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Records and Licenses Office - Recording Requirements

We will make every effort to return recorded documents within ten business days of recording. Photocopies of documents are available for a fee by coming into the office or by mail. You may view documents in our office free of charge.

Recording Requirements

The original document provided for recording must be legible.

Any document that contains text not sufficiently legible to reproduce a readable photographic record will be returned without being recorded. Example: Faxed or copied documents, even with original signatures, often do not meet this requirement.

Documents requiring legal descriptions of subject real property must meet the standards set forth in ORS 93.600.

Flaps or riders must be attached to the page at the top and bottom, anything under the flap or rider will not be recorded (do not use staples or paper clips for attachments.)

All recording tickets will be placed in the upper right corner of the front page, and each document must provide sufficient space for the ticket, which measures approximately 3.25"(w) x 2.25"(h)

If there is not sufficient space for the recording ticket on the first page of the document, a recording coversheet (PDF) will be required. Coversheets must meet the ORS 205.234 requirements.

The following must be clearly labeled and shown on the first page:

• Title(s) of the document (type of transaction)

• Name(s) of parties

• Person and address to whom the document is to be returned, labeled:
  "Return to: "

• True and actual consideration (for document required under ORS 93.030 and the Benton County Code (BCC).

• Name and address where the tax statement is to be sent, labeled:
  "Mail tax statement to: " (for documents required under ORS 93.260).

• Information required for County Clerk lien records by ORS 205.125 (1)(c) and (e).

• For instruments assigning a mortgage or trust deed, the name and address of the assignee must be included.

Page Specifications

• Page size: Legal 8.5" x 14" or letter 8.5" x 11" (white). For pages smaller than 8.5" x 11", attach to an 8.5" X 11" sheet at the top and bottom (do not staple)

• Font: Black type or ink, 8 point or larger in size, Times New Roman font

• Paper weight: Sufficient to prevent bleed-through from back

• Recording ticket: First page of each document must have enough space to accommodate our 3.25"(w) x 2.25"(h) recording ticket in the upper right corner. Please note: If sufficient space is not available on your document, you will need to add a recording coversheet with the required space provided. Adding a coversheet that meets ORS 205.234 requirements will also add $5 to the recording cost of the document.

For more information, see the Oregon Revised Statutes.

Recording Fees

Non-Standard Form Fee
A $20.00 non-standard fee is added in addition to all other fees to documents except UCC's that do not meet the requirements as outlined in ORS 205.232, 205.234, 205.327.

UCC's have a non-standard fee of $10.00 if they are not on UCC-1A or UCC-3A forms approved by the Oregon Secretary of State, dated 1990 or after.

What We Don't Do

This office does not:

• Give legal advice
• Help you fill out documents
• Tell you what type of document to use

If you need help, we recommend that you contact an attorney or title company for assistance.

Note: see definitions for some of the terms used on this page.

Document Corrections

• Any document that has been previously recorded may be re-recorded to make corrections to the original document
• The first page of the corrected document must meet all of the first page requirements for recordings.
• The corrected document need not be signed by the party(ies) and acknowledged by a notary a second time.
• A certified copy of a recorded instrument may not be altered for the purpose of correcting the original instrument. The person presenting the instrument may present an unaltered certified copy of the recorded instrument when it is attached to a cover sheet authorized by ORS 205.234 (2). The cover sheet must contain the rerecording certificate to be affixed.
• The person presenting a document for re-recording shall cause a re-recording certificate statement to be affixed to the first page or cover sheet of the document. The certificate must not cover any information contained in the document and shall read as follows:

"RERECORDED AT THE REQUEST OF (person or company re-recording instrument) TO CORRECT (reason for re-recording), PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AS BOOK ____ AND PAGE___, OR AS FEE NUMBER ________________."