All claims filed in the office of the recorder as provided in Section 13-118 of this Act shall be recorded and indexed in the manner provided by law. In counties where the recorder is not required to keep a tract index, he or she shall index such claims in an index labelled "Claimant's Book". Such book shall be indexed under the name of the person filing the claim and under the name of the person against whom the claim is filed, if such person is named in the claim, followed in each instance by the document number of such claim (or the book and page wherein the same is recorded) and a description of the real estate involved.
13-119.Claim index.
Article XIII. Limitations · Part 1. Real Actions · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceDirects county recorders to record and index verified claims filed under Section 13-118, using a "Claimant's Book" in counties that don't keep a tract index.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/13-119
Plain-English Summary
Section 13-118 lets a claimant preserve a stale claim by filing a verified statement with the recorder. Section 13-119 fills in the administrative side: recorders must record and index those filings the way the law generally requires, and where there's no tract index, they must keep a dedicated "Claimant's Book."
That book has to be searchable both ways, indexed under the name of the person filing the claim and under the name of the person the claim is filed against, when that person is named, along with the document number or book-and-page reference and a description of the property. That two-way indexing is what makes the claim discoverable by anyone searching title later.
Frequently Asked Questions
What must a recorder do with a claim filed under Section 13-118?
Record and index it in the manner provided by law for recorded instruments generally.
What is the "Claimant's Book" described in this section?
A separate index recorders use for these claims in counties that aren't required to keep a tract index.
How must claims be indexed in the Claimant's Book?
Under the name of the person filing the claim and under the name of the person the claim is against, if named, along with the document number, or book and page, and a description of the real estate.
Does this section apply the same way in every Illinois county?
The indexing method depends on whether the county keeps a tract index; counties without one use the Claimant's Book described in this section.
Why does the indexing method matter to someone researching title?
A claim that isn't properly indexed both ways could be hard for a later title searcher to find, even though it was filed.
Amendment History
(Source: P.A. 83-358.)
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 claimant's book recorderhow are 40 year claims indexed illinoisrecording claims marketable title act illinois