You may find yourself asking…what is eRecording? Well, let me tell you! eRecording is a method of securely recording documents using electronic means rather than sending them by mail or visiting the Assessor-Recorder’s Office in person. It is a process that involves the use of several different technologies, such as a strong internet connection, a PDF scanner, text searchable formatting, file conversions, cloud computing, data transmission, etc. These technology tools are essential to generate, sign, transfer, record, and index documents.
Once a county recorder receives the documents, (usually mortgages, deeds, foreclosures, estoppels, leases, certificates, etc.) they are reviewed to determine if they meet legal guidelines. If there are no issues, fees are calculated, and the document is endorsed. After receiving the recorder’s stamp of approval, it is then indexed, duplicated, and dispersed to the appropriate county departments and placed in the archives. If it is rejected, then the documents are sent back with a rejection reason. Senders can then immediately make the necessary changes and submit again electronically. The recorder does not charge for rejections.
So, why do people and corporations need documents recorded, to begin with? Well, because recording documents preserves official public records for attorneys, businesses, historiographers, land title assessors, and the public. Most of the documents sent to the county recorder are for determining ownership of real estate. Recordings show ownership history and list any debts held against a property. By recording deeds and other estate history there is a “paper” trail. Without county recorders, it would be nearly impossible to legally buy real estate.
For many, visiting the county recorder and filing documents on their own is tiresome and confusing. Therefore, attorneys and attorney service companies are usually people’s go-to services when documents need to be recorded. Often when filing on ones own the wrong forms are submitted or filled out incorrectly. Our industry knowledge saves everyone time and money. eRecording saves paper and during the epidemic the use of eRecording has boomed as a way of keeping legal transactions contactless. Educating your business on recording processes and choosing a great software provider will grow your client base and boost profits.
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