BRB's Public Records Blog

Louisiana Parish Recorders Modifying Fees 8-1-2017

Senate Bill 236, which became Act 173 was signed by the Governor on June 12, 2017. This Act makes some extensive changes for filing and recording documents, including certification of records charged by the Clerks of the District Court as ex officio recorders. Changes are effective as of August 1, 2017.

Certification Fee

The certification fee for a recorded document is increasing from $5.00 to $10.00. Note that although Act 173 is very specific that the changes apply only to recorded documents, a number of District Court Clerks have indicated to us that they are also raising the court record certification fee from $5.00 to $10.00. If you would like a list of these courts, please email [email protected].

Filing and Recording Fees

The fee for filing and recording document changes from:

• $25.00 per book for the first page and $10.00 for each subsequent page per book up to ten pages or $8.00 per page if exceeding 10 pages

To the following:

• For one to five page documents, one hundred dollars.
• For six to twenty-five page documents, two hundred dollars.
• For twenty-six to fifty page documents, three hundred dollars.
• For documents in excess of fifty pages, three hundred dollars for first 26 fifty pages and five dollars for each subsequent page.

This includes up to 10 names indexed, a certified copy, and the LCRAA Portal Fee. For indexing of all documents filed for record for each name after the tenth name that is required to be indexed, five dollars per name.

West Virginia Fee Increases for Driving Records

Effective August 1, 2017, the fee for an electronic driving record (obtained using WV.Gov, an NIC Affiliate) will increase from $11.50 to $12.50.

Previously the electronic driving record had increased from $9.00 to $11.50 effective July 1st. Also effective July 1st, West Virginia increased the fee for a manually obtained driving record from $6.00 to $7.50 if the name and DL number are presented. If the DL is not presented, the fee is one dollar higher at $8.50. There is no longer a $1.00 fee added for certification. The fee for a driver to obtain his or her own record online increased from $9.00 to $13.50.

Many thanks to Ms. Kim Bishop at HireRight for clarifying the status of the electronic fees, as the folks at WV.gov refused to respond to any of our fee questions.

Oregon Proposing Significant Fee Increases to Court Data Online System

The Oregon Judicial Case Information Network (OJCIN) is proposing a new, higher fee schedule that categorizes seven different types of subscribers with seven different monthly fee schedules. Four of the seven categories deal with the size of a law firm with monthly fees ranging for $40 to $90. The fifth category deals with title companies and collection companies and has a $215 monthly fee.

The sixth category, called Data Resellers, has proposed a $1,500 monthly fee and monthly bulk downloads for $575. A Reseller is defined as a subscriber who:

"...accesses the OJCIN system through an automated or programmatic data/retrieval/collection interface (screen scraper, bot, etc.) or who uses OJCIN data either through a bulk data download or real-time online data as part of a commercial integration, bi-directional data exchange, reporting solution, data aggregation, data mining solution, third-party API or web service offering, or multi-jurisdictional and/or national database solution."

The last category is "all other individual or organizations" and has a set fee of $40.00 per month plus $50.00 per month for document image access.

OJCIN Sent Initial Notices Classifying Many Entities as Resellers

Do not be alarmed if you are a current subscriber who pulls minimal records and received a notice that your firm is classified as a Reseller. OJCIN has limited information on file for each subscriber and is doing a best guess effort on the initial classification. If you feel you have been wrongly classified, send a letter and explain your situation.  OJCIN is concerned about properly classifying current subscribers before the final classification determinations are sent to subscribers in August. 

 

Public May Submit Comments on Revised Fees 

The Oregon Judicial Department opened a public comment period on the OJCIN revised fees. Comments on the proposed fee schedule must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. on July 31, 2017.

 

To view the Preliminary Order including all proposed fees, see:

www.courts.oregon.gov/services/online/Documents/OJCIN/CJO%2017-037.pdf.

For the Procedure on Providing Comments, see:

www.courts.oregon.gov/services/online/Documents/OJCIN/CJO%2017-036.pdf.

Details on Tennessee's Switch to New Online Access for Driver and Vehicle Records

The access for commercial online record services in Tennessee switched to a new online access system effective April 1, 2017.  The processing of records is now under the Department of Finance & Administration and requesters must open an account at TN.gov.

New requesters must still be approved by the Department of Safety, complete a Network Registration Agreement, and be authorized per DPPA. The fee for a three-year driving record is $7.50, an increase of $.50. Subscribers may also verify driver license status (name, DOB, address and DL expire date) for $1.25 per search, plus if approved, requesters may obtain vehicle title and registration records for $2.00 per search.

The information about the new service is somewhat hard to find on the Tennessee web page, plus content regarding the former system is still showing live on web pages. For questions or more information on the new system, see https://apps.tn.gov/paams/, or call 888-890-8183, or email [email protected].

Los Angeles - Probate Filing

Effective June 5, 2017, the Los Angeles Superior Court will mandate electronic filing (efiling) of all documents filed in the Probate Division except for the following:

1. Peremptory challenges or challenges for cause of a judicial officer (CCP §170.6 or 170.1)
2. Original testamentary instruments (wills & codicils), letters, original trust documents, and bond or undertaking documents
3. Trial and hearing exhibits
4. Documents filed in civil cases that are related for handling in the probate division
5. Lodged documents 

Indiana Recording Fees Changing

Effective as of July 1, 2017, per passage of Senate Bill 505 the recording fees performed by the local county recorders have been greatly simplified into a predictable fee structure. The new fees will essentially create a flat rate of $55.00 per mortgage document and $25.00 for deeds and all other instruments. Additional pages exceeding 8.5" x 14" will incur a $5.00 fee page. The previous schedule was much more complicated and included a $20.00 fee on any document exceeding 8.5 x 14. The cost to record a UCC will decrease by $3.00.

Record copies, certification fees, and search fees essentially remain the same, but these fees have been known to be set by the local recorder. In general, the fee is $1.00 for copies up to 11" x 17" and $5.00 of larger than 11" x17."  A record search fee is usually either $5.00 or $10.00 per name. The UCC search fee seems to also vary by county; some counties charge $7.00 per name and others $10.00 per name.

A copy of the new fee schedule as presented by Benton County is viewable here.