BRB's Public Records Blog

Pennsylvania Fee Increase for Recordings and Civil Actions

House Bill 1607, signed by Pennsylvania Governor Rendell on October 9, 2009, amended Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedures) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. Now known as ACT 49, this law adds an additional $13.50 to a number of document fees. The increase is added specifically to all documents that currently are assessed an Access to Justice (Judicial Computer System) JCS fee of $10.00. As of December 8, 2009, the new fee will be $23.50, rather than $10.00, on all documents covered per the original law for the JCS portion. 
 
In simple English, the added fee affects all recorded Deeds, Mortgages; Mortgage Assignments; Mortgage Releases; Mortgage Satisfaction Pieces; Installment Sales Agreements; Easements; and Rights of Way. 
 
Also, the JCS fee is currently part of the fee charged on filing certain civil court actions and appeals. Thus, the court costs associated with a number of filings will also increase $13.50.
 
The fee increase does not affect record searches or copy fees. A copy of the bill can be found at www.legis.state.pa.us.

Be Aware if Asset Lien Searching in Massachusetts

Massachusetts has 4 counties but 21 recording offices. Berkshire and Bristol counties each have three recording offices. Essex, Middlesex, and Worcester counties each have two recording offices.
Also, know that cities/towns bearing the same name as a county are Barnstable, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, and Worcester.

Note: This tip is from Michael Sankey's book Public Record Reseach TIPS Book

Searching Recording Offices in Connecticut

There are 8 counties and 169 towns/cities in Connecticut. There is no county recording in Connecticut; all recording is at the town/city level. The recording officer is the Town/City Clerk.

Be careful not to confuse searching in the following towns/cities as equivalent to a countywide search (since they have the same names): Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, New Haven, New London, Tolland, and Windham. Connecticut is in the Eastern Time Zone (EST).

© excerpt from The Sourcebook to Public Record Information

Fee to Record Documents in Iowa Increases

Effective July 1, 2009, the electronic transaction fee to record most documents at an Iowa county recorder’s office will increase from $1.00 to $3.00 per record transaction. The purpose of the fee increase is to pay for the redaction of Social Security Numbers from records obtained at www.iowalandrecords.org. The fee does not apply to a military separation or discharge record, a birth record, a death certificate, or marriage certificate unless such record or certificate is incorporated within another document or instrument that is recorded and displayed for public access on a website. The fee is scheduled to stay in effect until June 30, 2011 when the fee will be reduced by $2.00.  The fee increase is part of Senate File 465 - see SF 465 at http://www.legis.state.ia.us/index.html.

Allegheny County, PA Raises Court Filing Fees and RE Recording Fees

Effective February 2, 2009, the Allegheny Department of Court Records and the Department of Real Estate increased a number of filing and recording fees. For example, a 4-page filing that used to cost $45 now is $65. The search and copy fees remain the same.

For the Civil/Family Division see:
http://dcr.alleghenycounty.us/Civil-Fees-2009.htm.

For the Department of Real Estate see:
www.county.allegheny.pa.us/re/fees.aspx

Shasta County (CA) Assessor-Recorder Raises Copy and Certification Fees

Effective February 5, 2009, the price for copies of recorded documents and official records from the Shasta County Assessor-Recorder's Office increased significantly. The copy fee is now $3.50 for the first page and $1.50 per each additional page. Previously the fee was $1.00 for the first page and $.50 each additional page. The fee to certify a document remains at $2.50.

Kosciusko County, Indiana Recorders Office Going Online

Kosciusko County, Indiana  announced it has a contract with Doxpop to provide county recorder public records online starting January 2009.  Fees have not been anounced but there will be a $1 copy fee passed back the county recorder's office.  The data will be available at www.doxpop.com and will also be linked from the county site www.kcgov.com

Connecticut Public Record Research Tip

Local Searching in Connecticut

In Connecticut there are 8 counties and 169 towns/cities with signficant public records. There is no county recording in Connecticut, all recording is at the town/city level. The recording officer is the Town/City Clerk.

Be careful not to confuse searching in the following towns/cities as equivalent to a countywide search (since they have the same names): Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, New Haven, New London, Tolland, and Windham.

© excerpt from Business Background Investigations book.

Dispelling the Myths of Searching Public Records Online

There is no Free Lunch!

Tempe, Arizona – September 17, 2008 –The scope of information that exists online about people and businesses is staggering. If one needs to search for a public record or to do a background check, one merely has to Google and the problem is solved, right? Not so fast, according to authors Cynthia Hetherington and Michael Sankey. Their new book – The Manual to Public Records Online – reveals how public records and public record searching websites are not created equal, and teaches how to professionally use government and vendor online resources.

According to the authors, “There are four important truths about searching public records online from government agencies—
1. Less than 50% of the available public records from the government can be found online.
2. Government sites can be free or fee-based. Generally, the fee-based sites are more robust. 
3. Most free government public record websites contain no personal identifiers beyond the name.
4. Usually the searchable and viewable information found online is limited to name indexes and summary data rather than document images. Most access sites – especially the free access sites – permit the former, not the latter.”

The authors also present public record searching guidelines when using sites maintained by private entities. The public is often fooled by websites that tout misconceptions or unrealistic features. The Manual gives an information edge on how to evaluate sites and also on the best sites to use based on topic or record category.  The 600 pages of insight and evaluation place the reader on the right path to become an expert.

 Cynthia Hetherington, a licensed private investigator and President of the Hetherington Group, is a nationally known speaker and she is author of Business Background Investigations.  Michael Sankey is the founder and CEO of BRB Publications, Inc. and he is author or editor of more than 60 publications including The Sourcebook to Public Record Information and The Public Record Research TIPS Book.

The table of contents can be found at www.brbpub.com/books/toc/

Rhode Island Public Record Research Tip

There are 5 counties in Rhode Island, but there is no county recording of public records in this state. All recording is done at the town/city level at one of 39 locations. The recording officers are the town/city clerks. However, what can be confusing is that three locations bear the same name as their respective counties - Bristol, Newport, and Providence. Record searchers must keep in mind that recorded documents within these counties that can relate to property located in cities/towns other than the individual cities of Bristol, Newport, and Providence.

© excerpt from The Public Record Research TIPS Book