Frequently Asked Questions
~ Recording ~Voting Requirements ~ Election

RECORDING
1. Who is the Grantor?
a. The grantor is the current owner, releaser or seller: the person whose name the title is currently vested in and whose name is on the tax bill sent out by the Gila County treasurer each year.

2. Who is the Grantee?
a. This is the new owner, releasee or buyer: the person who will take title and be responsible for the taxes and other assessments once deed has recorded. If adding someone to your deed, the deed will be FROM YOU and TO YOU AND THE PERSON YOU ARE ADDING.

3. What is the legal description?
a. This is your Lot and Subdivision, or the Section, Township and Range that describes your property (example: Lot 4 Block 7 of Globe Town site, Map 63, GCR or the Northeast quarter of Section 7, Township 1 North, Range 15 East). The address and/or parcel number does not serve as a legal description; if you are not sure of the correct legal description the Assessor’s office will give you the docket and page or fee number of your vesting deed; the Recorder’s office will pull a copy of that document for you.

4. Do I have to have an Affidavit of Property Value or Exemption Code?
a. State law (ARS 11-1133 & 11-1134) requires that either an Affidavit of Property Value be filled out, signed and notarized by BOTH the buyer and seller OR the applicable exemption code be written (or typed) on the face of the deed.

5. Do I have to have a notary notarize my document?
a. The Grantor(s) must date and sign the deed before a notary, who should write or type the name of the person whom he/ she is acknowledging. The Grantee(s) are not required to sign, unless they are taking title as joint tenants with rights of survivorship, or as
community property with rights of survivorship. This is because this type of tenancy will affect your rights to will your estate to your heirs: instead of 50-50, the survivor will inherit 100% of the property.

6. What are the requirements for exhibits and attachments?
a. It must be 10 point type or larger, legible and with margins. Exhibits and attachments must be marked (for example “Exhibit A”) and referenced within the body of the deed.

7. What is required for Pay off Deeds and Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure?
a. It must reference the recording information of the contract, agreement or deed of trust being paid off, released or amended by the deed. The Affidavit of Property Value is not required, but the exemption code must be noted on the front of the document.

8. What is the base recording fee?
a. The base recording fee is $14.00 for a document of up to 5 pages, additional pages are $1.00 per page, and return postage is included in the price.
Exceptions
b. Deed with Affidavit of Property value (sales, NOT transfers) $16.00 with 1 AOV, $18.00 with 2 AOV. Up to 5 pages, $1.00 per additional document page.
c. Deed into/out of trust, Disclosing Beneficiaries by name - $17.00, up to 5 pages, $1.00 per additional page.
d. Additional References - $3.00 per reference (Re-Recording fee numbers, Multiple Assignments, Releases, Mine Claims, Additional Titles like Deed of Trust AND Fixture Filing).

9. When will the documents be recorded and returned?
a. We record the document the day we receive it, if it meets statue requirements and the correct fees are included. The original document is returned to sender in approximately 3 weeks. We are required by law to hold the original until the microfiche has been received and checked; however, your document will be scanned and available online the next day.

10. How can I search for a document online?
a. You can search by:
- Date (date of Recording)
- Document type (deed, deed of release, deed of trust)
- Name of the parties, either Grantor or Grantee. Enter the last name and first initial.
- Property description – Lot and Subdivision or Section, Township & Range
- Assessor parcel number
*** If the document has not yet been indexed, you will not be able to search by name or property description, Indexing should be completed within a week of recording. Although Assessor’s parcel numbers are entered when available, many documents do not contain that information and a search using only the parcel number will probably not return all items. If you unable to locate what you are looking for please feel free to contact our office.

VOTER REGISTRATION
1. How can I find out if I am registered to vote?
a. You can call 1-800-291-4452 or (928)425-3231 ext. 8735 or 8619. When you call in you have to be able to identify yourself (last 4 digits of Social Security Number, Mothers maiden name, fathers name, etc.)
2. What precinct am I in?
a. You will need to call our office; if you have your voter registration card it will say what precinct you are in, along with what congressional, legislative and supervisor district you are in.

3. How do I change my address, party affiliation and/or name?
a. You will need to fill out a new voter registration form, they are located at the Recorder’s Office, Post offices, libraries, Motor Vehicle Division, at www.azsos.gov or Town/City Clerks Office; or you can call the recorders office and we will mail you a voter registration form.

4. How do I register to vote?
a. You can register to vote by filling out a voter registration form and mailing it in to the Recorder’s office; or you can go to www.azsos.gov and register. If this is your first time registering in Gila County you will need to show proof of citizenship.

ELECTIONS
1. How can I receive an early Ballot for an Election?
a. You can fill out the form on our website under “Early Voting Ballot Request Form”, you can call the recorders office and request one or pick up an early ballot request form at the recorders office and mail it into us or hand deliver it.

2. Where do I go to Vote?
a. Some of the polling places change each election so you will need to contact our office or you can check or website under “Polling Place Location” about a month before the election.

3. If I am disabled, how do I get assisted voting?
a. You can do “home voting” by calling our office and we will set up an appointment for a home voting team to come to your house. If you want to go to the poll, you can; we have roadside assistant available (someone will come to your car window and assist with voting), or you can vote early at the recorders office or at the polls which are all handicap accessible.

*If you have any other questions please feel free to contact our office at 1-800-291-4452 or (928)425-3231 ext 8735. *