1.__Paper weight and size.__All pages to be recorded must be submitted on 8-1/2-by-11-inch, white, 20-pound acid-free paper.

2.__Margins.__All pages to be recorded must have a one-inch margin, except that the top of the first page must have a 3-inch margin.

3.__Type size and style.__All pages to be recorded must be submitted with black, Times New Roman font style type that is no smaller than the equivalent of 10-point type size.

4.__Administrative information.__All administrative information must appear at the beginning of the document, except that documents may be submitted with administrative information on the left side of the top margin on the first page.__For purposes of this subsection, "administrative information" means the grantor and grantee names, the property's location by town, city or plantation, references to the original document, parcel and tax identification numbers, preparer information and information indicating to whom the document is to be returned.__ The top right side of the first page is reserved for the recorder's use.

Instruments satisfying, releasing, assigning, subordinating, continuing, amending or extending an instrument previously recorded in the county in which the recording is requested may make reference to only one previously recorded instrument.

Sec. 3. 33 MRSA §752, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 503, §1, is repealed.

Sec. 4. Effective date. This Act takes effect October 1, 2003, except that the section of this Act that repeals the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 33, section 752, subsection 4 takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the First Regular Session of the 120th Legislature.

SUMMARY

This bill sets uniform standards for registries of deeds with regard to the size, type and format of documents submitted to registries for recording. The bill also clarifies the recording methods that may be used by registries. This bill also repeals the sunset of the records preservation surcharge.