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The Recorder's Office in Athens records all documents that convey an interest in real estate in Athens County.
Recording Fees
Basic recording fees are $34 for the first two pages of a deed, mortgage, affidavit, agreement, annexation, easement, certificate of transfer, land contract, lease, mechanic's lien, partnership, trust document, or power of attorney. Each additional page is $8.
No. of Pages....Total Fee
1 & 2...................$34.00
3............................$42.00
4............................$50.00
5............................$58.00
6............................$66.00
7............................$74.00
8............................$82.00
9............................$90.00
10...........................$98.00
11...........................$106.00
12...........................$114.00
13...........................$122.00
14...........................$130.00
15...........................$138.00 ETC.
For a manual or typewritten recording of assignment or satisfaction or mortgage, lease, or any other marginal entry, the fee is $8.
Marginal notations for releases and assignments are $4.
If a document does not comply with guidelines, a $20 fee will apply. This is in addition to all other fees.
The auditor's per parcel transfer fee is 50 cents per parcel, and the conveyance fee is $4 per $1,000.
Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for return of recorded documents.
County recording fees are subject to change without notice. For the most current fees and further information, contact the local recorder directly.
Document Formatting Requirements
* If a signature is illegible, the person's name must be legibly printed, typewritten, or stamped underneath the signature.
* Instruments must contain a preparer's statement, which will suffice if given in the following format: 'This instrument was prepared by NAME.'
* The contents of the document need to be sufficiently legible so that their image may be captured by photographic or microphotographic processes.
* Submit an original or certified copy of an original to be recorded.
* The font size needs to be at least 10 point.
* Document should be on white paper that is at least 8.5 x 11 inches, but no larger than 8.5 x 14 inches.
* Ink should be black or blue only. Highlighting is not permitted on documents.
* On the top of the first page, there should be a blank 3 inch margin. This space is for any certification or endorsement of the county engineer, county auditor, or county recorder. The right half of this space is specifically reserved for the county recorder.
* The side and bottom margins of all pages should be 1 inch.
* On each page after the first, the top margin should be 1.5 inches.
DEEDS
* A deed shall be signed and acknowledged by the grantor before a judge, clerk of court of record, county auditor, county engineer, notary public, or mayor who shall certify the acknowledgement.
* A recorded grant, reservation, or agreement that creates an easement or a recorded lease of any interest in real property shall contain a reference by volume and page to the record of the deed under which the grantor claims title.
* Before the county auditor endorses any real property conveyance, the grantee or the grantee's representative shall submit in triplicate a statement, prescribed by the tax commissioner, and other information as the county auditor may require, declaring the value of real property, except for when the transfer is exempt.
* No deed of absolute conveyance of land or any conveyance, absolute or otherwise of minerals or mineral rights shall be recorded until the conveyance presented to the recorder bears the stamp of the county auditor stating that the conveyance has been examined and that the grantor is in compliance. After the conveyance has been presented to the county auditor, the county auditor will endorse it as 'transferred' or 'transfer not necessary.'
Until a document is recorded, it is fraudulent insofar as it relates to a subsequent bona fide purchaser of the same real estate having, at the time of purchase, no knowledge of the existence of the former deed.