Simplifile Selected to Develop Maryland E-recording Pilot
December 4, 2014
The Maryland Judiciary has selected Simplifile to develop an electronic recording system for the Baltimore County Circuit Court’s e-recording pilot, which will begin next spring and give customers the ability to record land record documents online.
The pilot project, which will begin testing in January, will enable recording customers to conveniently and securely e-record land record documents, expediting the turnaround time for recorded documents and reducing overall paper and mailing expenses.
“After months of research and a competitive bidding process and evaluation, the e-recording company Simplifile has been chosen to develop the pilot,” the Maryland Judiciary Office of Communications and Public Affairs stated in a press release.
Currently, those who want to record land documents in Maryland must go to several locations to move documents through the Department of Assessments and Taxation, local finance offices, and courthouses, but with the e-recording pilot underway, that process will be streamlined into an electronic process.
“Simplifile understands the workflow process unique to Maryland that includes involving related agencies, and they will configure the system accordingly,” said Barbara Hansman, project manager, Judicial Information Systems.
The scope of the pilot will be limited at first to deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, releases and certificates of satisfaction, and a few others. Over time, more document types will be added.
“The true scope goes far beyond electronic recording and can bring about a more accurate and efficient way to transfer real property. Documents will be integrated with the existing land records system, ELROI, and after verification, they will transfer to the Maryland State Archives for permanent preservation and public access,” said State Court Administrator Pamela Q. Harris.
The e-recording pilot is a collaborative effort by the Judiciary’s Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), the Baltimore County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office, Baltimore County Department of Budget and Finance, and Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation.
Simplifile is developing the system at no cost to the Judiciary, Baltimore County or the state.
Maryland is the 45th U.S. state to begin e-recording with Simplifile. Baltimore County will join Simplifile’s network of more than 1,170 e-recording jurisdictions nationwide.
The fourth pillar of ALTA’s “Title Insurance and Settlement Company Best Practices” addresses recording procedures to ensure compliance with the settlement process. Implementing a tracking mechanism is helpful in providing a record of what documents were sent, when they were sent and method of delivery. The use of e-recording can aid in the implementation and documentation of procedures.
Contact ALTA at 202-296-3671 or communications@alta.org.