Announcements

Announcement (1/8/2010):

Transfer on Death Designation Affidavit – effective 12/28/09

In accordance with SB 124, Transfer on Death (TOD) Deeds have been replaced with Transfer on Death (TOD) Designation Affidavits. SB 124 requires that a designation of a beneficiary of a transfer on death of real property must be created by an affidavit rather than a deed. This means that deeds may no longer be used. The bill became effective immediately with the governor’s signature on December 28, 2009 and does not affect existing transfer on death deeds executed and recorded prior to that date.

In order for the TOD Designation Affidavit to be effective it must be recorded prior to the death of the owner. If multiple TOD Designation Affidavits have been executed and recorded, the last affidavit is the one of record.

Announcement (4/1/2009):

Senate Bill 248 – effective April 6, 2009. This new law will make military discharges no longer a public record. Only an authorized party will be able to request non-redacted copies in the recorder’s office.

The following are considered authorized parties:

· The person who is the subject of the discharge;

· A county veterans service officer;

· An attorney-in-fact, agent or other representative of the person who is the subject of the discharge;

· A person authorized by a court;

· An executor or administrator, or heir, if the subject of record is deceased;

· A funeral director;

A discharge is not a public record for a period of 75 years after the date of the recording.

The County Recorder’s office shall make the record of discharge available only to an authorized party.

A person who is not an authorized party may request to view or copy the discharge. Upon such a request, the Recorder’s office shall redact everything but the name, rank, date of birth, date of discharge and type of discharge.

Announcement (3/20/2009):
Ohio House Bill 525 – Standardization of Forms. This new law will go into effect on July 1, 2009. It will set the following guidelines for documents recorded:

· Computer font size of at least ten;

· Minimum paper size – 8-1/2 x 11; Maximum paper size – 8-1/2 x 14;

· Black or blue ink only;

· No use of highlighting;

· Margins of 1 inch on each side of the page and on the bottom;

· 3 inch margin on the top of the first page, reserved for recorder, auditor and engineer;

· 1-1/2 inch margin on the top of each of the remaining pages.

The Recorder shall accept a non-conforming document for recording but can collect the following additional fees: $10.00 for the Recorder’s services and $10.00 for the Housing Trust Fund.

This law does not apply to the following:

· Any document from any court or taxing authority;

· Plats;

· DD214’s;

· Any state or federal document;

· Any document executed before the effective date of this law.

· Any document that pertains to crude oil or natural gas, such as a lease, assignment, easement, lien or right of way, in a county where the Recorder requires an assignment, release, partial release, satisfaction, cancellation or waiver of priority to be made by separate instrument, the county Recorder DOES NOT have the power to limit the number of these document types that may be executed and recorded by means of a single instrument.