CHAPTER 55

S.P. 325 - L.D. 984

An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Registers of Deeds

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 33 MRSA §651, as amended by PL 1965, c. 215, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

§651. Records; index

The records and indexes in each registry office must be made and kept for public inspection on at least one of the following media:__white, acid-free paper, microfilm, microfiche, or digital image stored on magnetic or optical media.__The register shall make an alphabetical index to the records without charge to the county so that the same surnames are recorded together and shall show in addition to the names of the parties and the nature of the instrument, the date of the instrument, the date of its record and the name of the city, town or unincorporated place where the land conveyed is situated.__As often as every 10 years the register shall revise and consolidate the index in such manner that all deeds recorded since the last revision of the index are indexed so that the same surnames appear together and all names are in alphabetical order.__The revised and consolidated index must contain all data as to each and every deed or other instrument referred to in this section.__If it becomes necessary to revise, renew or replace any index, the new index must be made in conformity with this section.