Recording Deeds Electronically in DC

Published by Joseph Gentile on October 15, 2024October 15, 2024

Once a deed has been signed, sealed and delivered, the transfer from the grantor to the grantee takes place.  To protect the grantee’s interest in the property, the deed is recorded with the Land Records office.  This provides constructive notice that the property has transferred.  By recording the deed, another party is prevented from recording a document (a lien, judgment or even another deed) that could cloud the chain of title.  It also provides notice of who is the owner of the property.  Recording deeds electronically in DC is the fastest method of protecting the client’s interest.

The Old Way of Recording

Previously, a recording had to be physically delivered to the DC Recorder of Deeds.  These manual recordings were often met with recording delays, as the recording process required the coordination of efforts among the Recorder (i.e. the person standing in line for hours at the Recorder of Deeds to obtain the Clerk’s recording receipt) the courier/mailing service, the settlement company and the Recorder of Deed office.  The manual recording process provided only a Recorder’s receipt at the time of recording.  The recorded Instrument was mailed to the settlement company month later.

The New Way of Recording

Now with electronic recording, the recording process in DC is completed within hours of the deed signing.  The process is simplified and involves only the settlement company and the Recorder of Deeds!  The best part is the client is provided with the fully recorded document upon the completion of the recording process.  No more waiting for weeks or months. The Recorder of Deeds lists the multiple benefits of e-recording on their website.

Why Does this Matter to a Client?

It means that a deed is on record the same day or the next day and typically within hours.  This greatly reduces the risk of fraud, conflicting recordings or lost documents.  The DC Recorder of Deeds office has been at the forefront of the industry and deserves considerable praise for establishing a method to record that has been easy to use and helps protect the interests of all parties.

Gentile Property Law Office Electronically Records

Not everybody e-records, but Gentile Property Law Office recognizes the benefits of adopting e-recordings, and our clients are benefitting by knowing that their documents are recorded in the District of Columbia within hours.  This is just another example of how Gentile Property Law Office embraces technology.