Search Big Stone County Property Records

Big Stone County property records are maintained by the County Recorder's office in Ortonville, Minnesota. The office records and maintains real estate documents including deeds, mortgages, liens, and satisfactions for all land in the county. You can visit the office in person to search records or request copies, or contact them by mail. The county assessor handles valuations and property tax data for all parcels. Whether you need ownership information, a recorded document copy, or assessed value data, this guide covers how to access Big Stone County property records.

Big Stone County Recorder

The Big Stone County Recorder is responsible for filing, recording, and maintaining real estate records for all land in the county. The office records deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, liens, federal and state tax liens, well disclosure certificates, and other documents affecting property ownership. All documents must meet Minnesota state standards before they are accepted for recording, including original signatures, notary acknowledgment, a proper legal description, and the preparer's name on the first page.

Big Stone County does not currently accept electronic recording. All documents must be submitted in paper form, either in person or by mail. The office has a break in the middle of the day, so hours are 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM and then 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM on weekdays. Documents are accepted until 4:15 PM. The office can also provide certified and uncertified copies of recorded documents going back to when the county was organized. Approximately 4,000 parcels are tracked in the county's system.

You can reach the Recorder at bigstonecounty.org to ask about document requirements, fee amounts, or how to get a copy of a recorded deed or mortgage. Certified copies cost $10 as a base fee plus per-page charges. Non-certified copies are less expensive.

Big Stone County Assessor

The Big Stone County Assessor estimates the market value and determines the classification of all real property in the county. Values are established as of January 2 each year using recent sales data and physical inspection results. Valuation notices are mailed in March. Property owners who believe their value is incorrect can file an appeal with the Board of Appeal and Equalization before it meets in spring. There is no fee to appeal with the local board.

All approximately 4,000 parcels in Big Stone County are physically inspected on a five-year rotation. The assessor classifies each parcel based on its actual use, whether residential, agricultural, commercial, or other. Changes in use can affect your classification and your tax bill. The office also accepts homestead applications year-round for owners who occupy the property as their primary residence. If you disagree with the local board decision, you can appeal further to the County Board of Equalization or the Minnesota Tax Court.

The screenshot below was captured from the Minnesota Department of Revenue's PRISM system at revenue.state.mn.us, which includes Big Stone County property data.

PRISM aggregates assessment and property record information from all 87 Minnesota counties, including Big Stone, and is maintained by the Minnesota Department of Revenue.

Find Big Stone County Property Records Online

Big Stone County is a smaller county and does not maintain a dedicated online property search portal at the county level. For basic parcel and property data, the Minnesota Department of Revenue's PRISM system aggregates assessed values and property record information from all counties statewide. It is a good starting point for ownership checks and value research without needing to call the office directly.

For recorded document searches, your best option is to contact the Recorder's office directly. Staff can search by name, parcel number, or document type during business hours. The Treasurer's office, reachable at (320) 839-6372, handles online property tax payment options and can confirm whether taxes are current on a parcel.

The screenshot below was captured from the Minnesota Department of Revenue's property taxes page at revenue.state.mn.us/property-taxes.

The Minnesota property taxes page explains statewide rules for payments, delinquency, and tax forfeiture that apply to Big Stone County parcels.

Property Records in Big Stone County

The Recorder's office maintains a wide range of documents that affect real property in Big Stone County. Deeds are the most common. A deed transfers ownership from one party to another and must be recorded to provide public notice of the transfer under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 507. Without recording, the transfer is not protected against future claims by other buyers or creditors.

Mortgages and mortgage satisfactions are also recorded here. When a loan is paid off, the lender records a satisfaction or release. Other records include easements, declarations of covenants, federal and state tax liens, mechanic's liens, plats, and certificates of survey. Well disclosure certificates are required on most property transfers and are either attached to the deed or filed separately for a $50 fee.

Under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 508, some Big Stone County properties may be registered under the Torrens system. Torrens titles are confirmed by a Certificate of Title issued by the court rather than a chain of recorded documents. Both abstract and Torrens records are maintained at the county level in Ortonville.

Recording Fees and Transfer Taxes

Recording fees in Big Stone County follow the state standard. The base fee is $46 for the first page of any document, plus $4 for each additional page. Plats cost $56 to record. Well disclosure certificates cost $50 if submitted separately, but the fee is included in the deed recording fee if the certificate is attached to the deed at the time of recording.

Two state taxes apply to most real estate transfers under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 287. The State Deed Tax is 0.33% of the net consideration, with a minimum of $1.65. The Mortgage Registry Tax is 0.23% of the principal debt amount. Both must be paid at the time of recording. Certified copies of recorded documents cost $10 as a base fee, plus per-page charges. Non-certified copies are less.

Note: Because Big Stone County does not accept e-recording, plan to mail documents with enough lead time before your closing date. Confirm the fee amount and mailing address by calling (320) 839-6385 before you send anything.

Property Tax in Big Stone County

Property taxes in Big Stone County follow the schedule set under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 279. The first half is due May 15. The second half is due October 15. If you miss the May 15 deadline, the unpaid amount becomes delinquent on January 1 of the following year and starts accruing interest at 9 to 10 percent annually. The Treasurer's office handles collections and can confirm payment options including online payment and mail-in payments.

Valuation and tax rules under Chapter 272 and Chapter 273 govern how Big Stone County sets values and calculates taxes for each parcel. Values are set as of January 2 each year. Tax statements and valuation notices are both mailed in March. If taxes remain unpaid for three years, the property can go into the tax forfeiture process and may be sold at public auction. The Minnesota Department of Revenue's property tax page has more detail on how these rules work statewide.

For properties with a well, the seller must provide a well disclosure certificate at closing. Details on this requirement are at health.state.mn.us.

Communities in Big Stone County

Big Stone County has no cities that meet the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. The county seat is Ortonville. Other communities in the county include Clinton, Graceville, Beardsley, Odessa, and Correll. All property records for land in these communities are filed at the Big Stone County Recorder's office at 20 2nd Street SE in Ortonville.

Nearby Counties

Big Stone County is located in western Minnesota along the South Dakota border. Property records for land in neighboring counties are maintained by their own county recorders.