Real Estate

Legal instruments such as warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, etc., that convey title from one property owner to a new owner, are usually drafted by attorneys, or paralegals or legal secretaries under the supervision of an attorney.

The forms used for various deeds are available at office supply businesses in Dodge County. These office suppliers should provide you with the standard document format required by State law as of September 1, 1996. Black ink must be used so that the document will scan properly.

The grantor and grantee (seller and buyer) must be identified on the deed. The grantor's signature, which has been notarized, and a legal description of the property being conveyed must also be on the deed. The return address of the person who is to receive the deed after it has been recorded is required. The parcel identification number (PIN), found on the property tax bill, must be placed on the document under the return address. Only the original deed with original signatures may be recorded with the Register of Deeds — not photocopies.

The moment that a correctly prepared deed is handed from one owner to the next is the moment of actual conveyance. It is wise to protect your interest by recording the deed with the Register of Deeds. The recording fee is $30 per deed.

A Wisconsin Real Estate Transfer Receipt must accompany a deed for it to be recorded in the office of the Register of Deeds. You file a Wisconsin Real Estate Transfer Return electronically online with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. The instructions and the return are available on the website. The transfer return form must be filled out entirely, the fee to be paid (if any) and the recording fee must accompany the deed and the transfer return receipt when you mail it or bring it in for recording. If you have any questions about filling out the Transfer Return, please contact the Wisconsin Department of Revenue or call the Dodge County Register of Deeds 920-386-3720.

If you have any questions regarding filling out the deed form, contact your attorney.

If you wish to record legal documents affecting real estate such as deeds, land contracts, mortgages, satisfactions and assignments, you will need to use a form which conforms to the Wisconsin standard document format. Most office supply firms offer forms which do meet the requirements of Wisconsin Statute 59.43(2m).

Use of the standard document format helps to assure that important pieces of information are not inadvertently omitted, that the document is legible, and that it is properly indexed. Use of the standard document format also makes processing and retrieval more efficient.

Most states in the Midwest require some type of standard document format. If you are from a state outside of Wisconsin, you may add a cover-sheet to your document to make it conform to the Wisconsin standard document format. You can print or type the document title, return address, and parcel identification number in the proper locations and attach the cover-sheet to the front of your document so that it becomes the first page.  Every Wisconsin County Register of Deeds will have cover sheets available in their offices.

Standard Document Form 

Requirements of the standard document format are as follows:

• The upper right hand corner of the document must be completely blank (at least 3” by 3”) for our official recording stamp.
• The name and return address must be either (1) directly under the recording area, or (2) on the left side of the page and within the top 3 inches.
• The parcel identifier number must be placed directly under the return address.
• The title of the document must be within the top 3 inches of the page but not in the 3 by 3 inch corner left blank for our recording stamp.
• The entire document must be legible and reproducible.
• The paper is white, standard weight, and letter or legal-sized.
• The ink is black so that the document will scan properly.
• The top margin is a minimum of 1/2 inch for every page. Other margins are minimum of 1/4 inch.
• The pages are not hinged.

Remember, you still need:

• Complete legal descriptions if the document refers to specific parcels of land.
• Original signatures notarized or authenticated.
• Proper fees accompanying the document.
• Name of the document drafter.
• Wisconsin Real Estate Transfer Return (completed and with proper fee or exemption #) for deeds and land contracts. 

Standard Document Form

Instructions for filling out the Wisconsin Real Estate Electronic Transfer Return and the eRETR (electronic transfer return) are available through the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.

If you have questions about the eRETR (electronic transfer return), you may contact the Department of Revenue by email: eretr@revenue.wi.gov or by phone at 608-264-6885, or this office at 920-386-3720, and we will help you as best we can.

Recording and Filing Fees

Fees are governed by Wisconsin Statutes and are uniform throughout the State. Deeds, Mortgages, Land Contracts, Satisfactions, Certified Survey Maps, etc. and Miscellaneous Documents are entitled to be recorded or filed in the Register of Deeds Office:

Fee per document: $30 (includes all pages)

Note: Maximum Size Sheet: 8 1/2" x 14." One side of a sheet constitutes a page and any riders attached are considered another page.

• Termination of Decedent's Property Interest (Form HT-110) and Transfer on Death to Beneficiary (Form TOD-110) - Fee: $30 per document (includes all pages) 
• Federal Tax Liens and Releases - Fee: $30 per document (includes all pages)

Copies of recorded or filed documents are $2 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. For certified copies, add $1 per document for certificate.

Recorded documents will be returned to sender or designee.

Filed Plats

Subdivisions, Cemetery, Condominium Plats - Fee: $50

Transportation Project Plats - Fee:  $25 per page 

Recorded plats are not returned to sender.

Note: Maximum sheet size for a Condominium Plat: 14" x 22."

Real Estate Transfer Fees

1. A receipt from a transfer return form and fee or exemption number is required for all conveyances EXCEPT when exemptions 1 or 10m apply.
2. Form is to be completed online at the Wisconsin Department of Revenue 
3. Current rate of fee is $3 per $1,000 of value rounded up to the next higher hundred. See form for exceptions 
4. Valuation must always be shown EXCEPT when an exemption 3 or 10 applies 
5. Transfers involving rental property must be accompanied by one of the following Department of Commerce forms, unless the property already has a certificate of compliance recorded:
   1. Certificate of Compliance
   2. Stipulation: Validation fee:  $20* - If not already validated 
   3. Waiver: Validation fee:  $20* - If not already validated

* Validation fee is in addition to the document recording fee.

Below you will find a link to downloadable forms that can be recorded (i.e. deeds, HT-110, correction instruments, etc.)

Download Real Estate Forms

Dodge County began electronically recording of documents December 2013.

Electronic Recording does more than simply eliminate paper.  It automates document examination, fee collection, image retention and data processing.

Electronic Recording results in greater efficiency and better use of existing resources.  Productivity increases by minimizing time requirements, reducing costs and increasing document acceptance and accuracy.

Title companies, financial institutions, law firms and other businesses involved in real estate transactions recognize great benefits from electronic recording.  Counties reduce the manual processing effort associated with paper processing from days and weeks to just minutes.  The electronic process reduces risks for title companies and reduces post-closing costs for lenders.

If you would like to take advantage of recording documents Electronically, contact one of these eRecording vendors:  

Simplifile
Michelle Wilsey  (mwilsey@simplifile.com)
5072 N. 300 W.
Provo, UT  84604
800-460-5657 Ext. 1056
www.simplifile.com

CSC (Ingeo)
251 Little Falls Drive
Wilmington, DE  19808
erecording@cscglobal.com
866-652-0111
www.erecording.com

eRecording Partners Network (ePN)
400 Second Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN  55401
support@erecordingpartners.net
888-325-3365
www.cscglobal.com/service/erecording/

Indecomm Global Services (US Recordings)
2925 Country Drive
St. Paul, MN  55117
erecordsupport@indecomm.net
651-766-5155

Hopdox
385-501-5103
sales@hopdox.com