Bill > LD358

This bill proposes several changes to fees and procedures for registers of deeds in Maine, primarily increasing various recording and copying fees. Specifically, registers will now be required to send electronic or paper copies of property transfers to municipal assessors in their requested format, with the option to charge for paper copies. The bill establishes a new flat fee structure for recording instruments: $25 for state or municipal recordings and $35 for all other recordings, replacing the previous per-page and per-name indexing fees. Recording fees for plans will increase from $21 to $45, and paper copy fees for plans will rise from $5 to $10 per page. The bill also modifies fees for electronic image downloads from county registries, increasing the rate from 5 cents to 25 cents per image, and adjusts the free electronic image allowance from 500 to 400 images per calendar year. Additionally, the surcharge per recorded document will increase from $3 to $5, with exceptions for state agencies and municipalities. These changes aim to update and standardize fee structures for document recording and copying services, with the new provisions set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Government Affairs

https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=358&snum=132