Georgia Department of Revenue The statutory materials reprinted or quoted verbatim on the following pages are taken from the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, Copyright 2016 by the State of Georgia, and are reprinted with the permission of the State of Georgia. Unless otherwise provided, all information reprinted or quoted are taken from the sources listed on the reference page which can be located at the back of the book. All references are reprinted with permission for instructional purposes only. All rights reserved. For Educational Purposes Only: The material within is intended to give the course participant a solid understanding of general principles in the subject area. As such, the material may not necessarily reflect the official procedures and policies of the Georgia Department of Revenue or the Department’s official interpretation of the laws of the State of Georgia. The application of applicability to specific situations of the theories, techniques, and approaches discussed herein must be determined on a case-by-case basis. Revised February 2021 1 Deed Research Georgia Department of Revenue This page left blank intentionally. 2 Deed Research Georgia Department of Revenue Contents SECTION 1 OVERVIEW OF AD VALOREM TAXATION ............................................................................................... 10 THE TAX BILL .......................................................................................................................................................... 16 THE MASS APPRAISAL PROCESS ....................................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined. THE MASS APPRAISAL / ASSESSMENT PROCESS ..................................................................................................... 33 SUMMARY: ................................................................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. SALES RATIO STUDIES ...................................................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined. WHAT IS A RATIO? ..................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. USING SALES RATIOS TO MEASURE EQUITY .............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. SALES RATIO STEPS ............................................................................................................................................... 353 SECTION 2 GEORGIA CODE SECTION ...................................................................................................................... 38 § 44-1-1. "PROPERTY" DEFINED ..……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...39 § 44-1-2. "REALTY" OR "REAL ESTATE" DEFINED;. ................................................................................................. 39 § 44-1-3. "PERSONALTY" DEFINED;. ...................................................................................................................... 40 § 44-1-4. "ESTATE" DEFINED . .............................................................................................................................. 41 § 44-1-5. "TITLE" DEFINED .................................................................................................................................. 41 § 44-1-6. WHAT THINGS CONSIDERED FIXTURES; .................................................................................................. 41 § 44-1-12. WHAT CONSTITUTES PERFECT TITLE? ................................................................................................... 41 § 44-1-15. REMOVAL OR DESTRUCTION OF SURVEY MONUMENTS PROHIBITED; ……………………………………......…….42 § 44-1-16. FAILURE TO DISCLOSE IN REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION………………………………………………………………………..43 § 44-1-17. RESPONSIBILITIES OF BUYERS OR GRANTEES AND GRANTORS ............ …………………………….…………….….44 § 44-2-1. WHERE AND WHEN DEEDS RECORDED; .................................................................................................. 45 § 44-2-2. DUTY OF CLERK TO RECORD CERTAIN TRANSACTION AFFECTING REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY;…………………………………………………………………………..………………………………………………………………45 § 44-2-3. VOLUNTARY DEEDS OR CONVEYANCES OF LAND; EFFECT OF RECORDING ............................................ 46 § 44-2-4. PROTECTION OF GOOD FAITH PURCHASES AND LIENS WITHOUT NOTICE AGAINST UNRECORDED LIENS OR CONVEYANCES .................................................................................................................................. 46 § 44-2-5. RECORDING EXECUTION AND DEED AFTER SHERIFF'S SALE ................................................................... 47 § 44-2-6. RECORDING BOND FOR TITLE, CONTRACTS, TRANSFERS, AND ASSIGNMENTS; ...................................... 