Ford County, IL Property Records
Property records in Ford, Illinois, document key details about real estate, including parcel numbers, ownership information, legal descriptions, assessed values, tax history, deeds, plats, transfers, and recorded liens or mortgages. These records are useful for buyers, sellers, property owners, attorneys, lenders, and researchers who need to verify ownership, review property boundaries, estimate tax obligations, or confirm recorded transactions.
Official Ford property records are maintained by Ford County government offices. Recorded documents such as deeds and mortgages are typically handled by the County Clerk and Recorder, while assessment and valuation information is available through the Supervisor of Assessments and property tax details through the Treasurer. Users can start with the county’s official website for access to Ford County property records resources and related office information.
Ford County, IL Property Records & Statistics
Ford County stands out for high rents relative to its home prices. The median rent is $917, above both the Illinois median of $762 and the national figure of $840.25. Renter-occupied housing accounts for 22.42% of occupied homes, higher than the state's 18.61% and the national 21.81%, so renting plays a larger role here than in many places.
The median home value is $94,200, below the state median of $116,950 and well under the national median of $173,750. Property taxes are a heavier burden than average: the median property tax rate of 2.06% is above the Illinois rate of 1.8% and nearly triple the national rate of 0.74%, which weighs on owners of lower-priced homes.
The median household income of $62,778 is a little under the state figure of $65,699.50 and the national figure of $65,108. The unemployment rate of 3.81% is higher than the 2.92% statewide and the 2.87% nationally, suggesting a tighter job market than in most of Illinois.
Overall, the data shows inexpensive homes paired with above-average rents and property tax rates, near-average incomes, and unemployment above state and national levels.
Median Rent
Median Property Tax Rate
Median Home Value
Median Income
Unemployment Rate
Renter Occupied Housing
Property Records, Assessments, and Valuations in Ford
Ford County property records cover tax assessments, recorded deeds and mortgages, property valuations, and foreclosure filings. The county has 10,729 total parcels, including 6,095 residential and 580 commercial parcels, and tax records cover 97.47% of the population for the 2024 assessment year. Recorded documents include 15,197 deeds and 10,102 mortgages, and valuation data is available for 4,953 properties.
| Key Data | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Parcels | 10,729 |
| Residential Parcels | 6,095 |
| Commercial Parcels | 580 |
| Tax Record Coverage | 97.47% |
| Assessment Year | 2024 |
| Deed Records | 15,197 |
| Mortgage Records | 10,102 |
| Properties with Valuation Data | 4,953 |
| Latest Valuation Update | August 19, 2025 |
| Lis Pendens Records | 459 |
Assignment and Release Records
Assignment and release records describe what happens to a mortgage after it is recorded. An assignment shows that the mortgage was transferred from one lender or loan holder to another, and a release shows that the loan was satisfied and the lien removed from the property.
Ford County has 17,303 assignment and release records available for research. They include 2,982 assignment documents and 14,300 release documents, along with 21 other documents. Assignments were recorded from November 3, 2004, through August 21, 2025, and releases from February 22, 2001, through August 25, 2025. The Ford County Clerk & Recorder can help with access to these documents.
These records let buyers, owners, and researchers see who holds a mortgage, trace a loan between lenders, and confirm that earlier loans were paid off, which is useful before a sale or refinance.
How to Search Ford County, IL Property Records
Ford County's recorded real estate documents are maintained by the Ford County Clerk & Recorder's Office at 200 W. State in Paxton. The records include deeds, mortgages, assignments, and releases linked to the county's 10,729 parcels, showing parties, dates, and document types.
The Ford County Clerk & Recorder website is the official place to learn about recording and how to request records from the office. For a document that is not available online, the staff can look it up for you, either in person in Paxton or over the phone at 217-379-9400.
Before you contact the office, gather the owner's name, the property address, or the parcel number, and note the kind of document you want, such as a deed or a mortgage. An approximate recording date speeds up the lookup, since deeds in the county date from January 2006. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Ford Registrar of Deeds
The Ford County Probate Office is located at 200 W. State, Paxton, IL, 60957 and can be reached at 217-379-9400. Office hours are Monday-Friday 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM. Records can be accessed through the official website fordcounty.illinois.gov.
Ford County Clerk & Recorder's Office
Ford County Property Records FAQ
How can I search Ford County property records by address?
Contact the Ford County Clerk & Recorder's Office at 217-379-9400. Recorded documents are generally found by name and document details, so give staff the property address plus any owner name or earlier document you know of, and they can help locate the matching parcel record.
How can I find property owners in Ford County?
Recorded deeds show who bought and sold a property. Ask the Clerk & Recorder at 200 W. State, Paxton, or call 217-379-9400, for the deed on a specific parcel. The county has 15,197 deed records from January 3, 2006, so a rough date helps. The office page has more details.
How can I check a property's assessed value in Ford County?
Ford County's tax records cover 10,729 parcels and reflect the 2024 assessment year, with the latest assessor update on August 18, 2025. To find a particular parcel's assessed value, call the Clerk & Recorder at 217-379-9400 and ask which office maintains assessments. The county page lists contacts.
Where can I find Ford County property tax bills and payment records?
Property tax bills are separate from recorded documents. Call the Ford County Clerk & Recorder at 217-379-9400 and ask for the office that issues and collects them, keeping your parcel number or address handy. The Clerk & Recorder page is a good place to begin.
How can I find deeds and other recorded documents in Ford County?
The Clerk & Recorder's Office holds deeds, mortgages, assignments, releases, and other recorded instruments. Request them through the office website, by phone at 217-379-9400, or in person at 200 W. State, Paxton. The county has 15,197 deed records and 10,102 mortgage records on file.
Where can I access Ford County parcel maps and GIS information?
Parcel maps are not part of the recorded document files. Call the Ford County Clerk & Recorder at 217-379-9400 and ask which office provides current parcel maps for the county's 10,729 parcels. Plats and legal descriptions in recorded documents obtained from the Clerk & Recorder can also show boundaries.
How can I check permits and zoning information in Ford County?
Permits and zoning are normally handled by the city, village, or county authority covering the property. Call the Ford County Clerk & Recorder at 217-379-9400 for a referral to the right office, or start from the county office page for general contact information.
How can I create a list of property owners in Ford County?
The office is best suited to individual lookups, such as deeds for a given name or period. For a larger list, contact the Ford County Clerk & Recorder at 217-379-9400 and ask what bulk data or copies are available, including any fees or formats that apply.