(1125) Recorder Division

The Recorder Department is the official archive, preserving documents related to legally recordable transactions of events. The department provides a public record of ownership and chain of title for all land transactions from 1874-present. The department is responsible for determining the recordability, not the legal sufficiency of all documents presented for recording. All documents presented for recording must pass the examination process that include, but not limited to recordability and legibility. Once a document is recorded, it cannot be unrecorded. The only way the content may be amended is to record another document referencing the prior recording and specifying the change. The department collects documentary transfer tax and conveyance taxes on property sales. Documents are recorded, indexed, digitally archived and made available to the public.

• The recorder has initiated a comprehensive imaging project for historic documents dating back to 1874.

• Following the Hall of Records fire, the recorder was moved to a facility with ample square footage to support administrative operations, prioritizing security and meeting accessibility standards. It is advised to consider that it would be preferable for the recorder not to return to the Hall of Records, as the building does not meet the requirements for future planning.

• Digitizing the county archives is an urgent necessity. The fire at the Hall of Records underscored the importance of making a sincere investment in our document infrastructure.