Aitkin County Recorder

The primary responsibilities of the Recorder's Office are to receive real property documents for filing and to maintain an index to the reproductions of all previously filed documents. These responsibilities apply to both Abstract and Registered (Torrens) property located in Aitkin County. Examples of common documents include Deeds, Contracts, Mortgages, and Satisfactions, but many other types of documents that reference real property are also filed.

To record a document generally is $46. Additional pages of a document do not result in additional fees. Some exceptions may apply.

A fee of $50 is due to record a well disclosure certificate.

TAXES
State Deed Tax - purchase price times .0033 (Payable to Aitkin County Treasurer)

Mortgage Registration Tax: Mortgage amount times .0023 (Payable to Aitkin County Treasurer)
When there is no consideration or the consideration is $500 or less (exclusive of the value of any lien or encumbrance remaining at the time of sale), the tax is $1.65.

Aitkin County does NOT have a conservation fee.

All fees must be paid on SEPARATE CHECKS. Checks for combined fees cannot be accepted.
- Recording fees: to Aitkin County Recorder.
- Mortgage registration tax: to Aitkin County Treasurer
- State deed tax: to Aitkin County Treasurer
- Property taxes: to Aitkin County Treasurer and must be presented to that office rather than to the recorder.

To ensure same day recording, deliver documents as early as possible or call ahead. Documents received after 1 p.m. may be filed the next business day unless prior arrangements are made.

The county recorder will rely on the party submitting a document as to whether the land is registered or unregistered. If a party requests that a document be re-filed because it was misfiled, the submitting party is responsible for the payment of additional fees that are required to properly file the instrument.

STATEWIDE DOCUMENTS STANDARDS (Minnesota Statutes as of July 31, 2014):

- The document shall consist of one or more individual sheets measuring no larger than 8.5 inches by 14 inches.

- The form of the document shall be printed, typewritten, or computer generated in black ink and the form of the document shall not be smaller than 8-point type.

- The document shall be on white paper of not less than 20-pound weight with no background color or images and, except for the first page, shall have a border of at least one-half inch on the top, bottom, and each side.

- The first page of the document shall contain a blank space at the top measuring three inches, as measured from the top of the page, and a border of one-half inch on each side and the bottom. The right half of the blank space shall be reserved for recording information and the left half shall be reserved for tax certification. Any person may attach an administrative page before the first page of the document to accommodate this standard. The administrative page may contain the document title, document date, and, if applicable, the grantor and grantee, and shall be deemed part of the document when recorded.

- The title of the document shall be prominently displayed at the top of the first page below the blank space referred to in clause (4), or on the administrative page.

- No additional sheet shall be attached or affixed to a page that covers up any information or printed part of the form.

- A document presented for recording must be sufficiently legible to reproduce a readable copy using the county recorder's or registrar of title's current method of reproduction.

COUNTY REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL DOCUMENTS:
- All documents submitted must be dated and signed.

- The acknowledgment needs a date, a legible notary seal, a notary signature, and the expiration date of the notary's commission.

- Marital status must be indicated with specific details as follows: "A Single Person", "Husband & Wife", "Divorced and not remarried", "Widowed and not remarried", etc. Marital status of only "Married" is ambiguous and unacceptable.

- Document must contain a complete legal description. The brief legal description used on tax statements is not sufficient.

- The preparer's statement must include name & address.

- White-out is unacceptable and may prevent accurate digital reproduction of document.

- When a document is delivered for recording please note the following (preferably on your cover letter): telephone number in case there are questions; address of where to return document after recording process. (Abstract documents usually take about two weeks, Torrens documents take longer depending on workload.) Also indicate whether a document is to be recorded in "Abstract" or "Torrens" and give the specific recording order if multiple documents are being filed.

- Contact office before mailing Torrens documents, there may be additional requirements.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR TRANSFER DEEDS:

- As of October 2014, transfer deeds require submission of an electronic Certificate of Real Estate Value (CRV). Paper copies are no longer accepted. Note the electronic CRV number on document. See below for further instructions.

- If applicable, a statement regarding "Total consideration for this transfer is $500 or less." (State Deed Tax in this case will be the minimum of $1.65)

- Tax Statement: Include the name & address of person to receive the Tax Statement. All delinquent taxes must be paid before a property can be transferred. If split in tax parcel, all current taxes must be paid and split must be previously approved.

- Completed Well Certificate and $50.00 fee (payable to Aitkin County Recorder) OR one of the statements that apply:
"The Seller certifies that the seller does not know of any wells on the described real property."
OR "I am familiar with the property described in this instrument and I certify that the status and the number of wells on the described real property have not changed since the last previously filed well disclosure certificate."

- Correction Documents need to have new signatures, new acknowledgements, and a correction statement.

HOW DOES THE NEW eCRV WORK?
* Submitters fill in the online eCRV form and receive an eCRV ID number.
* They must reference this eCRV ID number when presenting the deed to the county.
* Counties view eCRV data online, verify, and add additional information. They may also download or upload data as needed.