Find Property Records in Bartholomew County

Bartholomew County property records are filed and maintained by the County Recorder in Columbus, Indiana. The office records deeds, mortgages, liens, releases, and other instruments affecting real property in the county. Digital records go back to January 1963, and the office uses e-recording and an online access system through Doxpop. If you need to search Bartholomew County land records, confirm property ownership, or request a certified copy of a recorded document, this page covers where to go and what to expect from the Recorder's office and the online tools available to the public.

Bartholomew County Recorder's Office

The Bartholomew County Recorder's office is led by Tami Hines, with Debra Settle serving as Chief Deputy. You can reach the office by phone at (812) 379-1520. The Recorder's website is at bartholomew.in.gov/recorder.html, where you can find forms, fee information, and links to the online records system.

The Recorder is an elected position under Article 6, Section 2 of the Indiana Constitution and serves a four-year term. The duties of the Recorder are set out in IC 36-2-11, which focuses on the recording, filing, and preservation of property records. Every deed, mortgage, lien, mechanic's lien, and release submitted in Bartholomew County passes through this office. The Recorder does not provide legal opinions and does not interpret documents for members of the public.

The Bartholomew County Recorder's official webpage is shown below, which includes links to recording fees, e-recording options, and the Doxpop online access system.

From this page you can access the Recorder's current fee schedule, contact information for Tami Hines and her staff, and direct links to the Doxpop search system for Bartholomew County recorded documents.

Search Bartholomew County Recorded Documents Online

Bartholomew County uses Doxpop for online access to recorded instruments. Doxpop indexes documents from the Recorder's office and lets you search by grantor and grantee name, document type, and date range. Records in the Doxpop system go back to January 1963. A subscription or per-search fee applies for full document access, though index information may be available at a lower cost.

Doxpop also offers a Property Watch feature at no charge. You sign up with your name and address, and Doxpop sends you an email alert any time a document is recorded that matches your criteria. This is useful for tracking activity on your own property. The Recorder's office notes that this service does not prevent fraudulent transfers but does provide early notice when something is recorded. That notice lets you act quickly if a document has been filed without your knowledge.

For older records and historical land documents in Bartholomew County, the Indiana State Archives holds early land grants and survey documents. The Beacon GIS system may provide parcel map and ownership data for Bartholomew County as well, giving you a visual way to search land records without going to Columbus.

Note: Doxpop records for Bartholomew County go back to January 1963. Documents filed before that date may need to be requested directly from the Recorder's office or searched through the Indiana State Archives.

Recording Fees and Requirements in Bartholomew County

Bartholomew County recording fees were updated effective January 1, 2021. Deeds cost $25 to record. Mortgages are $55. Affidavits and other instruments are $25. Releases cost $25. Mechanic's liens are $25. Oversized pages that do not fit standard dimensions carry an extra $5 per page. Copies of recorded documents cost $1 per page for standard sizes and $5 per page for larger formats. Certified copies add $5 to the copy fee. Acknowledgment or certification of a conveyance is $5.

All documents submitted to the Bartholomew County Recorder must meet Indiana's standard recording requirements. They must be notarized, with each signer's name typed or printed under their signature exactly as signed. A "Prepared by" statement is required on every instrument. Paper must be white, no larger than 8.5 by 14 inches, and at least 20-pound weight. Margins must be 2 inches top and bottom on the first and last pages, with at least half an inch on the sides. Font must be 10-point minimum in black ink. Social Security numbers must be redacted before filing under IC 32-21-2.

Non-conforming documents are accepted but charged an additional $1 per non-conforming page on top of the standard fee. If you are unsure whether your document meets the requirements, call the Recorder at (812) 379-1520 before submitting.

E-Recording and the Deed Transfer Process

Bartholomew County accepts e-recording through two vendors. CSC eRecording Solutions can be reached at 866-652-0111. Simplifile is available at 800-460-5657. Electronic filing is common among title companies, lenders, and law firms that file documents regularly. It speeds up turnaround and reduces the risk of documents being returned for formatting errors, since e-recording vendors typically flag issues before submission.

When recording a deed in Bartholomew County, the standard Indiana three-step process applies. The deed first goes to the County Assessor for review and stamping. It then moves to the County Auditor for transfer and endorsement under IC 6-1.1. Finally, the Recorder records the document and returns it to the submitter. Fees are collected at both the Auditor's and the Recorder's offices. A Sales Disclosure form must accompany the deed at the time of submission.

The DLGF Assessed Value Search below provides statewide access to parcel-level assessment data, including Bartholomew County properties handled through the Auditor's transfer process.

Use the DLGF tool to look up assessed values for any Bartholomew County parcel, which can help you verify that the Auditor's transfer has been properly processed after a deed is recorded.

Property Tax and Assessment in Bartholomew County

Property taxes in Bartholomew County are based on assessed values set by the County Assessor. The legal framework is IC 6-1.1. Owners can check their current assessed value through the DLGF Assessed Value Search at no cost. Tax bill information is available through the DLGF Tax Bill Search and the Indiana Gateway Taxpayer Portal. Both are free state tools.

If you believe your Bartholomew County property has been over-assessed, you can file a formal appeal with the Assessor's office. The appeal must be filed within the deadlines set under IC 6-1.1, so act quickly once you receive your assessment notice. The Indiana Recorders Association can also help you find the right contact if you have questions about which office handles a specific type of property document in Bartholomew County.

Nearby Indiana Counties

Bartholomew County is in south-central Indiana, surrounded by counties that each maintain their own recorder and property record system. Columbus is a qualifying city with its own page.