Section 65.04.040. Method for recording instruments—Marginal notations—Arrangement of records.

Any state, county, or municipal officer charged with the duty of recording instruments in public records shall record them by *record location number in the order filed, irrespective of the type of instrument, using a process that has been tested and approved for the intended purpose by the state archivist.

In addition, the county auditor or recording officer, in the exercise of the duty of recording instruments in public records, may, in lieu of transcription, record all instruments, that he or she is charged by law to record, by any electronic data transfer, photographic, photostatic, microfilm, microcard, miniature photographic or other process that actually reproduces or forms a durable medium for so reproducing the original, and which has been tested and approved for the intended purpose by the state archivist. If the county auditor or recording officer records any instrument by a process approved by the state archivist it shall not be necessary thereafter to make any notations or marginal notes, which are otherwise required by law, thereon if, in lieu of making said notations thereon, the auditor or recording officer immediately makes a note of such in the general index in the column headed "remarks," listing the record number location of the instrument to which the current entry relates back.

Previously recorded or filed instruments may be processed and preserved by any means authorized under this section for the original recording of instruments. The county auditor or recording officer may provide for the use of the public, media containing reproductions of instruments and other materials that have been recorded pursuant to the provisions of this section. The contents of the media may be arranged according to date of filing, irrespective of type of instrument, or in such other manner as the county auditor or recording officer deems proper.

[ 1996 c 229 § 3; 1991 c 26 § 5; 1985 c 44 § 16; 1967 c 98 § 2; 1959 c 254 § 1; 1919 c 125 § 1; RRS § 10602.]

NOTES:

*Reviser's note: The definition "record location number" was changed to "recording number" by 1999 c 233 § 10.

Fees for recording instruments: RCW 36.18.010.

State archivist: RCW 40.14.020.

1996 c 229 § 3; 1991 c 26 § 5; 1985 c 44 § 16; 1967 c 98 § 2; 1959 c 254 § 1; 1919 c 125 § 1; RRS § 10602.