Michael John Neill's genealogy website. Things that cross my path, general research suggestions, and whatever else ...with a little bit of attitude. I don't post "news" just to post it, never post a press release (edited or otherwise), don't feign excitement, and pretty much say what I think.
11 January 2011
Recording Fees For Deeds
There are several reasons why deeds don't often tell genealogists as much as we would like, but here is a good one: money.
This image comes from the 1891 Illinois Revised Statutes and indicates that the current recording fee at that point in time was 8 cents for every one hundred words.
Chances are no one was going to pay extra to record words that were not necessary to be included in the document.