Decatur County Property Records
How To Search Property Records in Decatur County in 2026
DecaturRecords.org provides access to publicly available information related to property records in Decatur County, Indiana. Members of the public may find ownership history, assessed values, recorded deeds, tax information, and encumbrance data through official county and state resources. The following record categories are available through official channels:
- Deed and title records
- Property tax assessments and payment history
- Mortgage and lien filings
- Plat maps and legal descriptions
- Transfer and sales history
Records may be searched through the following official resources:
- Decatur County Recorder — index to documents filed from January 1994 to the present via Doxpop
- Decatur County Assessor — property assessment data, ownership information, and exemption records
- Decatur County Treasurer — tax payment status and property tax bills
- Indiana Department of Local Government Finance – Decatur County — assessment ratios, accuracy reports, and county-specific tax data
- Property Tax Information – Decatur County — current and historical tax bill data
Online Search Methods:
1. Property Appraiser / Assessor Website
The Decatur County Assessor's office serves as the primary resource for property valuation and ownership information. Members of the public may access assessment records at no cost without registration.
Search Options:
- By property address
- By owner name
- By parcel ID number
- By legal description
- By map or GIS location
Information Available:
- Current owner name and mailing address
- Legal description and parcel number
- Land use and zoning classification
- Property characteristics (square footage, year built, lot size, building type)
- Assessed value of land and improvements
- Taxable value and exemptions applied
- Sales history
- GIS map location
How to Search:
- Navigate to the Decatur County Assessor website
- Select the preferred search type (address, owner name, or parcel ID)
- Enter the search criteria in the appropriate field
- Review the results list returned
- Select the specific property to view the full property card
- View assessment data, sales history, and map location
- Print or save the information as needed
2. County Recorder Official Records Search
The Decatur County Recorder maintains the official index of recorded instruments affecting real property. Under Indiana Code § 36-2-11-8, the Recorder is required to record, index, and preserve all instruments presented for recording. The Recorder's office provides online access through Doxpop for documents filed from January 1994 to the present.
Searchable By:
- Grantor name (seller)
- Grantee name (buyer)
- Document type
- Recording date range
- Instrument number
- Book and page number
Documents Available:
- Warranty deeds and quitclaim deeds
- Mortgages and deeds of trust
- Satisfactions and releases of mortgage
- Mechanic's liens, judgment liens, and tax liens
- Easements and restrictions
- Plats and surveys
- Powers of attorney affecting property
- Lis pendens notices
- HOA declarations
How to Search:
- Access the Decatur County Recorder page
- Follow the link to Doxpop for the online document index
- Select the preferred search type (grantor, grantee, document type, or date range)
- Enter the search criteria
- Review the results and select the relevant document
- View document images where available online
- Note the instrument number or book and page for reference
3. Tax Collector / Treasurer Website
The Decatur County Treasurer administers property tax billing and collections. Members of the public may access current and historical tax information through the Treasurer's online portal.
Search By:
- Property address
- Owner name
- Parcel number
- Tax account number
Information Available:
- Current tax bill amount
- Payment history and outstanding balances
- Exemptions applied
- Installment plan status
- Delinquency information
4. GIS / Mapping System
Decatur County provides GIS mapping resources that allow members of the public to visually locate properties, view parcel boundaries, and access linked assessment records. Users may navigate the interactive map to a specific location, click on a parcel to retrieve property information, and view zoning layers, flood zones, and aerial photography.
In-Person Searches:
Decatur County Assessor
150 Courthouse Square, Suite 105
Greensburg, IN 47240
Phone: (812) 663-4868
Decatur County Assessor
Decatur County Recorder
150 Courthouse Square, Suite 4
Greensburg, IN 47240
Phone: (812) 663-4693
Decatur County Recorder
Decatur County Treasurer
150 Courthouse Square, Suite 138
Greensburg, IN 47240
Phone: (812) 663-4190
Decatur County Treasurer
By Mail Requests:
Members of the public may submit written requests for property records by mail to the respective office. Requests directed to the Recorder's office should specify the instrument number, book and page, or property address and approximate recording date range. Requests directed to the Assessor's office should include the parcel number or property address. Payment for applicable copy fees should accompany the request.
Through Professionals:
Title companies conduct comprehensive title searches and produce abstracts of title identifying all recorded interests in a property. Real estate attorneys provide legal title opinions and assist with complex ownership disputes. Real estate agents may access MLS data for listed properties and pull comparable sales histories as part of their representation services.
