§45-9-84.22. System of recording, archiving, and retrieving instruments and documents.

(a) The provisions of this section shall only apply in Chambers County. The purpose of this section is to facilitate the use of public records in property transactions in Chambers County by providing for the installation of an improved system of recording, archiving, and retrieving instruments and documents affecting the title to real and personal property that are recorded in the office of the judge of probate and for the recording, archiving, and retrieving of other instruments, documents, and other uses in the discretion of the judge of probate.

(b) The following words and phrases, including the plural of any thereof, whenever used in this section, shall have the following respective meanings:

(1) "Real Property Instrument" means and includes any instrument or document affecting the title to real property that may now or hereafter be filed for record in the probate office pursuant to the applicable requirements of the laws of this state, including, without limitation, Section 12-13-43, and all statutes providing for the filing and recording of notices or statements of liens of any kind, notices of judgment, and plats or maps showing subdivisions of real estate.

(2) "General Property Instrument" means a real property instrument that affects the title to personal property as well as real property.

(3) "Personal Property Instrument" means any instrument or document affecting the title to personal property only (as distinguished from real property) that may be now or hereafter required to be filed or titled for record in the probate office, in accordance with the applicable requirements of the laws of this state, including, without limitation, Sections 35-4-50 and 35-4-90.

(4) "Improved Recording System" means a system of recording real property instruments and personal property instruments in the probate office and, in the discretion of the judge of probate, of recording other instruments and documents, which system when completed, will consist of the equipment necessary and suitable to record, archive, and retrieve records.

(c) The judge of probate is hereby authorized to provide for the installation and thereafter for the maintenance of an improved recording, archiving, and retrieval system in the probate offices of Chambers County. The initial installation of the improved recording, archival, and retrieval system shall include the following:

(1) The acquisition of the equipment provided for in the definition herein above set forth of an improved recording, archiving, and retrieving system;

(2) The establishment of procedures for the continued recording, archiving, and retrieving of all instruments and records that will, after the effective installation date, constitute a part of the improved recording, archiving, and retrieving system;

(3) The initial installation of the improved recording, archiving, and retrieving system shall be performed by a person or persons, firm, or corporation engaged in the records management business and experienced in setting up county records; and such initial installation shall be supervised and inspected by a person who is experienced in handling records pertaining to abstracts or titles. Following its installation in the county, the improved recording, archiving, and retrieving system shall be thereafter maintained in the county and all real property instruments, general property instruments, personal property instruments, and other documents and records herein provided to constitute a part of the system, that may be thereafter filed for record in the probate office of the county shall be in accordance with the aforesaid improved recording, archiving, and retrieving system. Each real property instrument and each personal property instrument shall be operative as a record from the time of its delivery to the judge of probate of the county, in accordance with the provisions of existing law, including, without limitation, Section 12-13-43.

(d) Following the effective installation date, real property instruments, personal property instruments, and other documents and records provided herein to be recorded, archived, and retrieved with computer-generated files, to be stored and filed on either optical disk, or on paper (as seen fit by county), and shall constitute the official record of such instruments for the purpose of Section 12-13-43.

(e) All provisions of the laws of Alabama with respect to the recording of real property instruments, personal property instruments, general property instruments, miscellaneous instruments, and other instruments and records that may constitute part of an improved recording, archiving, and retrieving system installed hereunder, including, without limitation, the provisions of Section 12-13-43 and the provisions of all statutes respecting the filing and recording of notices or statements of liens of any kind, notices of Lis Pendens, declarations of claims or exemptions, certificates of judgment, or plats or maps showing subdivisions of real estate that are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section shall continue in effect with respect to an improved recording, archiving, and retrieving system installed hereunder, the recording of instruments therein, and the duties of the judge of probate with respect thereto.

(f) The initial installation costs shall be paid entirely out of the special recording fees. Nothing contained in this subsection, however, shall prohibit the county from using part of its own funds for the purpose of paying the cost of purchasing, operating, or maintaining, after the initial installation, any improved system installed pursuant to the provisions of this section.

(g) Effective May 29, 1997, a special recording and filing fee of five dollars ($5) shall be paid to and collected by the judge of probate, with respect to each real property instrument, each personal property instrument, and UCC that may be filed for record in the office of said judge of probate and with respect to other instruments and documents in the probate office at the discretion of the judge of probate and on and after such date, no instrument and/or document shall be received for record in the office of said judge of probate unless the special recording fee of five dollars ($5) is paid thereon. The special recording fee shall be in addition to all other fees, taxes, and charges required by law to be paid upon the filing for record of any real property instrument, personal property instrument, or UCC, and for the recording of other instruments and documents in the probate office at the discretion of the judge of probate. Any, all, or none of the special recording fee may be charged at the discretion of the judge of probate. All special recording fees so collected shall be paid into a special fund of the judge of probate. These funds shall be used at the discretion of the judge of probate for an improved recording, archiving, and retrieving system and/or other equipment, maintenance, and services necessary for the improvement of the office of the judge of probate.

(h) Effective May 29, 1997, a special transaction fee not to exceed two dollars ($2) shall be paid to and collected by the judge of probate with respect to every transaction occurring in, or under the jurisdiction of the judge of probate, this amount shall be in addition to all other costs and fees heretofore collected. The additional fee shall be paid into the special fund of the judge of probate as created in subsection (g).

(i) Effective May 29, 1997, any and all revenues generated either directly or indirectly due to the use of or access to the improved recording, archiving, and retrieving system shall be paid directly into the aforementioned special fund of the judge of probate. These funds shall be used at the discretion of the judge of probate.

(Act 97-657, p. 1245, §§1-9.)