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Register of Deeds

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1. Where is the Register of Deeds Office located?

The office is located in the County Office Building at 110 Courthouse Plaza (at the corner of 5th and Humboldt streets), Manhattan, Kansas, on the second floor, Room #B202.

2. Does the document need to be an original?

The document being recorded must have original signatures except in the case of certified copies from certain courts and the Bureau of Vital Statistics for Death Certificates

3. Must signatures be notarized?

Yes.

4. What happens when a document is brought to the Register of Deeds Office for recording?

There are a number of steps that each document goes through before it is returned to the filer. It must first be determined whether the document is recordable and if correct fees are enclosed. The document is given a book and page, entered into the computer, information verified, scanned and most original documents are returned to the customer. UCC Filings do not apply to this condition, please contact us for further instructions or questions in this matter.

5. Who keeps the documents?

Once a document is recorded, it is returned to the filer. A digital copy is kept at the Register of Deeds office and a microfilmed copy is sent to the salt mines in Hutchinson.

6. How much does it cost to record a document?

Recording fees are set by Kansas Statute. See the fee schedule.

7. Where does the money for recording go?

Most of the fees collected by the Register of Deeds go into the county general fund. The exceptions are the fees collected for the Kansas Heritage Trust Fund which help fund preservation projects across Kansas and the Technology Fund which is a special fund for the Register of Deeds office for the preservation of records.

8. How far back do the records in the Register of Deeds Office go?

The earliest records in the Register of Deeds office, transcribed by hand in elaborate manuscript, date back to September 1857. Among the early records are the Patent Deeds recorded after settlers acquired land from the United States government.

9. How is all that paper tracked?

Currently copies of the images of all records back to June 1953 are available on the computers. All other records back to 1853 are available on paper copies or microfilm copies. A sophisticated software package has been implemented to track all new recordings and records back to July 1985.

10. What information do I need to obtain a copy of my deed?

Generally most documents can be located by simply giving us the name on the document. Other information you may be requested to give is the address of the property, a legal description and approximate recording date.

11. What is a lien?

A lien allows a creditor a way of preventing property from being sold or mortgaged until a debt against the property is paid. There are many types of liens such as tax liens and mechanics liens. Mechanic liens are filed in the Clerk of the District Court.

12. Can I get someone to do research for me?

We will do basic research for questions such as: who owns a particular address; has the mortgage against my property been released, etc. You must do in depth research in our office using our public access computers or go through title companies, attorneys, search companies, etc.

13. Can I find out who owns a particular piece of property?

All parcels of land in Riley County are listed in the computer along with the current owner of record. A call or visit to the Register of Deeds Office with an address, legal description, etc. will allow us to look that information up for you. Another valuable tool is the Riley County GIS Website www.gis.rileycountyks.gov. You can locate parcel ownership, subdivisions, land sections, etc.

14. Are there liens against my property?

The records in the Register of Deeds office will list liens such as mortgages, Uniform Commercial Code filings, state and federal tax liens filed against both real and personal property. But not all liens are filed in this office, you may wish to check with the Clerk of the District Court for other liens

15. What is meant by "indexes"?

An index is a system by which each real estate record is listed in a specific place that applies to a specific subdivision, or section, township and range. This enables us to track the history of each parcel back as far as necessary.

16. How do I find information about easements on my property?

You may come to our office and attempt to locate easements on a property by searching the indexes for your property. Our records will show any easements that have been recorded in our office. Some easements are also recorded on deeds and may not be easily located. Easements are often difficult to find because many of them have not been recorded in our office. The services of a lawyer or abstract company may be required to sort through easement issues.

17. Can I find out how old my house is or get historical information about my house?

Not in our office. The Appraiser's office may have some information regarding the date a house was built. For more detailed information, you might try contacting the Riley County Historical Society.

18. Where else can I look if I cannot find the information in your office?

You may find records in the Clerk of the District Court concerning probate, marriage, divorce records, etc. The Kansas Department of Vital Statistics has records concerning birth and death records. The Riley County Genealogical Library may be able to help you in doing genealogy research.

19. What was the sale price for a particular property?

The County Appraiser collects sales information which is used for property valuation purposes and is not open to public inspection.

20. Can the Register of Deeds office tell me if I have a good and clear title?

No. You must enlist the services of a professional title company or abstractor who search records other than those in the Register of Deeds Office to determine if the title is clear.

21. Is everything handled in the Register of Deeds office public record?

Everything recorded in the Register of Deeds Office is regulated by the Kansas Open Records Act.

22. Can I get a copy of a birth or death certificate through the Register of Deeds Office?

No. Copies of birth and death certificates may be obtained through the Kansas Office of Vital Statistics.

23. How do I record or get a copy of my military discharge?

When soldiers are discharged, the military encourages the discharged member to record the military discharge papers, also known as DD214's, with our office. If you choose to record your DD214, you may bring it into our office where it will become part of the permanent record. There is no fee for this service. We must have the original discharge form which reflects the discharge status. At the time of recording or any time after that, you may request certified copies at no additional charge (for up to five copies). If you come into our office, we can make copies while you wait.

24. What is a deed?

A deed is an instrument through which a buyer obtains title to the property being sold. There are many types of deeds. The most common type of deed is a warranty deed. (See the Glossary of Terms.)

25. Do I need to record my deed?

A deed should be recorded as soon as possible after the transaction takes place. Numerous legal problems could arise regarding the property if not recorded. However, there is no time limit on recording deeds.

26. May I record a document for real estate for another county?

No, each county records only the documents pertaining to the real estate in their county.

27. I want to take someone's name off my deed or change the names of the owners on my property. Can I change the deed?

No. Any change in ownership generally requires that a new deed be recorded. Exceptions to this rule may result either from court cases (i.e. divorces, foreclosures, probate, etc.) or from deaths where certain legal verbiage exists in the document and a death certificate has been recorded in our office. In these cases, the deed itself will not change even though ownership does. Evidence of ownership exists in the combination of the related documents.

28. If I sell a portion of my land, do I get a deed for the remainder?

No. Records in the Courthouse show your original deed and the deed(s) for portions sold.

29. May I make out my own deed?

Yes you may, however, we always recommend consulting an attorney regarding property transfers and changes, because minor changes in the wording of the document can completely change the legal meaning of the document. The Register of Deeds office is a recording agency only, we cannot make out deeds or answer questions regarding legal matters.

30. If I want to write my own deed, do you have standard deed forms available?

No. The Register of Deeds does not provide forms for documents to be filed. See our forms section for attachments that may be required with certain documents.

31. What if I lose my deed?

The primary evidence of ownership of land is not so much the deed itself as the recording of the deed. If a property is mortgaged, the financial institution may hold the deed until the mortgage is satisfied. If your deed is lost, a certified copy may be obtained from our office.

32. How long does it take to record a document?

A document is generally recorded the same day it is received. It then takes another 1 to 2 days to complete the process of checking data entry, scanning, etc. The original is then returned to the filer with the exception of UCC's which are retained in the Register of Deeds office. A copy of a file stamped UCC is returned only if the originator sends more than one copy when filing the original.

33. What types of documents can I file in the Register of Deeds Office?

See the "Types of Documents Filed" section for a list of the most common types of documents recorded. If you have a question as to whether you can record a particular document, please contact the Register of Deeds office for clarification.