Recording Standards
RECORDING STANDARDS
Ark Code 14-15-402
(b) (1) To be accepted by the county recorder for recording purposes, all documents shall:
o (A) Be on eight and one-half by eleven inch (81/2"x11") paper;
o (B) Have a two and one-half inch (2.5") margin at the right top of the first page, one-half inch (0.5") margin on the
sides and bottoms of all pages, and a two and one-half inch (2.5") margin at the bottom of the last page;
o (C) Have an area reserved on the top right of the first page for the file mark of the recorder;
o (D) Contain the following information:
(i) The title of the document; and
(ii) The name of the grantor and grantee, when applicable;
o (E) Be acknowledged or otherwise executed as permitted by § 16-47-107 or § 18-12-208; and
o (F) Be legible.
(2) (A) The county recorder shall have the discretion to waive the requirements of subdivision (b)(1) of this
section for:
(i) Good cause; and
(ii) Any document that complies with the Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act, § 14-2-301
et seq.
(B) All documents and instruments executed before January 1, 2004, shall be exempt from the
requirements of subdivision (b)(1) of this section.
(C) All surveys and plats shall be exempt from the requirements of subdivision (b)(1) of this
section.
(3) A county recorder shall not refuse to record a document that has been executed in a manner permitted by
§ 16-47-107 or § 18-12-208.
If the recorder waives the requirements of 14-15-402 (b)(1) for good cause and records your document, an
additional $25.00 fee will apply. Said fee is in addition to the regular recording fees.
Ark Code 14-15-403
The name and address of the person who prepared the instrument must appear on the first page. The name must be
either printed, typewritten, or stamped in a legible manner.
Ark Code 14-15-408
Fees for recording must be tendered before the document is recorded.
Documents must have original signatures or be certified by a court or agency of competent jurisdiction.
All deeds must have the following affidavit signed: "I certify under penalty of false swearing that documentary stamps or a
documentary symbol in the legally correct amount has been placed on this instrument." This statement must be signed by
the grantee or his agent. Any variation from this statement will result in the return of the document without recording. No
exceptions.
All deeds must have the address for the tax statement or the document will be returned.
We find that legal descriptions that have been copied and then taped onto the document are not legible when reproduced. Legal
descriptions that have been reduced to "fit" into the document are many times illegible. Any font less than eleven (11) could cause
the document to be illegible as well. Please do not fold your documents when mailing to this office, but instead mail them in large
envelopes. The creases that are made when folding can result in blacked out lines across the document when scanned. This
sometimes falls across the land description or the names of the parties, which is necessary information for proper indexing
purposes. Non-textured 20 lb. bond paper is preferred for best scanning results. Enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope
for return of documents. If your original document does not meet the above standards in allowing space for the File mark, you
may add a cover sheet. Additional charges will apply. Cover sheet must have a top margin of 2 1/2". List the type of document,
grantor(s) and grantee(s) in the middle of the document. (Example: Death Certificate)
Re-recordings: This office is not re-recording instruments unless pre-approved. Especially under the new guidelines, it makes it
difficult to re-record as once the 2 ½" margins have been filled; there is no more space available to put our recording information.
If it is necessary to re-record, you may be required to add a cover page to your document with the information as to why it is being
re-recorded and allowing additional space for the file mark as well as Certificate of Record at the end of the document. Generally,
re-recorded documents will have to have new signatures and new notary acknowledgement.