The Real Estate Professional Alert Form is the Cook County Clerk's form for registering a client's property for a property fraud alert. Printed on it as "Real Estate Professional's Client Alert Registration Information," it is used by a real estate agent, attorney, closing agent or title insurance company who acts for the property owner. On FillingPDF you can fill out the form online and download or print the completed PDF. The Property Fraud Unit of the Office of the Cook County Clerk publishes the original at the Clerk's website.
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What is Real Estate Professional Alert Form – Cook County, IL?
The Real Estate Professional Alert Form is the Cook County Clerk's registration form that a real estate professional completes with a client to sign the client's property up for the Clerk's property fraud alert service, listing the property, the contacts to alert and the professional's role.
The form is issued by the Property Fraud Unit of the Office of the Cook County Clerk, at 118 N. Clark Street, Room 120, Chicago, Illinois 60602. Its printed title is "Real Estate Professional's Client Alert Registration Information," and the revision date printed on it is 10.02.25.
What it collects: the client's name, the client's property address (with unit number, city and ZIP), the property index number (PIN), up to three phone or email contacts for the alerts, and the name, phone and email of the professional. It also contains a disclaimer and an authorization: by signing, the owner authorizes the Clerk's Office to register the property on the owner's behalf and confirms having verified the information provided.
The alert system is operated by the Cook County Clerk's Office, and the notice on the form says that registering is free of charge. The form ends with a block marked "For Clerk's Office Use Only," which the Clerk's staff completes.
Who needs to file Real Estate Professional Alert Form – Cook County, IL?
A real estate professional who acts for a property owner in Cook County uses this form to register the owner's property for a property fraud alert. The form asks the professional to mark their role for the property: Real Estate Agent, Attorney, Closing Agent or Title Insurance Company. The professional signs in the line labeled "Real Estate Professional Signature (registered and authorized to submit property fraud alerts)," so the form is meant for professionals who hold that authorization.
The property owner also signs. By signing, the owner authorizes the Clerk's Office to register the property on the owner's behalf and accepts the terms of the disclaimer, including that the owner is solely responsible for verifying that the property was registered for the alert.
Owners are not required to register. The notice printed on the form says owners are not required to register for a property fraud alert, and that the alert system is operated by the Cook County Clerk's Office and is free of charge.
When to file Real Estate Professional Alert Form – Cook County, IL
The form prints no deadline, renewal period or expiration date. Registration is optional for owners: the notice on the form says owners are not required to register for a property fraud alert. A real estate professional completes the form when a client's property is to be registered, and both the owner and the professional sign and date it. The form gives no processing time, so ask the Property Fraud Unit at 312.603.5050 when the alert will be active.
How to fill out Real Estate Professional Alert Form – Cook County, IL
Enter the client's name
In the CLIENT NAME field, write the name of the property owner you are registering the alert for.
Enter the client's property address
Fill in CLIENT PROPERTY ADDRESS, then UNIT NO, CITY and ZIP for the property to be registered.
Add the property index number
Enter the client's property index number (PIN). If it is unknown, the form says to leave it blank.
List the alert contacts
Under ALERTS FOR CLIENT BY: PHONE or EMAIL, enter a phone number and email for Contact (1) and, if needed, Contact (2) and Contact (3).
Mark your role for the property
Next to FOR THIS PROPERTY, I AM, select Real Estate Agent, Attorney, Closing Agent or Title Insurance Company.
Enter your own contact details
On the line below your role, write your Name, Phone and Email as the real estate professional handling the property.
Read the disclaimer and authorization
Review the Disclaimer & Authorization to Create Your Alert with the owner. Signing authorizes the Clerk's Office to register the property on the owner's behalf and confirms the information has been verified.
Collect both signatures and dates
The owner signs and dates the Owner Signature line. The real estate professional signs and dates the Real Estate Professional Signature line.
Leave the Clerk's block blank
Do not fill in FOR CLERK'S OFFICE USE ONLY: Date/Location, I.D. Presented, Entered By, Received By and Name on I.D. are completed by the Clerk's staff.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check names, address, PIN and contacts, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and deliver it as described under How to submit.
How to submit Real Estate Professional Alert Form – Cook County, IL
The form itself prints no submission channel, so confirm with the Cook County Clerk's Property Fraud Unit how a completed form is received. The header of the form lists the unit's contact details:
- Address: Property Fraud Unit, Office of Cook County Clerk, 118 N. Clark Street, Room 120, Chicago, Illinois 60602.
- Phone: 312.603.5050.
- Email: [email protected].
- Web: cookcountyclerk.com.
Before it goes to the Clerk, the owner and the real estate professional must each sign and date the form. Leave the block marked "For Clerk's Office Use Only" (date/location, I.D. presented, entered by, received by, name on I.D.) empty, because the Clerk's staff fills it in. The notice on the form says registering is free of charge. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the Clerk's channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving out the owner's signature and date; the authorization to register the property is given by the owner's signature.
- Leaving out the real estate professional's signature and date; the form has a separate signature line for the professional.
- Not marking the professional's role (Real Estate Agent, Attorney, Closing Agent or Title Insurance Company).
- Guessing the property index number (PIN); the form says to leave it blank if it is unknown.
- Listing no phone or email for the alerts; the form asks for the contact method (phone or email) for each alert contact.
- Writing in the "For Clerk's Office Use Only" block, which is reserved for the Clerk's staff.
- Signing without checking the information; the authorization states the owner has verified it and is solely responsible for confirming the property is registered.
- Assuming owners must register; the notice on the form says registering is not required.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Real Estate Professional Alert Form?
It is the Cook County Clerk's form, printed as "Real Estate Professional's Client Alert Registration Information," that a real estate professional completes to register a client's property for the Clerk's property fraud alert service. The Property Fraud Unit issues it.
Do property owners have to register for a property fraud alert?
No. The notice printed on the form says owners are not required to register for a property fraud alert. The alert system is operated by the Cook County Clerk's Office, and the form states that registering is free of charge.
Who can submit the Real Estate Professional Alert Form?
A real estate agent, attorney, closing agent or title insurance company acting for the property. The form has a signature line for a real estate professional "registered and authorized to submit property fraud alerts," and the owner signs as well.
What if I do not know the property index number (PIN)?
Leave the PIN line blank. The form says "If unknown, leave blank." Fill in the client's name and the full property address, including unit number, city and ZIP, so the property can be identified.
Who has to sign the form?
Both the owner and the real estate professional sign and date it, each on their own line. The owner's signature authorizes the Clerk's Office to register the property on the owner's behalf and accepts the disclaimer terms.
Is there a fee to register a property fraud alert in Cook County?
The notice on the form says the alert system is operated by the Cook County Clerk's Office and that registering is free of charge. For other questions, call the Property Fraud Unit at 312.603.5050.
Can I fill out the Real Estate Professional Alert Form online?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not submit the form to the Cook County Clerk; delivery follows the Clerk's own channels.
Who is responsible for confirming the alert was registered?
The owner. The authorization on the form states that the owner has verified the information provided and is solely responsible for verifying that the property is registered for the property fraud alert.
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