Search Tips:
- When searching by owner name, attempt both last-name-first and full-name formats, and consider spelling variations or name changes
- When searching by address, try variations with and without directional prefixes (N, S, E, W)
- Very recent transactions may not yet appear online due to recording processing delays
- For records predating 1994, an in-person visit to the Recorder's office is required, as the Doxpop online index begins with January 1994 filings
- Verify results by cross-referencing the parcel number across the Assessor, Recorder, and Treasurer databases
What Is Decatur County Property Records
Property records in Decatur County, Indiana, are official documents maintained by county government that establish legal ownership, document transfers, and record encumbrances affecting real property. These records constitute the legal foundation for establishing a clear chain of title and are essential to real estate transactions, mortgage lending, and property tax administration.
Types of Property Records:
Ownership Records include all recorded deeds — warranty, quitclaim, special warranty, trustee's, and life estate deeds — as well as trust documents and transfer instruments that document the chain of title from original conveyance to the present owner.
Encumbrance Records encompass mortgages and deeds of trust, tax liens, judgment liens, mechanic's liens, easements, deed restrictions, covenants, HOA documents, and lis pendens notices. These instruments are recorded with the Decatur County Recorder and indexed by grantor and grantee name.
Tax and Assessment Records include property tax assessments prepared by the Decatur County Assessor, tax bills issued by the Treasurer, payment history, exemption records, and delinquency information. As noted by the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance, "the assessment ratio for all properties in Indiana is to be 100%," meaning assessed values are intended to reflect full market value.
Legal Descriptions and Plat Records include subdivision plats, re-plats, condominium declarations, survey plats, and metes-and-bounds descriptions that define the physical boundaries of each parcel.
Building and Permit Records include building permits, certificates of occupancy, code violation notices, and zoning designations maintained by the county's building and planning departments.
Who Maintains Property Records:
| Record Type | Maintaining Office |
|---|---|
| Deeds, mortgages, liens, easements | Decatur County Recorder |
| Property valuations and assessments | Decatur County Assessor |
| Tax bills and payment history | Decatur County Treasurer |
| Building permits and zoning | Decatur County Building/Planning |
| Assessment oversight | Indiana DLGF |
Legal Framework:
The recording of instruments affecting real property in Indiana is governed by Indiana Code § 32-21-4-1, which establishes the constructive notice principle: a recorded instrument provides notice to all subsequent purchasers and encumbrancers. The Recorder's duty to accept and preserve instruments is established under Indiana Code § 36-2-11-8. Property assessment procedures are governed by Indiana Code Title 6, Article 1.1, which establishes the framework for valuation, appeals, and exemptions administered through the Decatur County Assessor.
Are Property Records Public Information in Decatur County?
Property records in Decatur County are public information. Under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (Indiana Code § 5-14-3), all persons are entitled to inspect and copy public records of public agencies. Recorded instruments affecting real property have been public records under Indiana law since the state's earliest recording statutes, reflecting the centuries-old common law principle that recorded documents provide constructive notice to the world.
Why Property Records Are Public:
The public nature of property records serves multiple essential functions:
- Transparency in ownership: The public has a recognized interest in knowing who owns real property within a jurisdiction, supporting accountability in taxation and land use
- Commercial necessity: Real estate transactions, title insurance, mortgage lending, and property appraisals all depend on open access to recorded instruments and assessment data
- Legal protection: Recording provides constructive notice that protects subsequent purchasers and lenders from undisclosed prior interests
- Public interest: Journalists, researchers, genealogists, and community planners rely on property records for historical research, investigative reporting, and land use analysis
What Property Information Is Freely Accessible:
- Current and historical ownership (names, acquisition dates, deed references)
- Legal descriptions and parcel identification numbers
- Sale prices and transfer dates
- Recorded mortgage amounts and lender names
- Liens, easements, and encumbrances
- Tax assessments and payment history
- Property characteristics (size, age, building type)
- Plat maps and surveys
Privacy Considerations:
While property records are public, Indiana law requires that Social Security numbers and financial account numbers be redacted from documents before recording. Certain individuals — including law enforcement officers, judges, and victims of domestic violence or stalking — may be eligible for address confidentiality protections under Indiana's Address Confidentiality Program, which limits the public disclosure of their residential addresses. Homestead exemption applications may contain personal financial information that is subject to separate access policies administered by the Decatur County Assessor.
