Register of Deeds
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CTAS e-Li Published on e-Li (https://eli.ctas.tennessee.edu) September 25, 2021 Register of Deeds Dear Reader: The following document was created from the CTAS electronic library known as e-Li. This online library is maintained daily by CTAS staff and seeks to represent the most current information regarding issues relative to Tennessee county government. We hope this information will be useful to you; reference to it will assist you with many of the questions that will arise in your tenure with county government. However, the Tennessee Code Annotated and other relevant laws or regulations should always be consulted before any action is taken based upon the con- tents of this document. Please feel free to contact us if you have questions or comments regarding this information or any other e-Li material. Sincerely, The University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service 226 Capitol Blvd. Suite 400 Nashville, TN. 37219 615-532-3555 phone 615-532-3699 fax [email protected] www.ctas.tennessee.edu Page 1 of 29 Table of Contents Register of Deeds ................................................................................... .4 Qualifications-Register of Deeds.......................................................... .4 Oath of Office and Bond-Register of Deeds......................................... .4 Compensation-Registers of Deed ........................................................ .4 Deputies and Assistants-Registers of Deed......................................... .4 Duties-Register of Deeds ..................................................................... .5 Instruments to be Recorded or Filed.................................................................. .5 Bundle of Rights Theory................................................................................. .5 Identification and Purpose of Most Common Instruments Relating to Real .6 Property.......................................................................................................... Instruments Affecting Interests in Personal Property ..................................... .8 Uniform Commercial Code Records ........................................................... .8 Identification and Purpose of UCC Instruments (Records)......................... .8 Other Documents........................................................................................ .9 Requirements for Acceptance of Instruments....................................................10 Legibility/Language ........................................................................................10 Authentication/Acknowledgment ....................................................................10 Name and Address of Owner and Taxpayer .................................................. 11 Reference to Previously Registered Instruments ........................................... 11 Name and Address of Preparer...................................................................... 11 Parcel Identification Number ..........................................................................12 Payment of Transfer or Mortgage Tax............................................................12 Electronic Records .........................................................................................12 Specific Rules for UCC Records ....................................................................12 Specific Rules for Plats ..................................................................................13 Payment of the Statutory Fees.......................................................................14 Proper Fees for Recording or Filing...................................................................14 Standard Fees................................................................................................14 Data Processing Fee......................................................................................15 Electronic Filing Fee.......................................................................................16 Partnership Fee Issues ..................................................................................16 UCC Fee Issues.............................................................................................16 Collection of State Taxes ...................................................................................16 Transfer Tax ...................................................................................................16 Mortgage Tax..................................................................................................17 Most Common Exemptions from Tax .............................................................18 Other Tax Issues ............................................................................................19 Notations When Instrument Received ...............................................................19 Recording, Filing and Indexing ..........................................................................20 Real Estate Deeds of Title..............................................................................20 Deeds of Trust................................................................................................21 UCC Records .................................................................................................21 Miscellaneous Records ..................................................................................22 Combined or Continuous Records .................................................................22 Records and Computers ................................................................................22 Page 2 of 29 Table of Contents Uniform Electronic Transactions Act ..............................................................23 Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act ("URPERA") ......................24 Notice of Child Support Liens ............................................................................24 Other Records Duties ........................................................................................25 Military Discharge Records ............................................................................25 Redaction of Personally Identifying Information .............................................26 Financial Accounting Duties...............................................................................26 Deposits and Bank Accounts-Register of Deeds ...........................................27 Form of Payment............................................................................................27 Receipts ......................................................................................................... 27 Reports-Register of Deeds.............................................................................27 Fee System or Salary System-Register of Deeds................................ 28 Relationship to Other County Officials-Registers of Deeds.................. 28 Sources of Assistance for Register of Deeds....................................... 29 Page 3 of 29 CTAS e-Li Register of Deeds Register of Deeds Reference Number: CTAS-59 The office of register in Tennessee can be traced back to the period when this region was part of the English colony of Carolina. The office was provided for in the colony's first fundamental law, known as the “Concessions and Agreements” of 1665. This office was patterned along the English model. The register's general duties have always been to record various types of legal instruments and transactions, particularly those conveying title to land. The register's office in Carolina continued under the colony's “Fundamental Constitution” of 1715. The qualified voters elected three freeholders who became candi- dates for the office. The governor then appointed one of these three small landowners to be the register. The register was to serve during good behavior. When Tennessee became a state in 1796, the first constitution included a provision for a register to be elected by the county court in every county. The term of office was indefinite and the register was to serve “during good behavior.” The Tennessee Constitution of 1835 provided for the popular election of the register for a term of four years, reflecting the trend of the Jacksonian era. Tennessee's Constitution of 1870 retained the office of register and continued the term of office at four years. The 1978 amend- ments to the Tennessee Constitution retained the four-year term for the register. Tennessee's Constitution does not specify any duties for the office of register. Therefore, the Legislature is free to determine the duties of the register by statute and has done so. The duties of the register first centered on registering or recording, by transcription, deeds to real proper- ty. This basic function, in regard to land titles, remains a vital one. However, over the years, other types of instruments have been added to those eligible for registration. Today, many of the basic duties of the office are listed in Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 8-13-108. Many other statutes must be referred to in order to complete the list of duties that the register must perform in today's office. Qualifications-Register of Deeds Reference Number: CTAS-60 The office of register does not carry any qualifications beyond the qualifications listed under the General Information tab for county officers. Oath of Office and Bond-Register of Deeds Reference Number: CTAS-61 Before entering into office, the register must take and subscribe to the constitutional