How to Register Legal Ownership Documents in Oklahoma
- 1). Determine who has the legal authority to sell a piece of land. Oklahoma statutes require a licensed abstractor to research the history of a piece of property and compile all of the documents into an abstract. The statewide realtor contracts state that the abstract will be updated and given to the buyer. This is also helpful for buyers who are not using a realtor, since the abstract can be read by an attorney to determine marketable title of a piece of property per the Oklahoma Title Examination Standards. Even if a seller has a deed to the property you want to buy, the abstract should be examined by an attorney to search for any problems that should be fixed before the sale takes place. Then the deed can be prepared correctly according to the attorney's opinion.
- 2). Obtain the correct legal document and find the address and phone number of the County Clerk, sometimes known as the County Recorder or Register of Deeds, for the county in which the property is located. In accordance with Oklahoma statutes, the document must be filed in the county in which the property is located. Otherwise, someone else can file a document and cloud the title to your property. Call the County Clerk and ask for their fees, which differ for a deed or a contract. You may have to contact the County Clerk and the County Treasurer to obtain the correct fees. Determine how payment must be made--whether by cash, check or money order.
- 3). Send the document you wish to file to the County Clerk in the appropriate county. Include payment for the appropriate departments, your contact information in case of problems and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Once your document has been filed, the County Clerk will return your original document to you with the filing information stamped on it.
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