Access Decatur County Property Records
Decatur County property records are filed with the County Recorder in Greensburg, Indiana, where instruments including deeds, mortgages, easements, and liens become part of the permanent public record for real estate in the county. Whether you are confirming ownership, researching a chain of title, or checking for encumbrances on a Decatur County parcel, this guide explains the tools available, the recording requirements under Indiana law, and the fees that apply.
Decatur County Property Records
Decatur County Recorder Office
The Decatur County Recorder holds a constitutional office under Indiana Code 36-2-11 and is the official keeper of all land records in the county. The office is located at the Decatur County Courthouse in Greensburg. Every deed, mortgage, release, easement, lien, affidavit, and survey affecting real property in Decatur County must be filed here. When a document is recorded, the office assigns it an instrument number, stamps it with the date and time, scans it, and returns the original to the submitter.
The recorder's index organizes documents by grantor and grantee name, so you can search forward and backward through ownership history. Staff can help you find records by name or instrument number, but they do not perform title searches or give legal opinions. If you need a full title report for a Decatur County property, contact a licensed title company or real estate attorney in Greensburg.
For older Decatur County land records that predate the modern digital index, the Indiana State Archives holds deed books, survey plats, and patent records from the county's early history. You can search the archives online and request copies of documents that are not yet digitized.
The Indiana Recorders Association lists contact details and current hours for the Decatur County Recorder. Check there before making a trip to Greensburg to confirm the office is open and to get the current phone number.
Find Decatur County Land Records Online
Doxpop is the primary online resource for Decatur County recorded instruments. You can search by name, document type, or date range and view document images for a per-page fee. Doxpop is used by title professionals and attorneys throughout Indiana for quick research on county deed records, mortgages, releases, and other instruments. It saves a trip to Greensburg for most standard research tasks.
The Beacon GIS platform provides parcel maps and ownership data for Decatur County. You can search by owner name, address, or parcel number to see current ownership, assessed values, and parcel boundaries on a map. Beacon is a good first step before you dive into the recorder's index, because it helps you confirm the parcel number and ownership before you pull specific instruments.
The Indiana Gateway portal and its Taxpayer Portal provide access to tax and financial data for Decatur County parcels based on assessor and auditor records.
Indiana Code 36-2-11 sets out the recorder's duties in detail. The statute requires the Decatur County Recorder to maintain indexes, charge standard fees, and make all recorded instruments available to the public. Understanding the statute helps you know what the office is required to provide and what falls outside its scope.
Recording Requirements for Decatur County
Documents submitted to the Decatur County Recorder must meet Indiana's statewide formatting requirements. Paper must be white, no larger than 8.5 by 14 inches, and weigh at least 20 pounds. Text must be in black ink at a minimum of 10-point size. Handwritten text in key sections is generally not accepted for real property instruments.
The first page must have a 2-inch top margin reserved for the recorder's stamp. The last page needs a 2-inch bottom margin. All interior pages require at least a half-inch margin on all sides. Documents that fall short on margins are accepted but cost an additional $1 per non-conforming page. Fixing any margin issues before submission saves money and avoids delays.
A "Prepared by" statement is required on every document, giving the drafter's full name and address. Signatures must be accompanied by printed or typed names that match the signed form exactly. Notarization is required for deeds and most real property instruments. Every deed must include the grantee's full mailing address and a legal description of the property being transferred. Social Security numbers must be removed before submission under Indiana Code 32-21-2.
Deed transfers in Decatur County follow a three-office path. The Assessor reviews and stamps the deed first. The Auditor then transfers ownership on the tax rolls, collects the transfer fee, endorses the deed, and accepts the Sales Disclosure form. Finally, the Recorder records the deed and collects the recording fee. Fees are paid at both the Auditor's and Recorder's offices, so have payment for both stops when you bring a deed in Greensburg.
Property Tax and Assessment Records
Decatur County property taxes are administered by the County Assessor and County Auditor. The Assessor sets market values under Indiana Code 6-1.1, and the Auditor calculates tax bills and handles deductions and credits. Tax bills are sent twice a year, and unpaid taxes result in a lien on the parcel. Tax liens show up as recorded instruments in the recorder's index.
To check the current assessed value of a Decatur County parcel, use the DLGF Assessed Value Search. Enter the owner's name or parcel number. If the value looks too high compared to what you know about the property, you can file an appeal with the Decatur County Assessor. Unresolved appeals can go to the Indiana Board of Tax Review.
Use the DLGF Tax Bill Search or the Indiana Gateway Taxpayer Portal to pull up past and current property tax bills for Decatur County parcels. These tools are useful before any real estate closing in Greensburg or anywhere else in the county.
Fees and Copies for Decatur County Records
Recording fees in Decatur County follow the Indiana statewide schedule. Deeds cost $25. Mortgages cost $55. Releases, assignments, and affidavits cost $25 each. Pages larger than 9 by 15 inches add $5 per oversized page. Non-conforming documents carry an extra $1 per non-conforming page above the base fee.
Copies of recorded instruments cost $1 per page for standard sizes up to 11 by 17 inches. Larger copies cost $5 per page. Certified copies add a $5 fee. Mail requests should include a written request, payment, and a stamped, self-addressed return envelope. Fees are not refundable after submission even if a document requires correction and resubmission.
E-recording may be available through common Indiana vendors such as CSC eRecording, Simplifile, and ePN. Contact the Decatur County Recorder directly to confirm which vendors are accepted and what the e-recording setup process requires for your firm or organization.
Note: Always verify current hours with the Decatur County Recorder before making a trip to Greensburg, as courthouse schedules can change.Nearby Indiana Counties
Decatur County is in southeast Indiana and shares borders with several nearby counties. For parcels near county lines, a search at the adjacent recorder's office may be needed to complete a title chain.