Bulletin: OH2009001

Dear Associates:

Please be advised that the Ohio Legislature has amended Ohio Revised Code Section 317.114. The legislation standardizes the requirements for recordation of documents. This code section requires the following:

1. Print size not smaller than a computer font size of ten;
2. Minimum paper size of eight and one-half inches by eleven inches;
3. Maximum paper size of eight and one-half inches by fourteen inches;
4. Black or blue ink only;
5. No use of highlighting;
6. Margins of one-inch width on each side of each page of the instrument or document;
7. A margin of one-inch width across the bottom of each page of the instrument or document;
8. A three-inch margin of blank space across the top of the first page of each instrument or document to accommodate any certification or endorsement of the county engineer, county auditor, or county recorder, as may be required by law, with the right half of that margin being reserved for the endorsement of the county recorder required by section 317.12 of the Revised Code; and
9. A one and one-half-inch margin across the top of each of the remaining pages of the instrument or document.

This section does provide for certain exceptions, including documents executed before the effective date of July 1, 2009. If a document is presented for recording that does not comply, the recorder must still accept the document, but must also charge an additional $20.00.

If you have questions relating to this bulletin, please contact Ohio Underwriting Personnel or Stewart Legal Services.

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