Will County Property Search
Will County property records are created when people sell, transfer, or buy property, build new structures, use property as security for loans (e.g., mortgages), or pay property taxes in Will County. These records are maintained by different county offices, including the Will County Supervisor of Assessments, Recorder of Deeds (County Recorder), and Treasurer.
The Supervisor of Assessments maintains records pertaining to property assessment and valuation (for tax purposes) in the county. The County Recorder of Deeds, on the other hand, records and indexes documents relating to real estate. The County Treasurer maintains property tax records.
Members of the public who need to facilitate real estate transactions, check property assessments, or challenge or affirm property taxes, among other matters, can reach out to these offices to view or obtain relevant Will County Public Records.
Are Will County Property Records Public?
Yes, Will County property records are available to the public per the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/). The law permits members of the public to view and obtain records maintained by government bodies, such as the county offices in charge of property records.
However, the FOIA exempts some records from public access, as seen in 5 ILCS 140/7. These records include:
- Information and records restricted by federal or state law
- Sensitive personal information that may subject people to unwarranted public exposure or cause harm
- Records that may impede law and administrative enforcement proceedings
What Do Will County Property Records Contain?
Property records in Will County offer researchers a wealth of information regarding local properties. This information includes owners' names, property addresses, real estate transactional documents, maps, and property tax details.
People looking up property records can also find a property's subdivision, permanent indexing number (PIN), property class, and building information (number of rooms and other specifications).
Where to Perform a Will County Property Lookup
Members of the public can look up Will County property information online and request records by email, fax, or in person.
Individuals can visit the following locations to request copies of property records:
Office of the Will County Recorder of Deeds
158 North Scott Street
Joliet, IL 60432-4143
Phone: (815) 740-4637
Fax: (815) 740-4638, (815) 740-4697 (Archives Department)
Bolingbrook Office
241 Canterbury Lane
Bolingbrook, IL 60440
Phone: (815) 740-4637
The local Recorder's office provides resources for document lookups, such as microfilm viewers and computer workstations, at the Archives Department. Searchers can also access books, plat maps, plat books, and historical indexes.
While staff can assist individuals who want to search for specific documents, searchers must perform the lookup themselves. Staff can then process their orders if they want copies of a document. Copy requests require the provision of a document's recording number. If one does not have the number, they can provide the following details to help filter the search:
- Names and trust numbers that appear on the document
- Document type
- Property address
- Permanent Index Number (PIN)
- Recording date
Sending written requests via email or fax is another convenient way to obtain copies of property documents from the Will County Recorder if one cannot make the trip to the office. First, the individual must download and fill out a copy request form and send it to the fax number or email address indicated on the form.
Copy fees are as follows:
- 8 ½" x 11" paper copies produced from photocopying, imaging, or microfilm: $1 per page (up to half the cost of a certified copy).
- 11" x 17" paper copies produced from photocopying, imaging, or microfilm: $2 per page.
- 24" x 36" condominium, subdivision, or miscellaneous paper plat copies: $4 per page
- 8 ½" x 11" customer-provided copies: $1
- Certified copies: Equal to the initial recording fee, minus the IRHSP (Illinois Rental Housing Support Program) surcharge.
How to Perform a Property Owner Lookup in Will County
One way to look up property ownership information in Will County is to visit the County Recorder's office to look up title documents. A person can also search online systems provided by the Supervisor of Assessments and Recorder's offices (described below).
How to Find Will County Property Records Online
The Will County Recorder of Deeds and Supervisor of Assessments provide online search resources to view and obtain property records.
Using the Will County Supervisor of Assessments' Property Search Portal
The Supervisor of Assessments' search portal is a public service and does not offer official information. A disclaimer on the site cautions users to refrain from relying on the information retrieved from the website without consulting official records.
Users can search the portal by owner name, property address, subdivision, property class, sale amount or date, and parcel ID (PIN).
A search result provides details about a property, including the owner's name, address, property class, year built (if it is a building), legal description, and market value. Searchers will also find links to the property's tax, map, and address information pages.
Using the County Recorder's Online Systems
The Will County Recorder has three online systems for looking up property records online. They include the Recorder's primary and secondary subscription and free search (Direct Search) services.
Direct Search allows users to find basic property details at no cost. They can search by name, house address, and document type. The site provides document details, such as the type of document, parties involved, and legal representatives.
The Recorder's subscription services allow users to search and view documents for a fee. They include a downloadable program and a web-based platform. A third-party vendor provides these services.
The downloadable application serves users who go through large volumes of data and works around the clock. Individuals can use it to view and print photos of documents and properties. The fee schedule is as follows:
- $75 per month for 0-250 minutes and 25 cents per minute upon exhausting the 250 minutes
- $125 per month for 251-500 minutes and 23 cents per minute upon exhausting the 500 minutes
- $195 per month for 501-1000 minutes and 18 cents per minute upon exhausting the 1000 minutes
- $295 per month for 1001-2000 minutes and 15 cents per minute upon exhausting the 2000 minutes
- $400 per for unlimited minutes
- Remote printing costs: 25 cents per page
The web-based platform offers a pay-as-you-go system. Users can also create an account or search as guests. Searchers can use the system to find, view, and print Will County property records. It costs $5.95 per search and $2 per printed document.
Besides the above, individuals can also find Will County property records on some third-party websites. These sites host search engines that can be accessed for free or upon subscription. Usually, the sites are searchable with a property owner's name, property address, or parcel ID.
How to Find Property Owner by Address for Free
Using the Will County Supervisor of Assessments' Address Search resource is the easiest way to find property ownership details by address for free. Users will be prompted to provide the property's street address number, street name, and city or town name to find ownership records.
Will County Property Tax Lookup
Will County property owners, intending buyers, and other entities need property tax information for different purposes, such as:
- Property sales and purchases: By reviewing property tax information buyers/sellers can discover the property's tax history and pending payments.
- Tax planning: Property owners can use their tax records to make informed financial decisions.
- Tax appeals: Property owners need tax records to appeal their property valuation and tax levies with the Will County Board of Review and Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board if they believe they are paying more taxes than they should.
- Insurance: Companies offering property insurance use tax records to assess a property's insurability and determine premiums and other policies.
One can access the Will County Treasurer's Tax Information website to check their tax records. Interested individuals can also access the county's Supervisor of Assessments' database to view tax information. Once they open a property's assessment record, they can click the link to its tax information page.
How to Find a Will County Property Appraiser
Property appraisers are professionals who offer accurate and unbiased property value estimates for a fee. According to the Illinois Real Estate Appraiser Licensing Act (225 ILCS 458/), real estate appraisers must be trained and licensed to operate in the state.
Appraisers are used for tax appeals, property transactions, insurance purposes, mortgage lending and refinancing, tax assessment, and legal disputes.
People can utilize major search engines to find certified appraisers in Will County. They can confirm an appraisal entity or individual's license with the lookup tool on the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation's Real Estate Appraisal website.
Will County Property Assessor
The Will County Supervisor of Assessments is responsible for evaluating properties for tax purposes in the county. The office also provides information regarding tax-exempt properties.
Although the office values properties, it does not establish tax rates. Instead, property taxes are levied by local taxing bodies, such as townships, and collected by the county treasurer.
Property owners can contact the Supervisor of Assessment regarding property valuation matters (e.g., to submit an appeal with the Board of Review) at the following address:
Will County Supervisor of Assessments Office
302 North Chicago Street
Second Floor
Joliet, IL 60432
Phone: (815) 740-4648 (Assessments), (815) 740-4664 (Mapping)
Individuals can also visit their township assessor's office to collect or verify assessment information.
