GOVERNOR Ralph DLG Torres on Tuesday signed into law a measure that mandates the electronic recordation of court documents.
Authored by Sen. Victor B. Hocog, Senate Bill 21-69 is now Public Law 21-39.
Aside from the transitioning of recordation from manual to electronic, the measure will also transfer from the presiding judge to the chief justice the general supervision of the Commonwealth Recorder’s Office, and will require the CNMI judiciary to promulgate rules in establishing the duties and responsibilities of the office.
P.L. 21-39 likewise states that the Commonwealth Recorder’s Office “shall maintain indexes for land transfers, mortgages, leases, judgments, and decrees affecting real property interests, and other indexes as required by court rules,” including an index for marriage records.
These indexes “shall include a summary description of the property, names of the parties and other information as required by court rules.”
All documents that must be recorded — including transfers, leases exceeding one year, and encumbrances affecting real property — must be acknowledged before a notary public or other office authorized by law to take acknowledgements and administer oaths, the new law stated.
