Legal Recording Requirements

Legibility
Documents must be clearly legible and capable of producing a legible microfilmed and/or imaged record.

Names Under Signature
Names must be printed or typed under all signatures except notaries and witnesses.

Notary Acknowledgement
Documents affecting title to real property must be properly acknowledged and have a legible, valid notary seal.

Title
Documents should be identified as to the type of document and dated.

Parties
All documents should have a grantor and grantee.

Drafted by Name and Address
Statute (507.091) requires the name and address of the party who drafted the document. EXCEPTIONS: Subdivision 1 does not apply to any instrument executed before January 1, 1970, nor to a decree, order, judgment or writ of any court, a will or death certificate, nor to any instrument executed or acknowledged outside of the state.

*See Document Standards for the State of Minnesota for further statutory requirements.