Recorder’s Office Will Have Less Fees, But Costs Going Up

June 24, 2017 at 3:22 a.m.
Recorder’s Office Will Have Less Fees, But Costs Going Up
Recorder’s Office Will Have Less Fees, But Costs Going Up

By Dan Spalding-dspalding@timesuniononline.com

There’s good news and bad news with a change in policy at the Kosciusko County Recorder’s Office.

Mostly, though, Recorder Joette Mitchell says she believes a change in state law involving fee structures will be a good thing.

Beginning July 1, the fee structure used in the recorder’s office will be greatly simplified, but some fees are rising.

The existing fee structure had 21 different charges, some of which were sub-categories for additional pages and different fees for different-size pages.

The new policy reduces that to two major fees plus some other fees for services such as copying.

Whereas the existing policy for mortgages had been $14 plus $2 for each additional page, the new fee is a flat $55.

While that sounds like a dramatic increase, Mitchell points out that mortgage paperwork often includes at least 14 pages, meaning the recipients had still been paying fees that almost always totaled at least $46.

Other documents will carry a fee of $25.

Other remaining fees involve Uniform Commercial Code filings, which involve commercial transactions, and UCC searches. A UCC filing will be $6 for two pages or less and $10 for three or more pages, according to paperwork provided by the county department.

The existing charge for a UCC filing was $9 plus $13 for three pages or more.

While some of the fees are more expensive, Mitchell says the new policy removes a lot of the guesswork for customers.

“It is going to be a shock for private individuals. That’s one reason why we want to get this out there,” Mitchell said.

“While I kind of dread the effect on private people who come in, it makes it simpler for attorneys, lending institutions and title companies,” she said.

Among the special fees eliminated are conforming fees and additional cross referencing fees.

The legislation was sponsored by State Sen. Rodric Bray and supported by Sen. Blake Doriot, a former surveyor from Elkhart County.

The request for a more predictable fee schedule was initiated by recent federal regulations imposed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Indiana is now the 10th state to enact such legislation, a state senate news release said.

The legislation had the support of numerous groups, including the Association of Indiana Counties, the state attorney general and the Indiana Land Title Association.

Mitchell said she believes the fee changes are the first in about 17 years.

“While the cost has stayed the same, the cost of doing business has not,” Mitchell said. “It will help our office quite a bit.”

There’s good news and bad news with a change in policy at the Kosciusko County Recorder’s Office.

Mostly, though, Recorder Joette Mitchell says she believes a change in state law involving fee structures will be a good thing.

Beginning July 1, the fee structure used in the recorder’s office will be greatly simplified, but some fees are rising.

The existing fee structure had 21 different charges, some of which were sub-categories for additional pages and different fees for different-size pages.

The new policy reduces that to two major fees plus some other fees for services such as copying.

Whereas the existing policy for mortgages had been $14 plus $2 for each additional page, the new fee is a flat $55.

While that sounds like a dramatic increase, Mitchell points out that mortgage paperwork often includes at least 14 pages, meaning the recipients had still been paying fees that almost always totaled at least $46.

Other documents will carry a fee of $25.

Other remaining fees involve Uniform Commercial Code filings, which involve commercial transactions, and UCC searches. A UCC filing will be $6 for two pages or less and $10 for three or more pages, according to paperwork provided by the county department.

The existing charge for a UCC filing was $9 plus $13 for three pages or more.

While some of the fees are more expensive, Mitchell says the new policy removes a lot of the guesswork for customers.

“It is going to be a shock for private individuals. That’s one reason why we want to get this out there,” Mitchell said.

“While I kind of dread the effect on private people who come in, it makes it simpler for attorneys, lending institutions and title companies,” she said.

Among the special fees eliminated are conforming fees and additional cross referencing fees.

The legislation was sponsored by State Sen. Rodric Bray and supported by Sen. Blake Doriot, a former surveyor from Elkhart County.

The request for a more predictable fee schedule was initiated by recent federal regulations imposed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Indiana is now the 10th state to enact such legislation, a state senate news release said.

The legislation had the support of numerous groups, including the Association of Indiana Counties, the state attorney general and the Indiana Land Title Association.

Mitchell said she believes the fee changes are the first in about 17 years.

“While the cost has stayed the same, the cost of doing business has not,” Mitchell said. “It will help our office quite a bit.”
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