median home value of $164,900 and median rent of $778, alongside a median household income of $78,020.5 and a median real estate tax rate of 0.53 as a percentage of the property's assessed value.

How to Look Up Wells County Property Records

The Wells County Beacon website covers most of the information needed to search a real property. With the GIS portal, an individual can look up parcels and access assessment and tax details. Interested parties may use the Doxpop portal to search digital indexes and images of property documents.

Who Keeps Wells County Property Records?

Wells County property records are open to the public either online or in person. The Indiana Access to Public Records Act provides the right to these records. Unless state law permits, county offices keeping these records cannot deny a record request.

• The Recorder keeps the county’s permanent records of property transactions. To help researchers find records easily, it arranges recorded documents in an organized index.

• The Assessor identifies and values each piece of real property in Wells County. It also oversees the general reassessment process.

• The Auditor prepares the tax duplicates that show what each property owner owes.

• As a joint statutory duty, the Auditor conducts public tax sales with the Treasurer’s Office.

How to Search Wells County Property Records Online

It is recommended to have an address, owner name, or parcel number before initiating a property record search in Wells County:

1. Begin with the Wells County GIS portal if you want to identify the parcel and view its boundaries. The search bar is at the top-right corner of the map. Enter any of the available criteria to view the parcel report.
2. Clicking “parcel report” takes you to a dedicated page with detailed property information. This page includes the tax statement, ownership, value, deductions, and history.
3. To review recorded documents, including deeds, mortgages, and liens, visit the Doxpop website. A link to the platform is available on the parcel report page.

Recorder: Deeds, Mortgages, and Plats

As the custodian of real property documents, the Recorder's Office offers certified and standard copies of recorded instruments upon request. Requestors may visit the office or submit an inquiry online. The Recorder's Office holds deeds, mortgages, liens, powers of attorney, real estate contracts, survey plats, and assignments.

Assessor and Auditor: Ownership, Values, and Parcel Data

The Wells County Assessor’s Office determines the assessed value of real property. It sends the assessment notice to property owners after the valuation process. The Auditor’s Office processes tax deduction applications from qualified homeowners. The office also maintains transfer books and plats of real property in Wells County.

Treasurer: Tax Bills and Payments

The Treasurer’s Office collects real property taxes from residents. When a tax lien is delinquent, the Treasurer certifies the property for sale. Tax statements for real property are generally mailed every year in early April with two coupons for remittance. Bills are due on May 11th and November 11th.

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

To calculate a property tax bill, the Assessor first determines the property's gross assessed value. If the property qualifies for certain deductions, they are subtracted from the gross assessed value to get the net assessed value. The final tax bill is calculated by multiplying the net assessed value by the local tax rate.

Circuit-breaker caps

Each year, Indiana applies circuit-breaker caps to property tax bills to reduce what property owners pay. The property’s classification determines the applicable cap. For instance, homestead properties are subject to 1% of gross assessed value. A tax credit reduces the total tax bill if the calculated tax exceeds the maximum limit.

Deductions and relief

Appealing your value

If a Wells County property owner disagrees with their property's assessed value, they can challenge it by submitting Form 130 to the Assessor’s Office. Useful resources like photos of structural defects, a recent appraisal, or comparable sales information can serve as evidence to support the claim.

The Assessor’s representative arranges an informal meeting with the property owner to settle the case. If the property owner needs to challenge the result, their appeal is forwarded to the Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals (PTABOA). The owner may also file an appeal with the Indiana Board of Tax Review if they disagree with the PTABOA's decision.

GIS Maps and Parcel Viewer

Through the Wells County GIS portal, researchers can find property and map information online. Using a parcel identification number, street address, or owner’s name, the portal can be searched to reveal the current owner, sales dates, house sizes, tax payment history, deductions, and values. To obtain specific information, users can toggle map layers like parcels, tax districts, road centerlines, neighborhoods, and addresses.

Foreclosure and Tax Sales

It is essential to check for foreclosures or tax sales records before investing in or buying a Wells County property. This will reveal active tax liens and ownership issues attached to the property.

Mortgage foreclosure

When a homeowner defaults, the mortgage lender can begin selling the mortgaged property under IC 32-30-10. This requires filing a lawsuit in the Circuit or Superior Court. Typically, the court does not allow the sale until after three months.

The homeowner can reinstate the mortgage by paying all delinquencies, including interest and legal fees. If no payment is made, the sheriff sells the home at a public auction to the highest bidder.

Tax sale

Under Indiana Code § 6-1.1-24, Wells County tax sales occur because of unpaid real property taxes and special assessments. The Treasurer issues a certificate of tax lien to the highest bidder at the sale. A tax sale certificate is not a guarantee of ownership of the property.

In most cases, the property owner can redeem the property within one year after the sale. This requires paying the full amount of delinquency, interest, and penalties to the County Auditor. The buyer can request a tax deed from the Circuit Court if the owner fails to pay the delinquency.

Costs to Access Property Records

The Recorder's Office charges the recording fees in IC § 36-2-7-10 before accepting any document for recording. The Auditor’s Office collects sales disclosure fees and transfer fees per IC 32-30-4.

How to Record a Document

Recording a document involves multiple county agencies, especially if it conveys real property. Before submitting it for recording, consult a title company or lawyer to ensure it meets the guidelines and is not rejected.

• Include the margins, legal description, redaction affirmation statement, and tax billing address. The document should also include a proper notary acknowledgment, notary stamp, signature, commission, and expiration date.

• If the document is a real estate transfer, you must complete the online or paper sales disclosure form and submit it to the Assessor’s Office for validation. After meeting the requirements, the forms and documents are ready for the next step.

• The real property transfer documents should be submitted to the Auditor’s Office, where it updates the land records, stamps them, and collects the required fees before sending them to the Recorder’s Office.

• Present the completed forms and documents to the Recorder’s Office in the county courthouse. The office collects the applicable recording fees and indexes the records if it meets the recording requirements.

FAQs

Quick Reference: Your Wells County Property Records Checklist

Key Contacts and Official Portals