What Is a Register of Deeds?

The term register of deeds refers to a record of real estate deeds or other land titles maintained by a local government official. This is a centralized location where all legal documents are recorded, establishing ownership of property. The register of deeds can also refer to a person responsible for keeping and providing access to deeds.

The register is used in conjunction with a grantor-grantee index that lists the owner of the record and any transfers of property. The register is necessary when individuals or companies need to gather information about a property's history.

Understanding a Register of Deeds

A deed is a legal document proving ownership of an asset, such as a vehicle, land, home, or property. The deed holder, listed on the document, is granted certain rights to the property in question. Deeds serve a number of purposes. For instance, a property owner needs a deed to transfer the title or sell the asset to someone else.

Deeds must be signed, 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:notarized, and filed with the local government. As such, anyone can access them since they are considered public records. Deeds are filed and located in the🅰 register of deeds, which is a special area of the municipal office. In other cases, th💟e register of deeds is the person who oversees deeds.

Registers are available for public viewing but may require some time and government assistance to access particular mortgage records or deeds. Registers of deeds in the United States are not a federal responsibility but in🐭stead maintained at the county, town, or state level.

Accessing a deed through the register is important since it provides information about proper♊ties, including the property owner, lot number, address, as ♔well as the makes and models of vehicles.

When Are Registers of Deeds Used?

The need for registers of deeds primarily arises when individuals or companies need to access important information about a piece of property. This is commonly done during 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:real estate 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:transactions. In these cases, the buyer and seller must be sure that the property's title can be legalඣly transferred from one party to the other.

Registers of deeds also come in handy when:

• Someone needs to conduct a 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:title search
• A person needs to verify if there are any liens on a property
• You need to find any 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:defects in the title
• There is a dispute that needs to be settled

The office of the register of deeds may charge fees for copies of public records, depending on the type of record or document. For example, the cost for a 💙copy of a deed might be $30, while other documents could be charged at a per-page fee.

Issues With Not Registering a Deed

It's important that individuals register their deeds with the recorder. Failing to do so can lead to issues for the property owner(s), such as a dispute over the 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:chain of title. A chain of title refers to the historic change in ownership of an asset going back to the original owner. Failure to register a de๊ed lea💧ds to a break in the chain, opening the owner up to legal disputes.

Other potentia💜l problems that may arise if someone fails to register a deed include:

• 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Property tax disputes
• Property line and boundary issues
• Delays and loss of profits

Recorder of Deeds

As mentioned above, a register of deeds is also a specific position within a government that oversees these public records in question. In some cases, the individual may also be called a recorder of deeds. This is often an elected position with a four-year term. In addition to real estate and property records, the individual may also be responsible for:

• Issuing marriage licenses
• Handling notary commissions
• Recoding military discharges
• Issue birth and death certificates

The office may also be responsible to assign the filing of 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) financing statements on personal property, which record and protect a secured party’s interest in the collateral offered by a debtor for a loan.

The collection of public records overseen by the register of deeds may extend back to the first documents kept by the government. This provides an in-depth history of ownership to be conducted to the original deed holders. Identifying records, such as birth and death certificates, can also be searched for back to the earliest available documents held by the respective♉ government.

The specific duties of a register of deeds tend to vary by jurisdiction. Their responsibilities may extend to certain fraud prevention responsibilities. This can relate to 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:identity theft, which could include the misuse of personal records such as birth certificates. As a government entity, the register may remind citizens of scammers who offer to sell them documents such as deeds by reaching out to them through unsolicited mail or other forms of contact.

The Bottom Line

A register of deeds is a record of real estate deeds, land titles, and other records. The register might be located in a municipal or county building where the documents are kept. A register is typically a local government official responsible for overseeing the register of deeds office. The office may also handle the recording of marriage licenses, military discharges, and birth and death certificates.