- What does the Recorder's office do?
The Office of the Recorder was the first Constitutional Office in County government in Indiana.
- The county recorder's function is to maintain permanent public records involving a wide variety of instruments. These documents detail transactions involved in real estate, mining, personal property, mortgages, liens, leases, subdivision plats, military discharges, personal bonds, etc. {IC 36-2-11-8}. Generally, all of these instruments are recorded either for giving legal public notice of their existence or for safekeeping and future reference.
- The recorder maintains and preserves all legal documents affecting title to real property. These records constitute the legal basis on which ownership is determined. The degree to which the recorder fulfills his responsibilities ultimately forms the legal foundation for the institution of private property. The recorder is also a member of the county Commission on public records, which has the authority over the preservation or disposition of all public records maintained by the county. {IC 5-15-6}.
Your Grant County Recorder records any instrument submitted for recording, provided it meets essential requirements such as:
- Records Deeds
- Mortgages, Assignments
- Releases
- Powers of Attorney
- Real Estate Contracts
- Annexations
- Trustee Elections
- Affidavits
- Final Decrees
- Surveys
- Federal Tax Liens
- Mechanics Liens
- Military Discharges
- Articles of Incorporation
- Cemetery Deeds
- Bonds
- Plats
- Condominiums
- Firms Doing Business Under Assumed Names
- Delinquent Sewer Liens
- Miscellaneous Instruments.
Other responsibilities of the Recorder are:
- Files Uniform Commercial Code instruments.
- Supplies copies of any instrument and certifies to those recorded upon request. (Fee charged.)
- Essential Recording Requirements
- Acknowledgments: To entitle any conveyance, mortgage, or instrument of writing to be recorded.
- Legibility of Names: Typed or printed under each signature exactly as signed.
- Name of Person Preparing Instrument: Each document affects real estate.
- Notarized Documents: Requires county residence of notary and commission expiration.
- Transfer of Deeds of Taxation: Endorsement by Auditor before recording.
- Release of Satisfaction of Liens: May be executed by President, Vice-President, Cashier, Secretary, Treasurer, General Manager, or Attorney-in-Fact only.