These records include a history of all sales, mortgages, and other transactions related to a piece of property. Both a mortgage and deed of trust are public records that must be filed with your county courthouse.Some states allow both mortgages and deeds of trust. A main difference is that a mortgage foreclosure proceeding needs to go through the courts. Mortgages of real property and deeds of trust in the nature of a mortgage shall be released of record only in the manner provided herein. Recorders were charged with recording and filing all real estate deeds submitted to them, and with keeping a chronological entry book which listed them. What do I need to record a deed? Essentially, both state that the borrower will repay the loan. The Cook County Clerk's Office has assumed all operations and duties of the Cook County Recorder of Deeds Office and that office no longer exists. The most common references in a deed: Sole Ownership.