Bulletin: DC2020002

The purpose of this Bulletin is to alert agents that effective today, March 23, 2020, the District of Columbia’s Recorder of Deeds (ROD) will only accept e-recordings. Therefore, Stewart Title Guaranty Company will ONLY insure transactions that are E-RECORDED in the District of Columbia until the time that the ROD returns to accepting documents by mail and in-person.

If you closed a transaction prior to March 23, 2020, and have already mailed the recording documents to DC ROD, we will continue to insure the transaction. If you closed a transaction prior to March 23, 2020, and have not already mailed the recording documents to DC ROD, then we highly encourage you to establish e-recording accounts and electronically complete recordings for those transactions.

If you do not have an e-recording account, we strongly suggest that you establish an e-recording account for DC. We have been told that setting up an e-recording account is relatively easy to do and takes less than an hour.

For Stewart’s national underwriting guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic see Bulletin SLS2020002 Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) here.

Additional Information from the Recorder of Deeds:

ROD will continue to process electronic recordings; and respond to email and telephone inquiries.

Online: Documents can be submitted electronically through ROD’s approved electronic vendors. For a list of approved electronic vendors, visit ROD’s website at https://otr.cfo.dc.gov/service/otr-recorder-deeds.

Email: Requests for copies of recorded documents, ROD forms, and assistance with searching ROD’s website can be directed to the supervisor of the Customer Service Unit, Daniel Altomare, via email at Daniel.altomare@dc.gov or call (202) 442-6263.

Inquiries:

Requests for assistance regarding recordation service can be directed to:

• Ida Williams, Recorder of Deeds: ida.williams@dc.gov, (202) 442-8610
• Amy Conn, Deputy Recorder: amy.conn@dc.gov, (202) 442-8607
• Franca DeCampo, Recordation Tax Specialist: francamaria.decampo@dc.gov

The real property tax payment deadline will remain March 31, 2020. Property owners have the option of paying their property taxes as follows:

• Online: https://otr.cfo.dc.gov/page/real-propertybid-tax-online-bill-payment
• In-person: Any Wells Fargo branch in the District.

For more information go to: https://otr.cfo.dc.gov/page/otr-directory.

If you have any questions relating to this or other bulletins, please contact a Stewart Title Guaranty Company underwriter.

For on-line viewing of this and other bulletins, please log onto www.vuwriter.com.