(a)  In this section, “paper document” means a document that is received by the recorder of deeds in a form that is not electronic.

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Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 34-13.2-4

  • Document: means information that is:

    (i)  Inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form; and

    (ii)  Eligible to be recorded in the land records maintained by the recorder of deeds. See Rhode Island General Laws 34-13.2-2

  • Electronic: means relating to technology having electrical, digital, magnetic, wireless, optical, electromagnetic, or similar capabilities. See Rhode Island General Laws 34-13.2-2
  • Precedent: A court decision in an earlier case with facts and law similar to a dispute currently before a court. Precedent will ordinarily govern the decision of a later similar case, unless a party can show that it was wrongly decided or that it differed in some significant way.
  • Recorder of deeds: means the officer who has authority under state law to accept documents for recording in the land records office. See Rhode Island General Laws 34-13.2-2
  • State: means the state of Rhode Island. See Rhode Island General Laws 34-13.2-2

(b)  A recorder of deeds:

(1)  Who implements any of the functions listed in this section shall do so in compliance with the most recent standards and best practices.

(2)  May receive, index, store, archive, and transmit electronic documents.

(3)  May provide for access to, and for search and retrieval of, documents and information by electronic means.

(4)  Who accepts electronic documents for recording shall continue to accept paper documents as authorized by state law and shall place entries for both types of documents in the same index.

(5)  May convert paper documents accepted for recording into electronic form.

(6)  May convert into electronic form information recorded before the recorder of deeds began to record electronic documents.

(7)  May accept electronically any fee or tax that the recorder of deeds is authorized to collect pursuant to § 34-13-7.

(8)  May agree with other officials of other cities or towns within the state on procedures or processes to facilitate the electronic satisfaction of prior approvals and conditions precedent to recording and the electronic payment of fees and taxes.

History of Section.
P.L. 2018, ch. 101, § 1; P.L. 2018, ch. 113, § 1.