Goodhue County Recorder

The primary duty of the recorder is to record all deeds, mortgages, liens, and related papers in connection with real estate in Goodhue County. The County Recorder also serves as the Registrar of Titles. A document, whether for Abstract or Torrens land, has to meet certain requirements before it can be recorded.

The recording fee for Abstract and Torrens property is $46, regardless of the number of pages. For each additional document number cited over four, the fee is $10.

A Plat Recording fee of $56 may apply to the document.

A Well Disclosure Certificate is $50.

A Condition of Title/Certified Copy of Certificate of Title is $50.

Deed tax is calculated on the purchase price of the property, less any assumed mortgages and special assessments and taxes included in the purchase price. The rate of tax is $1.65 for each $500 of purchase price.
Deed tax = Sale amount x .0033

The registrar may reasonably rely on the representation of the party presenting instruments as to whether the land described in it is registered or unregistered. A party who requests that misfiled instruments be re-filed with the registrar is responsible for paying any additional fees required to properly file an instrument because of incorrect representation.

* Before sending in a document to be recorded, make sure it is dated, signed, and acknowledged. An acknowledgement should include the date, a legible notary seal, notary signature, notary commission expiration date, and names and marital status (single or husband and wife) of signatures being acknowledged. If it is a corporate acknowledgment, it needs a business name, the name of the signer, and the title of the person signing.

* The document should consist of one or more individual sheets measuring no larger than 8.5 x 14 inches. No additional sheet should be attached or affixed to a page that covers up any information or printed part of the form.

* The text should be printed, typewritten, or computer generated in black ink and a font size of at least 8 point. Do not use any white out. Documents presented for recording must be sufficiently legible to reproduce a readable copy using the County Recorder's current method of reproduction.

* Use white paper of not less than 20 pound weight with no background color or images. Provide margins of at least one half inch on the top, bottom, and each side.

* The first page should contain a blank space at the top, measuring at least 3 inches as measured from the top of the page. The right half is to be used by the County Recorder or Registrar of Titles for recording information. The left half will be used by the County Auditor or Treasurer for certification.

* The title should be displayed prominently at the top of the first page, after the top margin.

* The document must have a complete legal description.

* Any exhibits referenced in the document must be attached.

* Include the name and address of the person who drafted the instrument. This can be on the first page or at the end of the instrument.

* Provide the address where future tax statements can be sent. This can be given in the following form: "Send tax statements to: (name and address)."

* A correction document needs to have new signatures, a new acknowledgment, and a Correction Statement.

Illegible documents and those that are not able to be archived will not be recorded.


STATE DEED TAX AND CERTIFICATE OF REAL ESTATE VALUE

Instruments requiring deed tax must either state the amount of tax due or if the document is exempt.

The buyer of real property must file a Certificate of Real Estate Value with the county auditor where the property is located if the sale price (or other consideration) is greater than $1,000. This is needed for a warranty deed, contract for deed, quit claim deed, trustee deed, executor deed, or a probate deed.

If one of the following statements appears on the deed, a Certificate of Real Estate Value is not needed: "Total consideration is $500 or less," or "Total consideration is $1,000 or less."

THE NEW eCRV: As of October 2014, transfer deeds require submission of an electronic Certificate of Real Estate Value (CRV).
* 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.
* Paper copies are no longer accepted.

Payment of the current year's taxes is required when tax parcels are split or land is platted.

WELL DISCLOSURE CERTIFICATE

If a certificate of real estate value is required, a completed Well Disclosure Certificate is also required. A warranty deed completing a contract for deed must have a Well Statement signed by the buyers or a Well Disclosure Certificate with the $45 fee.

The Well Disclosure Certificate can be filed online. If there are no wells on the property, the transfer document must contain a statement attesting to this fact, such as: "The seller certifies that the seller does NOT know of any wells on the described real property."

If there are wells on the property, a completed Well Disclosure Certificate must accompany the deed when presented for recording.

If the seller can make the following statement on a transfer document, a Well Disclosure Certificate is not needed: "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."

The Well Disclosure Certificate, in addition to more information regarding the form, is available on the Minnesota Department of Health website.