Recording Requirements

Recording requirements are set by Utah State Code. Any instrument submitted for recording must meet the following recording requirements unless otherwise exempted by Utah State Code. When an instrument submitted for recording is accepted and recorded by the recorder's office, Utah State Code strictly prohibits any alteration, change, removal, or insertion of any new matter on, or into, that recorded instrument. It is the responsibilty of the submitter to ensure that any instrument submitted for recording is accurate, complete, and meets all applicable recording requirements under Utah State Code.

Requirements for Recording:

  1. Unless otherwise provided by law, it must be an original, certified copy, or be an electronic document that satisfies the requirements under UCA 17-21a, Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act; and have original signatures (UCA §17-21-20(2)(a)), (UCA §17-21-20(2)(g)), & (UCA §57-3-106(2)(a)(i)).

  2. It must contain a brief title, heading, or caption on the first page stating the nature of the document (UCA §17-21-20(2)(c)) & (UCA §57-3-106(2)(a)(ii)).

  3. Except as otherwise provided by statute, it must contain a legal description of the property as defined in accordance with Subsection 57-3-105(4) (UCA §17-21-20(2)(d)) & (UCA §57-3-105(2)).

  4. It must contain the names and mailing addresses of the grantees (UCA §57-3-105(3)).

  5. It must be sufficiently legible for the recorder to make certified copies (UCA §12-21-20(3)(a)(viii)) & (UCA §57-3-106(7)).

  6. It must contain a notary certificate containing the words “subscribed and sworn” or the equivalent, that is signed and certified by the officer taking the acknowledgment, proof, or jurat. Except as otherwise provided by statute, be notarized with the notary stamp with the seal legible (UCA §57-3-101(1)) & (UCA §17-21-20(2)(d)).

  7. The names of all persons whose signatures appear on the instrument must be typed or printed on the instrument just beneath that person’s signature (UCA §17-21-25(1)).

  8. When title to real property is granted to a person as a trustee, the following terms of the trust must be included: the name and address of the trustee; and the name and date of the trust (UCA §75-7-816(3)).

  9. A court judgment or an abstract of a court judgment must be an original, certified copy, or an electronic document that satisfies the requirements under UCA 17-21a, and include the information identifying the judgment debtor as referred to in Subsection 78B-5-201(4)(b) (UCA §57-3-106(3)).

  10. Judgments, abstracts of judgments, and separate information statements of the judgment creditor do not require an acknowledgment, a legal description, or notarization to be recorded (UCA §57-3-106(4)).

  11. A foreign judgment or an abstract of a foreign judgment recorded in the office of a county recorder must include the affidavit as required in Section 78B-5-303 (UCA §57-3-106(5)).

  12. To release, assign, extend or renew a judgment lien a document must include the name of any judgment creditor, debtor, assignor, or assignee; the date of recording; and the entry number and book and page of the recorded instrument creating the judgment lien (UCA §57-3-106(6)).

  13. The tax identification number of each parcel affected by the instrument, when a tax identification number is assigned, should appear on each instrument. (UCA §17-21-20(4)).

  14. Document shall be in English or be accompanied by an accurate English translation of the document (UCA §17-21-20(2)(b)).

  15. Each paper, notice, or instrument submitted for recording in the county recorder’s office shall be on white paper that is 8½ inches by 11 inches in size (UCA 17-21-20(3)(a)(i)).

  16. Have a margin of one inch on the left and right sides and at the bottom of each page (UCA §17-21-20(3)(a)(ii)).

  17. Have a space of 2½ inches down and 4 ½ inches across the upper right corner of the first page and a margin of one inch at the top of each succeeding page to provide room to affix recording data (UCA §17-21-20(3)(a)(iii)).

  18. Shall not be on sheets of paper that are continuously bound together at the side, top, or bottom (UCA §17-21-20(3)(a)(iv)).

  19. Document shall not contain printed material on more than one side of each page (UCA §17-21-20(3)(a)(v)).

  20. Printed in black ink and not have text smaller than seven line of text per vertical inch (UCA §17-21-20(3)(a)(vi)).

Instruments may be submitted for recording via mail to the Recorder's Office. An accompanying check for the appropriate recording fee must accompany the document.