Except as to any sale had by virtue of a judgment of foreclosure entered in accordance with Article XV, in all cases of redemption of land from sale had under any judgment or order, it shall be the duty of the purchaser, sheriff, or other officer or person from whom such redemption takes place, to prepare an instrument in writing, under his or her signature and seal, evidencing the redemption, which shall be recorded in the recorder's office of the proper county, in like manner as other writings affecting the title to real estate are filed and recorded, which recording shall be paid for by the party redeeming.
12-131.Certificate of redemption.
Article XII. Judgments - Enforcement · Part 1. In General · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceSection 12-131 requires the purchaser, sheriff, or other officer who accepts a redemption of land sold under a judgment to prepare a signed, sealed instrument recording that redemption and file it with the county recorder, at the redeeming party's expense.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/12-131
Plain-English Summary
Once someone redeems land sold under a judgment or court order, someone has to put that redemption on the public record. Section 12-131 puts that job on whoever received the redemption payment: the purchaser at the sale, the sheriff, or another officer.
The recorded instrument works like any other document affecting title to real estate. It goes into the recorder's office of the county where the land sits, in the same books and by the same process as deeds and mortgages. That filing is what lets a later title search find the redemption instead of stopping at the sheriff's sale.
The section carves out sales made under a foreclosure judgment entered under Article XV, which follow their own redemption and recording rules. It also puts the recording cost on the party who redeemed, not on the purchaser or the officer who prepared the certificate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to prepare the certificate of redemption under Section 12-131?
The purchaser, sheriff, or other officer or person from whom the redemption is taken.
Does Section 12-131 apply to mortgage foreclosure sales?
No. It excepts sales made under a foreclosure judgment entered in accordance with Article XV.
Where does the redemption instrument get recorded?
In the recorder's office of the county where the redeemed land is located, the same office that records deeds and other instruments affecting title.
Who pays the recording cost?
The party redeeming pays for the recording.
What form must the redemption instrument take?
A writing under the signature and seal of the person from whom redemption was taken, evidencing that the redemption occurred.
Amendment History
(Source: P.A. 84-1462.)
Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Illinois Compiled Statutes, published by the
Illinois Compiled Statutes, Illinois General Assembly / Legislative Reference Bureau. Last verified July 20, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: illinois certificate of redemptionrecording redemption from sheriff sale illinoisredemption instrument illinois real estatewho records redemption illinois judgment sale