Dakota County uses the document standards for property records outlined in Minnesota Statute 507.093.
To make sure your documents meet these standards, make sure to check the following before sending documents to be recorded.
For all documents
- The document is dated.
- The document is signed.
- Acknowledgment needs are met. This includes:
- Date
- Legible notary seal
- Notary signature
- Notary commission expiration date
- Names and marital status (single, married and to whom, or husband and wife, if not in heading) of signatures being acknowledged.
- Business name, who signs and their titles (if corporate acknowledgment)
- Complete legal description is given. (Do not use tax description. Contact Property Taxation & Records for complete legal description.)
- Exhibits are attached. Attached exhibits must be referenced in the document.
- Drafting statement is included with full name and address.
- Filing fees are paid.
Whiteout is unacceptable on any legal document.
For transfer deeds
- The state deed tax is paid. (Purchase price multiplied by .0033 equals the deed tax in Dakota County)
- Certificate of Real Estate Value is completed.
- A grantee's name and address is included for tax statement purposes.
- Delinquent taxes are paid (if any).
- Current taxes are paid (if split in tax parcel).
- For values of $3,000 or less, please enclose $1.65 for deed tax and write “Total consideration for this transfer is $3,000 or less” on the deed. A Certificate of Real Estate Value (CRV) is not required. For values of more than $3,000, complete and submit an eCRV (Minnesota Statute 272.115).
- Complete well disclosure information. If wells on the property, complete Well Certificate and include $50 fee.
- Married people must be joined by spouse as grantor, sign and be acknowledged.
- Warranty Deed completing a Contract for Deed must have a well statement signed by the buyers or a Well Certificate with the $50 fee.
- For transfer documents and mortgages, an agricultural conservation fee of $5 is due and payable to: Dakota County Property Taxation & Records.
For correction documents
- Correction documents need new signatures and new acknowledgement along with a correction statement.
Unrecorded returned documents
Documents can be returned without recording if:
- There are delinquent real estate taxes due.
- The drafting statement is missing.
- The deed tax is incorrect.
- The mortgage registration tax is incorrect.
- The legal description is incorrect or questionable when compared to records.
- The Certificate of Real Estate Value (CRV) or CRV is missing or not complete.
- The name and address of where to mail future tax statements is missing.
- Notary acknowledgment is not complete.
- The recording fee is incorrect.
- Well information is missing from a transferring document.