Arizona County Developing Remote Recording via Kiosk
October 13, 2009
The Maricopa County Recorder’s Office is bringing a new spin to the term “electronic recording.” Maricopa County is the largest county in Arizona and reports that 72 percent of all documents presented are recorded electronically.
County Recorder Helen Purcell plans to soon provide the public the option of recording a document via an interactive Kiosk. A computer terminal with touch screen capability, document scanner and printer, as well as a communication device and camera will be housed in Kiosk units. The public will be permitted to record documents via the Kiosk while in direct communication with an employee in the recorder’s office.
A monitoring system will notify a designated employee in the recorder’s office when a customer approaches the Kiosk. The employee will instruct the customer on how to proceed, requiring the customer to first consent to the Kiosk Trusted Submitter Memorandum of Understanding. By agreeing to this memorandum of understanding, the customer is stating that the purpose for recording is not to commit fraud or forgery and the document is an original. After so agreeing, the customer is permitted to record the document(s), paying required fees by credit card or pre-established account with the recorder’s office.
Purcell points out that placing these units in central and remote locations will help eliminate the need for the public to drive into the city to conduct business with the recorder’s office. The Kiosk units will provide the ability to purchase recorded copies and will also include elections information. A win/win for the public and the environment, as new efficiencies are created by the Maricopa County Recorder’s office.
This information was provided by Ardis Schmitt, Education Coordinator, Property Records Industry Association
Contact ALTA at 202-296-3671 or [email protected].