Who Can Access Property Records:
No residency requirement, ownership interest, or stated purpose is required to access property records in Decatur County. The following individuals and entities routinely access these records:
- Prospective buyers and sellers
- Real estate agents, brokers, and appraisers
- Title companies and abstractors
- Mortgage lenders and banks
- Attorneys
- Investors and developers
- Genealogists and historians
- Media and journalists
- General members of the public
Commercial Use:
Commercial aggregation of public property records is legally permissible. Companies such as CoreLogic and First American compile property data from public sources and offer subscription-based access. Such use is subject to applicable anti-harassment statutes, fair housing laws, and other legal restrictions on the use of personal information.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Property Records in Decatur County?
Members of the public may inspect property records at no charge. Fees apply when copies or certified copies are requested. The following fee structure reflects current charges administered by Decatur County offices.
Recorder's Office – Recording and Copy Fees:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Recording a document (first page) | $25.00 |
| Recording a document (each additional page) | $5.00 |
| Certified copy of a recorded document | $1.00 per page + $5.00 certification fee |
| Uncertified copy of a recorded document | $1.00 per page |
| Online document viewing (Doxpop) | Fees set by Doxpop; basic searches may be free |
Recording fees in Indiana are governed by Indiana Code § 36-2-7-10, which establishes the schedule of fees the Recorder may charge for recording instruments and providing copies.
Assessor's Office – Copy Fees:
- Online access to assessment data: Free
- Printed property record cards: Nominal copying fee (typically $0.10–$0.25 per page)
- Certified assessment records: Contact the Assessor's office for current rates
Treasurer's Office – Tax Record Fees:
- Online access to tax payment information: Free via the property tax information portal
- Printed copies of tax bills: Nominal copying fee
- Certified tax records: Contact the Treasurer's office for current rates
Accepted Payment Methods:
- Cash (in-person)
- Check or money order (in-person and by mail, payable to Decatur County Recorder or respective office)
- Credit or debit card (availability varies by office; contact the relevant office to confirm)
Fee Waivers:
Indiana law does not provide a general fee waiver for property record copies. Governmental agencies and certain nonprofit organizations may be entitled to reduced or waived fees in specific circumstances; members of the public should inquire directly with the relevant office.
What Is Available at No Cost:
- Online inspection of assessment records through the Assessor's website
- Online inspection of tax payment records through the Treasurer's portal
- Online document index searches through Doxpop (basic access)
- In-person inspection of recorded instruments at the Recorder's office
What's Included in a Decatur County Property Record
A complete Decatur County property record draws from multiple official sources — the Recorder, Assessor, and Treasurer — and encompasses the following categories of information.
Ownership Information:
Current ownership data includes the legal owner's name(s), ownership type (individual, joint tenants, tenants in common, trust, LLC, or corporation), acquisition date, deed instrument number, and mailing address for tax billing purposes. Historical ownership data provides the chain of title, listing previous owners, transfer dates, and references to prior deed instruments.
Property Identification:
Each parcel is identified by a site address, mailing address (if different), legal description (lot and block, subdivision name, plat book and page reference, or metes-and-bounds description), parcel ID number, and tax account number.
Physical Characteristics:
Land information includes lot size in square feet or acres, lot dimensions, frontage, zoning classification, and land use designation. Building information includes total living area, year built, number of stories, building type, construction type, exterior wall material, roof type, foundation type, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and additional features such as garages, pools, porches, fireplaces, and HVAC systems.
Valuation Information:
Assessment records include land value, building value, total assessed value, and market value as determined by the Assessor. Under current Indiana law, the assessment ratio is 100% of market value, as confirmed by the Indiana DLGF's Decatur County page. Historical assessed values for prior years are available through the Assessor's records.
Tax Information:
Tax records include the current year's total tax amount, taxable value after exemptions, millage rate, breakdown by taxing authority (county general fund, school district, municipality, and special districts), due dates, payment status, and prior years' payment history. Exemptions applied — including homestead, senior, disability, veteran, and agricultural exemptions — are reflected in the taxable value calculation.
Sales History:
Sales history includes transfer dates, sale prices, deed types (warranty, quitclaim, foreclosure, tax deed, etc.), grantor and grantee names, deed instrument numbers, and qualified or unqualified sale designations for assessment purposes.
Encumbrances and Liens:
Recorded encumbrances include current mortgages (lender name, recording date, original amount, book and page reference), tax liens, judgment liens, mechanic's liens, HOA liens, code enforcement liens, easements, deed restrictions, covenants, and lis pendens notices.
