Deed Recording Requirements in Indiana
An Indiana deed must be acknowledged (or proved) to be recorded, no witnesses are required, and Indiana has no real estate transfer tax, though a sales disclosure form is usually filed.
Last checked . General information, not legal advice.
Indiana at a glance
- Notary acknowledgment
- Required to record
- Witnesses
- None
- Transfer tax
- No state tax
The rules in Indiana
Does a deed need to be notarized in Indiana?
Indiana requires a deed to be acknowledged (or, where the statute allows, proved) before it can be recorded.
How many witnesses does a deed need in Indiana?
None. Indiana does not require witnesses to sign a deed.
Is there a real estate transfer tax in Indiana?
We found no state real estate transfer tax in Indiana.
Where do the Indiana rules for deeds come from?
They come from Ind. Code 32-21-2-3 and Ind. Code 6-1.1-5.5-4. We last checked them in October 2026. Laws change, so check the current statute before you rely on it.
How Indiana compares
Indiana is one of 13 jurisdictions that have no state transfer tax that we found.
What this means in practice
Record the signed deed with the county recorder, register of deeds or land records office where the property is located. Recording puts the world on notice of the transfer and generally protects the new owner against later claims.
Recording offices often have formatting rules (margins, paper size, a return address, a parcel number) and charge a fee. Check the county's requirements before you sign.
A deed does not pay off a mortgage. If the property is mortgaged, the loan usually stays in place after the transfer.
General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.