Official Civic Directory Profile FIPS Code: 17009

Brown County Clerk & Recorder

Official government recording office for Brown County, Illinois. Serving a population of 6294 with jurisdiction over real estate deeds, marriage licenses, vital records, and fictitious business names.

County Seat: Mount Sterling • Land Area: 305,727 sq mi • State: Illinois (IL)

Call: (217) 253-3179 Get Courthouse Directions Official .Gov Portal ↗

Location & Operations

Courthouse Office Address & Contact

Open Mon-Fri

Physical Courthouse Address

Brown County Courthouse / Recording Office, Mount Sterling, IL 62353

Seat of government for Brown County in Mount Sterling, IL.

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Courthouse / Directory Line

(217) 253-3179

Regular Hours: Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Closed on state and federal holidays.

FIPS ID: 17009 • Coordinates: 39.9621° N, -90.7503° W

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Filing Checklist

Before You Visit Brown County

✓ Valid Government Photo ID (Driver's License or Passport)
✓ Payment: Credit Card, Cashier's Check, or Exact Cash
✓ Original signed documents with valid notary jurat/seal
✓ Mandatory 3-inch top margin for county recorder barcode

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Land Records & Real Property

Brown County Deed Recording Fees & Requirements

Governed by 55 ILCS 5/3-5018

First Page Base Fee

$60.00

Includes statutory county automation index surcharge

Each Additional Page

$2.00

Per additional standard 8.5" x 11" page

Transfer Tax / Doc Stamps

$1.00 per $1,000 state tax + $0.50 per $1,000 county tax (plus municipal stamps where applicable)

Calculated at recording based on purchase consideration

Statutory Recording Margin Standards in Illinois:

Top Margin (Page 1): Must leave minimum 3 inches blank at top right for official recorder barcode and indexing stamp.

Other Margins: Minimum 1 inch on side, bottom, and subsequent pages to avoid non-conforming document penalties.

Grantee & Return Address: Must state grantee's legal address and a return mailing address clearly on the first page.

Legibility & Font: Black ink on white 8.5 x 11 paper; minimum 10-point font. Notary stamps must be crisp and dark.

Instant Public Records & Title Verification

Need Official Property Deeds or Title Records in Brown County?

Search land records, deed history, mortgage transfers, tax liens, judgments, and parcel ownership across Brown County, Illinois. Instantly access official document copies online without visiting the courthouse records vault.

Warranty & Quitclaim Deeds
Mortgage & Lien Records
Assessor Parcel History

Search Brown County Records Online Encrypted search • Public records database

Marriage Bureau

Marriage License in Brown County

License Fee $35 - $60

Waiting Period 24 Hours

✓ Validity Window: Must solemnize within 60 days of issuance.
✓ Personal Appearance: Both applicants must appear together in person at the Brown County courthouse.
✓ Identification: Valid state photo driver's license, passport, or military ID. No blood test required.

State Policy: Mandatory 1-day waiting period. License valid only in the county where issued.

Vital Statistics

Certified Vital Records

Birth Cert $15.00

Death Cert $19.00

Marriage Cert $15.00

• Authorized Requestors: Direct family relation (registrant, child, parent, spouse) or legal guardian only.
• Filing Agency: Processed through Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) & County Clerk Vital Records and the local Brown County clerk counter.

Certified copies bear an official raised, embossed seal and are suitable for passports, probate, real estate, and legal identification.

Commercial & Business

DBA & Assumed Name Registration in Brown County

Filing Fee: $15.00

1. Filing Authority

In Brown County, sole proprietorships and general partnerships register assumed names through the County Clerk.

2. Statutory Requirement

Required prior to opening a commercial checking account, issuing invoices under a brand name, or executing contracts in Illinois.

3. State Rules & Notice

Assumed Business Name Certificate filed with County Clerk and published in local newspaper for 3 consecutive weeks.

Official Business & DBA Filing Assistance

Starting a Business or Filing a DBA in Brown County?

Save time and avoid multiple trips to the Brown County County Clerk. Form your official LLC, register your Trade / Assumed Name (DBA), get your federal Tax ID (EIN), and receive your registered agent documents fully online in Illinois.

Name Search Included

Articles of Organization

Illinois Compliant

State-Specific Statutory Legal Templates

Download Official Illinois Real Estate Deeds & Legal Forms

Ensure your property transfer is compliant with Illinois county recording statutes. Get attorney-drafted Quitclaim Deeds, Special Warranty Deeds, Powers of Attorney, and Promissory Notes formatted with correct margins and statutory acknowledgments.

✓ 3-inch top recording margin ready ✓ State notary jurat included ✓ Instant PDF & Word download

Get Illinois Legal Forms → Updated for 2026 legal compliance

Regional Civic Network

Nearby County Clerks in Illinois

Need to file or search public records in an adjacent jurisdiction? Explore neighboring Illinois recording offices:

Schuyler County Seat: Rushville

~15.3 mi →

Adams County Seat: Quincy

~23.6 mi →

Pike County Seat: Pittsfield

~24.4 mi →

Scott County Seat: Winchester

~26.7 mi →

Cass County Seat: Virginia

~26.7 mi →

Frequently Asked Questions: Brown County Clerk & Recorder

Where is the Brown County Clerk & Recorder office located?

The official Brown County office is located at Brown County Courthouse / Recording Office, Mount Sterling, IL 62353. Operating hours are typically Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM. You can reach the office staff by telephone at (217) 253-3179.

How much does it cost to record a deed in Brown County?

Under Illinois statute (55 ILCS 5/3-5018), recording a real property deed or mortgage in Brown County costs $60.00 for the first page, plus $2.00 for each additional page. Transfer tax details: $1.00 per $1,000 state tax + $0.50 per $1,000 county tax (plus municipal stamps where applicable).

How do I obtain a marriage license in Brown County, IL?

Both applicants must appear in person before the Brown County Clerk with government-issued photo identification (such as a valid driver's license, passport, or state ID). The fee is approximately $35 - $60. Illinois requires a waiting period of 24 hours, and the license is valid for 60 days from the date of issuance.

How do I file a DBA (Doing Business As) or Assumed Name in Brown County?

In Brown County, registering a DBA or Assumed Business Name is handled through the County Clerk with a standard statutory filing fee of $15.00. Assumed Business Name Certificate filed with County Clerk and published in local newspaper for 3 consecutive weeks.

How can I request a certified copy of a birth or death certificate in Brown County?

Certified vital records (birth certificates starting at $15.00 and death certificates starting at $19.00) can be requested through the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) & County Clerk Vital Records or directly at the Brown County courthouse vital statistics counter by qualified immediate family members.