Legal and Regulatory Information:
Zoning classification, land use code, future land use designation, special district assignments (school, fire, water), flood zone designation (FEMA), and any recorded deed restrictions or subdivision covenants are included in the full property record.
Maps and Images:
Property records may include exterior photographs, aerial imagery, GIS maps with parcel boundaries, plat maps, and property sketches or floor plan outlines.
What Is Not Typically Included:
- Current mortgage balances (only original recorded amounts)
- Interior photographs
- Detailed personal financial information beyond recorded documents
- Social Security numbers (redacted by law)
- Private purchase contract terms beyond the recorded sale price
- Unrecorded agreements or private arrangements
How Long Does Decatur County Keep Property Records?
Property records in Decatur County are maintained permanently. Recorded instruments affecting real property — deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, plats, and all other conveyance documents — are never destroyed. This permanent retention is both a legal requirement and a practical necessity, as the chain of title for any parcel depends on an unbroken historical record extending back to the original land grant or county formation.
Legal Basis for Permanent Retention:
Indiana's records retention requirements for county recorders are established under Indiana administrative rules and the Indiana County Recorder's Association guidelines, which classify recorded instruments as permanent records. The constructive notice function of recorded documents under Indiana Code § 32-21-4-1 requires that these records remain accessible indefinitely to protect the interests of subsequent purchasers and encumbrancers.
Records Kept Permanently:
- All recorded deeds (warranty, quitclaim, trustee's, life estate, and all conveyance types)
- All recorded mortgages, deeds of trust, satisfactions, and releases
- All recorded liens (tax, judgment, mechanic's, and other statutory liens) and their releases
- All recorded plats, subdivision plats, re-plats, and condominium declarations
- All recorded easements, restrictions, covenants, and declarations
- Powers of attorney affecting real property
- Court documents affecting title
- Lis pendens notices and their releases
Format and Storage:
Historical records in Decatur County exist in multiple formats depending on the era of recording:
- Pre-1900s through mid-20th century: Handwritten or typed entries in bound record books, stored in the Recorder's vault
- Mid-20th century through approximately 1993: Typed instruments in books or on microfilm
- January 1994 to present: Digitally indexed and available through the Doxpop online records system
Modern records are maintained in electronic document management systems with off-site backup and disaster recovery protocols.
Access to Historical Records:
Records from January 1994 to the present are accessible online through Doxpop at no charge for basic index searches. Records predating 1994 require an in-person visit to the Recorder's office, where staff can retrieve instruments from bound books or microfilm. Members of the public researching very old records are encouraged to contact the Recorder's office in advance to allow staff to locate and retrieve the relevant materials.
Assessment and Tax Record Retention:
The Decatur County Assessor maintains property assessment rolls and property cards permanently. Recent assessment history (typically the past 10–20 years) is accessible through the Assessor's online system. The Decatur County Treasurer retains tax payment records for a minimum of seven to ten years in accessible form, with permanent records of tax deed proceedings maintained by the Recorder.
Chain of Title:
A complete chain of title traces every ownership transfer from the original land grant to the present owner. Title searches conducted in connection with real estate transactions in Indiana review a minimum of 40 to 60 years of recorded history, though a full abstract may extend to the original patent. Gaps in the chain of title create marketability problems that require legal resolution.
Contact for Historical Records:
Decatur County Recorder
150 Courthouse Square, Suite 4
Greensburg, IN 47240
Phone: (812) 663-4693
Decatur County Recorder
Decatur County Assessor
150 Courthouse Square, Suite 105
Greensburg, IN 47240
Phone: (812) 663-4868
Decatur County Assessor
How To Find Liens on Property in Decatur County?
Liens on property in Decatur County are recorded instruments and are searchable through the Recorder's official records index. A lien is a legal claim against real property that must be satisfied before clear title can be conveyed. Common lien types include mortgage liens, judgment liens, federal and state tax liens, mechanic's liens, HOA liens, and code enforcement liens.
