Kankakee, Ill. – The Kankakee County Recorder’s Office issued a warning Tuesday about mailers offering pricey property records.
Recorder Lori Gadbois said the office has received phone calls and in-person visits from residents concerned about solicitations circulating across the county. The mailings, she said, can appear official and suggest property owners should purchase a “property profile” that includes a deed and property record card.
According to Gadbois, companies including Property Records and Records Recovery Services have sent offers to provide copies of deeds and property profiles for fees ranging from $89 to $128 or higher. Gadbois said similar solicitations have been mailed in the past under other names, including The National Deed Service, Local Record Office, and Record Retrieval.
Gadbois emphasized that homeowners typically already receive a copy of their deed after a property closing, once the original is recorded and scanned for the county’s permanent index.
If residents need another copy, Gadbois said they can obtain it through the Recorder’s Office for substantially less: a non-certified copy for $1 per page or a certified copy for $30.
“The information these companies are attempting to sell is located right on the homeowner’s real estate tax bill or the deed itself, which is recorded in the Recorder’s Office,” Gadbois said in the release. She added that records in the Recorder’s Office are public and searchable.
Gadbois also said deed solicitations are not the only mailers generating concern, noting the office has received calls about “Distraint Warrants” as well.
Residents unsure about a letter are encouraged to contact the office before paying, Gadbois said.
The Kankakee County Recorder’s Office is in the Kankakee County Administration Building, 189 E. Court St., second floor, and is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Information is available at www.K3countyrecorder.com or 815-936-5530.
