Real Estate Recording Guidelines
Real Estate Recording Guidelines: Lake County Ohio
- Real Estate documents that are transferring interest need to go through the Auditor's Office prior to recording. They need the transfer stamp to be valid for recording.
- Prepare documents legibly according to the statutory requirements, according to the best practices, leaving sufficient blank space for recorder's stamp. (See Standard Guidelines ORC§317.114.).
- Give your document the appropriate title, date and execute the documents including typed names and titles beneath signatures. Names and signatures should be consistent throughout the document.
- Witness and/or acknowledge all documents according to the law, including a complete and legible notary public (including commission expiration, printed name, notary signature).
- Include the complete legal description of the property on recordings where required by law.
- Properly reference previously recorded documents when you submit subsequent related documents for recording. Include document number or book & page and recording date. (A $4.00 marginal fee applies per reference).
- Include the name of the preparer on each document recorded.
- Fees for most documents are $34.00 for the first two (2) pages single sided, plus a $5.00 preservation fee for a total of $39.00, additional pages are $8.00 each.
- The correct recording fees are required. Please include separate checks for the separate office fees.
- If mailed/sent by courier, remember to include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of the original documents. Otherwise, your document will be returned C.O.D. Also, we have SWIFT available for electronic return.
- Please confirm that your documents are complete and in the proper filing order before presenting to this office. Reminder: Transfer documents first go to the Transfer Office.
Real Estate Recording Guidelines
Standard Recording Guidelines per the Ohio Revised Code §317.114
Computer font size of at least 10 pt
Minimum paper size - 8 1/2 by 11 inches
Maximum paper size - 8 1/2 by 14 inches
Black or blue ink ONLY
No use of highlighting
Margins of 1 inch on each side and bottom of each page
3 inch margin on the top of the first page reserved for Auditors/Recorder stamps
1 1/2 margin on the top of each remaining pages
The goal is document standardization, but the County Recorder must accept any document even if it does not conform to the new guidelines. However, the County Recorder will charge a $20.00 penalty fee in addition to the standard fee. This law does not apply to the following: Any documents from any court or taxing authority, Plats, DD214's, Any state or federal document, any documents executed before July 1, 2009.
*on July 1, 2009, House Bill 525 went into effect which created standardized guidelines for documents recorded in all State of Ohio Recorder's Offices.