Step-by-Step Search Process:
- Access the Decatur County Recorder website and navigate to the Doxpop online index
- Search by the property owner's name as grantor or grantee, or by the property address if the system supports address-based searches
- Filter results by document type — select lien-related categories such as "Mechanic's Lien," "Judgment Lien," "Tax Lien," or "Mortgage"
- Review all results for the relevant time period, noting that liens may have been filed under variations of the owner's name
- For each lien identified, check whether a corresponding release or satisfaction has been recorded by searching for the lienholder as grantor
- For federal tax liens, search the Indiana Secretary of State's UCC and lien database in addition to the county Recorder's index, as federal tax liens are filed at both the county and state level
- For judgment liens, cross-reference with the Decatur County Circuit and Superior Court records to confirm the judgment's current status
Types of Liens and Where They Are Filed:
| Lien Type | Filing Location |
|---|---|
| Mortgage lien | Decatur County Recorder |
| Mechanic's lien | Decatur County Recorder |
| Judgment lien | Decatur County Recorder (after docketing) |
| State tax lien | Decatur County Recorder |
| Federal tax lien | Decatur County Recorder + Indiana Secretary of State |
| HOA lien | Decatur County Recorder |
| Code enforcement lien | Decatur County Recorder or municipality |
In-Person Lien Search:
Members of the public may conduct lien searches in person at the Recorder's office using the public access terminals. Staff can assist with searches of pre-1994 records not available through the online index.
Decatur County Recorder
150 Courthouse Square, Suite 4
Greensburg, IN 47240
Phone: (812) 663-4693
Decatur County Recorder
Professional Title Search:
For transactions requiring a clean title determination, a professional title search conducted by a licensed title company or real estate attorney is the standard practice. Title professionals search all relevant indexes — Recorder, court records, federal lien databases, and municipal records — and issue a title commitment identifying all encumbrances of record.
What Is Property Owner Rule in Decatur County?
The property owner rule in Decatur County, Indiana, refers to the body of state law and local regulations governing who may own real property, how ownership is established and transferred, and what rights and obligations attach to property ownership. Indiana follows the common law tradition of fee simple ownership, under which a property owner holds the broadest possible interest in real property, subject only to governmental powers of taxation, eminent domain, police power, and escheat.
Establishing Ownership:
Ownership of real property in Indiana is established by a recorded deed. Under Indiana Code § 32-21-4-1, a conveyance of real property is not effective against a subsequent purchaser for value without notice unless the instrument is recorded with the county Recorder. This recording requirement means that an unrecorded deed, while valid between the parties, does not protect the grantee against a subsequent bona fide purchaser who records first.
Forms of Ownership Recognized in Indiana:
- Fee simple absolute: The most complete form of ownership, held by one individual or entity without limitation
- Joint tenancy with right of survivorship: Two or more owners hold equal shares; upon the death of one owner, the surviving owner(s) automatically acquire the deceased owner's interest
- Tenancy in common: Two or more owners hold undivided interests that may be unequal; each owner's interest passes through their estate upon death
- Tenancy by the entirety: Available only to legally married couples in Indiana; provides protection against individual creditors of one spouse
- Trust ownership: Property held by a trustee for the benefit of named beneficiaries
- Corporate or LLC ownership: Business entities may hold title to real property in Indiana; the entity's name appears on the deed
Property Owner Rights and Obligations:
Property owners in Decatur County hold the following rights under Indiana law:
- The right to use, lease, sell, mortgage, or devise the property
- The right to exclude others from the property
- The right to appeal property tax assessments through the Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals process administered by the Assessor's office
- The right to apply for applicable exemptions, including the homestead deduction, which reduces the assessed value subject to taxation
Property owners are subject to the following obligations:
- Payment of property taxes as billed by the Decatur County Treasurer; Indiana property taxes are due in two installments, on May 10 and November 10 of each year
- Compliance with applicable zoning ordinances, building codes, and land use regulations
- Compliance with recorded deed restrictions, easements, and covenants running with the land
- Maintenance of the property in accordance with county and municipal code requirements
Homestead Deduction:
Indiana's homestead deduction reduces the assessed value of an owner-occupied primary residence for property tax purposes. Under current Indiana law, the standard homestead deduction is the lesser of 60% of the assessed value or $45,000, with a supplemental deduction applying to the remaining assessed value. Applications are filed with the Decatur County Assessor.
Eminent Domain:
The State of Indiana and Decatur County retain the power of eminent domain — the authority to acquire private property for public use upon payment of just compensation. Eminent domain proceedings in Indiana are governed by Indiana Code Title 32, Article 24, and require judicial proceedings in the Decatur County Circuit or Superior Court.
Adverse Possession:
Indiana recognizes the doctrine of adverse possession, under which a person who openly, continuously, exclusively, and hostilely possesses another's property for a statutory period may acquire legal title. The adverse possession period in Indiana is ten years under Indiana Code § 32-21-7-1. A successful adverse possession claim must be established through a court action, and the resulting judgment must be recorded with the Decatur County Recorder to provide constructive notice of the new ownership.