The Examiner of Titles is an attorney appointed by the Judges of the District Court to act to perform the judicial, administrative and legal adviser duties, pursuant to
Minnesota Statute 508, specified in the Minnesota Land Registration Act, also known as the Torrens Act. The Examiner of Titles serves in a part-time capacity in Dakota County.
The Examiner of Titles assists the district court by examining titles and petitions, issuing reports and conducting hearings in court cases involving the registration of land titles and in court cases involving problems or disputes with land which has been previously registered.
Contact information
Stacy Lofgren
Examiner of Titles
1590 Highway 55
Hastings, MN 55033
651-437-8933
Turnaround time
Please allow for a turnaround time of two business days for your packet to be reviewed for all document approvals. The time starts the business day after your documents are received at Property Taxation & Records.
Directive processing times vary and depend on the amount of research needed. There is not a turnaround time for directive requests.
Fees
- Examiner of Titles and Deputy Examiner hourly rate: $250
- Examiner's Certificate and approvals: $170 minimum fee
- Proceeding Subsequent (not contested): $800 minimum fee
- Directive in lieu of a Proceeding Subsequent: $500 minimum fee
- Directive to remove a memorial from a Certificate of Title or correct an error in the owner name: $200 minimum fee
Documents requiring Examiner of Titles approval
The Examiner of Titles reviews and approves documents for recording, not the real estate closing. The Examiner does not review unexecuted or draft documents.- Trusts
- Probate proceedings
- Conservator, guardian, custodian deeds or court order conveying real property for a protected person
- Divorce decrees/Summary Real Estate Disposition Judgments
- Power of Attorney and Affidavit of Attorney in Fact
- Religious entities
- Bankruptcy documents
- Affidavit of Survivorship for Transfer on Death Deeds
- Documents related to Common Interest Communities (CIC) Condominiums
General requirements
- All documents submitted must be originals or certified copies.
- Certified copies should not be taken apart.
- Proofread all documents and check that the acknowledgement/verification is complete and in the correct form.
- All documents must be complete and ready to be filed (signed, dated, and notarized)
Common documents
The forms below for registered land are used for documents that require Examiner approval.
The below links contain commonly used real estate forms. Dakota County does not provide assistance in the completion of legal forms, nor does the county assume any liability for persons who attempt to complete legal documentation on their own.