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

In White County, county departments hold property records, including the Offices of the Recorder, Assessor, Auditor, and Treasurer. Indiana’s Access to Public Records Act ensures the public can access property information these custodians maintain for over 23,000 land parcels in the county.

Listings in White County typically sell within 42 days, which is slower than the typical sales in Indiana. Many properties across the county are single-family detached homes.

Recent records reveal the underlying factors influencing the local real estate market, with a median home value of $140,100 and median rent of $819, alongside a median household income of $71,250 and a median real estate tax rate of 0.55 as a percentage of the property's assessed value.

How to Look Up White County Property Records

White County provides access to property records through several online databases offered by local departments. You can use these portals to look up different types of property information.

Who Keeps White County Property Records?

Indiana’s Access to Public Records Act guarantees public access to property records held in White County. The following county offices are responsible for maintaining these records:

• The Recorder's Office in White County records and maintains official documents affecting real estate. It also maintains the county’s official land records and provides access in person and online.

• The Assessor's Office determines the gross assessed value for all property in the county and maintains property record cards and other related information. It also handles sales disclosure before recording documents and mails Form 11.

• The Auditor’s Office processes property tax deductions and determines real property taxes in White County. The auditor also reflects tax caps on the bill.

• The Treasurer's Office serves as the collector for real estate taxes and maintains tax information. Its functions also include mailing tax bills and organizing auctions to sell tax-delinquent properties.

How to Search White County Property Records Online

The local departments maintaining property information in White County offer online databases you can use to access records:

1. The Beacon Portal provides White County property data. You can conduct a parcel search and open the property record card to obtain information like the owner’s name and parcel number.
2. To access official land documents that are recorded by the White County Recorder, subscribe to Laredo or Tapestry. The portals will provide scanned copies of recorded documents you search for.
3. You can verify the chain of title and confirm property ownership by obtaining the deeds on Laredo or Tapestry.
4. Search the online portals for other recorded documents, such as mortgages and liens, to find more information about the property.
5. To confirm the property’s tax status, you can search and print the current bill through the Treasurer’s LowTaxInfo portal to see relevant tax details.

Recorder: Deeds, Mortgages, and Plats

Under IC 36-2-11, the White County Recorder’s Office records and keeps deeds, liens, plats, easements, releases, assignments, and other instruments submitted for recording.

Assessor and Auditor: Ownership, Values, and Parcel Data

The White County Assessor conducts appraisals and determines real estate value. The assessor also maintains property record cards. Homeowners in the county receive the Notice of Assessment (Form 11) each April. On the other hand, the County Auditor calculates the property tax bill and handles deductions.

Treasurer: Tax Bills and Payments

The Treasurer’s Office mails tax bills and collects payments. The office also handles the county’s tax sale. The annual tax bill is paid in two installments, due May 10 and November 10.

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

Under IC 6-1.1, White County properties are subject to assessment and taxation. The tax bill is determined by multiplying the property’s net assessed value by the local tax rates, then applying tax caps if it exceeds the statutory limit.

Circuit-breaker caps

IC 6-1.1-20.6 authorizes White County to cap the property tax bill when it surpasses a fixed percentage of the gross assessed value. Pursuant to this, a 1% cap applies to homesteads, 2% to other residential properties and farmlands, and 3% to commercial properties. The Auditor’s Office automatically applies circuit-breaker caps when calculating tax bills.

Deductions and relief

Appealing your value

You can appeal your property valuation in White County by filing Form 130 with the Assessor’s Office before June 15 or within 45 days of receiving Form 11 (Notice of Assessment). If you and the assessor cannot agree on an adjustment, the county Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals will schedule a hearing and review your evidence. You can contest the board’s decision by filing Form 131 to have the appeal heard by the Indiana Board of Tax Review.

GIS Maps and Parcel Viewer

White County maintains a Geographic Information System (GIS) portal that provides online access to property information, including ownership data, zoning, sales history, and valuation records. Visit the White County GIS portal to locate land parcels and view detailed property record cards.

To review parcel tax details statewide, visit Indiana's DLGF Gateway online portal.

Foreclosure and Tax Sales

Mortgage foreclosure

Mortgage foreclosure in Indiana goes through the court and occurs when the homeowner fails to make mortgage payments. The lender must notify the homeowners of the foreclosure and file a lawsuit to initiate the proceedings to sell the property. If the homeowner requests a settlement conference, both parties may negotiate and reach an agreement without proceeding with foreclosure. Otherwise, the court may rule against the homeowner, and the property will be sold at the county’s Sheriff's Sale.

Tax sale

White County sells properties the Treasurer certifies as tax delinquent under IC 6-1.1-24. The county notifies homeowners of the delinquency and publishes the list of such properties online and in local newspapers. Upon sale of such property, the county will grant the buyer a certificate of sale.

The only way for the homeowner to prevent the transfer of ownership to the buyer is by paying the delinquent taxes and other associated costs within a year. If this deadline passes, the buyer with the certificate of sale will receive the tax deed.

Costs to Access Property Records

The following costs typically apply to access property records:

Recording fees are outlined in IC 36-2-7-10. The Assessor and Auditor also charge sales disclosure and transfer fees. To verify the costs of your recording, contact the White County Recorder's Office.

How to Record a Document

You can follow these steps to record a document in White County through the Assessor, Auditor, and Recorder departments:

1. All documents prepared for recording must comply with Indiana’s recording standards under IC 32-21-2. This includes margins, paper size, notary requirements, legal description, and fonts.
2. File the sales disclosure form with the Assessor, and the Auditor must endorse the document. You will pay some fees to the Auditor.
3. Submit the document and recording fees to the Recorder by mail, in person, or through an authorized e-recording vendor.
4. Once recording is complete, the Recorder’s office will return the original documents. You can view all instruments online through its land records portal.

FAQs

Quick Reference: Your White County Property Records Checklist

Key Contacts and Official Portals