§35-4-74. Necessity for including plat or description of plat book, etc.; probate judge not liable for good faith error.

(a) No instrument, other than a will, purporting to create or transfer any interest in land shall be accepted for record by a probate judge if such instrument describes the land in which such interest is to be created or transferred by reference to a plat and the plat is not attached to and made a part of the instrument or the instrument does not describe the plat book and the office in which such plat book is to be found and there is no description of the land by metes and bounds; provided, that this section shall apply only to instruments executed subsequent to July 21, 1972; provided further, that where, prior to July 21, 1972, any person has received a conveyance of land, or any interest therein, in which the land is described by reference to a plat which is not recorded and which is not available to him, this section shall not apply if the grantor or mortgagor recites in any instrument executed after July 21, 1972, that the plat is lost, destroyed or unavailable for recording.

(b) A probate judge shall not be liable in damages or for a penalty for any error or mistake in the performance of his duties under this section if committed in good faith.

(Acts 1971, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 171, p. 4422.)