47 § 44-2-7. RECORDING OF SURRENDER OR SATISFACTION OF BOND FOR TITLE ..................................................... 47 § 44-2-8. RECORDING OF OPTIONS TO PURCHASE LAND AND ASSIGNMENTS OF SUCH OPTIONS; EFFECT AS NOTICE . ................................................................................................................................................ 47 § 44-2-9. RECORDING LEASES, USUFRUCTS, AND ASSIGNMENTS THEREOF; .......................................................... 48 § 44-2-10. RECORDING DEEDS AND BILLS OF SALE TO PERSONALTY; .................................................................... 48 § 44-2-11. RECORDING COPY OF INSTRUMENT RECORDED IN OTHER COUNTIES IN WHICH PART OF AFFECTED LAND IS LOCATED IN CASES WHERE ORIGINAL LOST OR DESTROYED ................................................. 48 § 44-2-12. RERECORDING LOST OR DESTROYED DEEDS AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS; ............................................ 49 § 44-2-13. RERECORDING INSTRUMENTS UPON CREATION OF NEW COUNTY OR CHANGE IN COUNTY LINES; ..... 49 § 44-2-14. REQUIREMENTS FOR RECORDATION .................................................................................................... 49 § 44-2-15. OFFICERS AUTHORIZED TO ATTEST REGISTRABLE INSTRUMENTS ........................................................ 50 § 44-2-16. EFFECT OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT SUBSEQUENT TO EXECUTION ............................................................ 50 § 44-2-22. LEGAL EFFECT OF GOOD RECORD TITLE FOR 40 YEARS ....................................................................... 50 § 44-2-25. RECORDING TECHNIQUES; PHOTOSTATIC COPIES OF PLATS . ............................................................... 51 § 44-2-30. FILING AND RECORDING OF NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT ......................................................................... 51 § 44-5-2. HOW LAND IN STATE HELD . ................................................................................................................... 53 § 44-5-30. REQUISITES OF DEED TO LANDS; INQUIRY INTO CONSIDERATION ....................................................... 53 3 Deed Research Georgia Department of Revenue § 44-5-31. REQUISITES OF DEED TO PERSONALTY; NECESSITY FOR DEED ............................................................ 53 § 44-5-32. REQUISITES OF INSTRUMENTS OTHER THAN DEEDS ............................................................................ 53 § 44-5-33. FORM OF DEED .................................................................................................................................... 53 § 44-5-34. CONSTRUCTION OF INCONSISTENT CLAUSES IN DEED; ......................................................................... 54 § 44-5-35. APPORTIONMENT OF PRICE FOR DEFICIENCY IN NUMBER OF ACRES; RESCISSION ............................... 54 § 44-5-36. PURCHASER'S REMEDIES FOR LOSS OF LAND DUE TO TITLE DEFECT ..................................................... 54 § 44-5-39. BINDING EFFECT OF COVENANTS ON GRANTEE WHO ACCEPTS DEED .................................................. 54 § 44-5-43. EFFECT OF ADVERSE POSSESSION ON MAKING OF DEED . .................................................................... 54 § 44-5-168. ADVERSE POSSESSION OF MINERAL RIGHTS UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS; PROCEDURE TO OBTAIN TITLE ................................................................................................................................................ 54 § 44-6-80. NATURE OF LIFE ESTATES; ESTATES DURING WIDOWHOOD …………………………………………………….…..….56 § 44-6-81. LENGTH OF LIFE ESTATE ..................................................................................................................... 56 § 44-6-82. HOW AND IN WHAT PROPERTY LIFE ESTATE MAY BE CREATED ........................................................ 56 § 44-6-83. RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF LIFE TENANT; ................................................................................................. 57 § 44-6-86. RIGHTS OF LESSEE UPON TERMINATION OF LIFE ESTATE .................................................................... 57 § 44-6-87. EFFECT OF PURPORTED SALE OF ESTATE BY LIFE TENANT .................................................................. 57 § 44-6-88. DEMAND FOR BOND BY PURCHASER OF LIFE ESTATE IN PERSONALTY;. ............................................... 57 § 44-9-1. METHODS OF ACQUIRING PRIVATE WAYS ........................................................................................... 58 § 44-9-6. LOSS OF EASEMENT BY ABANDONMENT OR NONUSE ......................................................................... 58 SECTION 3 REAL PROPERTY AND PERSONAL PROPERTY .......................................................................................