| It wasn't long ago that the records of real property | | | | title company can inform all parties to the transaction |
| title could be found in a collection of huge, thousand | | | | that the sale has "closed". |
| page books residing in the office of the county | | | | Those documents are now a matter of public record. |
| recorder. Now those same records are all | | | | When a document is recorded it gives "constructive" |
| electronically stored in a computer database. | | | | notice to the world that a certain act has occurred. |
| Before computers recording a change of title meant | | | | Any one with a claim or interest in the indicated real |
| tedious paper handling by both title insurance | | | | property will now be bound by the action |
| companies and county recorder employees. Not any | | | | represented by the recorded document. It can only |
| more. | | | | be challenged by legal action. |
| With the advance in technology, more and more | | | | The public can easily access the records in the |
| companies are recording documents electronically. It | | | | database by the computer terminals located in the |
| works like this: | | | | offices of the county recorder. In many counties |
| 1. The recording department of the title company | | | | those records are now available to everyone through |
| electronically scans the documents that must be | | | | the internet. In those counties you can view the |
| recorded. 2. Then the documents are sent | | | | records from your office or home computer. For a |
| electronically to the county recorder's office... either | | | | fee the recorder will print a copy of any recorded |
| by way of a private line or the Internet. 3. The | | | | document. |
| county recorder receives a notification that the title | | | | In a real estate transaction the deed is recorded, but |
| company has sent documents electronically. 4. A | | | | it is rare that any of the other documents related to |
| county recorder clerk opens the electronic file, | | | | the transaction will be placed in the public record. |
| reviews the documents to be sure they are in the | | | | Computers have truly opened public records to the |
| proper form. When the submission for recording is | | | | public. At least to those members of the public who |
| approved an email is sent to the title company with | | | | will apply the few minutes needed to learn how easy |
| the instrument number, escrow number, date and | | | | it is to review the records. |
| time of recording. 5. After receiving that email the | | | | |