ChicagoCookGenealogy

GENEALOGY LOOK-UPS

PROPERTY RECORDS

 

Property records are available after the Chicago Fire ended, October 10, 1871. I have also seen some transactions documented retroactively to before the fire. This usually involves a sale of a home where the owners had deeds in their possession. (AND their home didn't burn)!

Property records are stored at the Recorder's Office, currently Eugene Moore. This office will NOT search property records for you and I know of no other genealogist/researcher currently doing these. I learned how to obtain these in self-defense; I wanted the records of my ancestors! Property records beginning 1985 are online, and you can purchase these directly if you wish. More importantly, you can search online for the legal description necessary to obtain the pre-1985 documents. See below for link. 

Obtaining property records is very time consuming since there are 4 different ledgers/films to look at. I have found that many people don't want or need everything involved. For most, an index like print-out will show you all the transactions that have taken place and you can determine when your ancestors lived there. In short, it is a history of the house. If, however, you do want copies of each individual transaction, please be aware that the Recorder Of Deeds charges $10 for the first two pages, and $1 for each additional page of a transaction.  

Since most people are happy, at least initially, with just the "index of transactions", I will provide this at a cost of $20, pre-paid. I will email you the pages that relate to the property you want. You can then select any of the transactions that you want copies of, or you can simply stop at the house history. I will need the specific address and the Property Identification Number (PIN). If your address is 1909 or later, the information is easy to obtain; just use the Assessor's site. Make sure you search by address, and make sure you include the city.  If you have time to browse, there is much more info about the property and the current taxes. Also, click on the camera and it MAY bring up a picture of the house.

http://www.cookcountyassessor.com/filings/searchflat//search.asp

Addresses pre-1909 must first be converted to the new address. The Newberry Library has a fantastic site which includes the 1909 renumbering and the 1911 street name changes:

http://www.chicagoancestors.org/#tab-tools

While you're on that site, go back to their home page and select browse, then select collections. Also look at the other tools provided. Their site is a "work in progress" so check back often for updates. They also have many great links to other information about Chicago.    

If you have trouble converting street names/numbers maybe an expert on the Chicago mail list can help. You must first subscribe (free) before you can request help. There are two subscription options; L or D. You can choose this at:

http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/usa/IL/cook.html#IL-COOK-CHICAGO

Once you have the converted address, obtain the PIN from the assessor's office listed above.

Next, obtain the legal description of the property. You can obtain this online at:

www.ccrd.info

 

If you decide you want to obtain the PROPERTY TRANSACTION INDEX (HOUSE HISTORY) please use this link:

http://chicagocookgenealogy.googlepages.com/propertyindexrequestform

If you later decide you want copies of the actual property documents, please email me asking for the PROPERTY DOCUMENT REQUEST FORM. I'm currently working on getting that published on google.

I look forward to assisting you in your property research.

Sincerely,

June