Record a Document

This office cannot give legal advice, help you fill out documents or tell you what kind of document(s) to use. If you have questions regarding the preparation of a document for recording, please contact an attorney.

How to Record a Document
If recording in person - bring the original document or certified copy of the original to the Clerk and Recorder's office, 679 Turner Drive Ste C Durango, CO 81303 during business hours. If your document meets all of the requirements and you pay the appropriate fees, your document will be recorded in the order it was received. We advocate that you try and avoid recording during our busiest times (8:00-10:00am & 3:30-4:00pm every day). We will keep the document for processing as an image of the document is kept in the Recorder's office permanent records where it becomes part of the public record. We will mail the original back to the name and address stated on the first page of the document once its been recorded (approximately 2-3 business days).

If submitting documents by mail please include a check or money order for the amount of the appropriate recording fees. Make checks payable to: La Plata County Clerk and mail the document along with payment to the Clerk & Recorder's office, 679 Turner Drive Ste C Durango, CO 81303. Once we have received your document(s) and payment for recording we will determine if it will be either accepted or rejected.  If it is rejected, your document and payment will be mailed back to you unrecorded with an explanation of why it was rejected. Accepted documents will follow the procedure stated above.

If you need a copy of your recorded document visit Idocmarket or send a request ($5 handling fee plus 0.25/page), please include the payment along with a self-address envelope so we can mail it back to you.

Recording Fees:

Recording Fee Schedule

Commonly Recorded Documents
The following is a list of some documents that may be recorded if they meet all requirements, and a description or definition of each document. The descriptions are general and are not intended to be complete legal definitions. If you wish to use any particular document,we suggest that you consult a real estate professional or an attorney.

  • Deed of Trust / Mortgage
    An instrument that secures a debt, the repayment of the loan/mortgage encumbered by real property. This is a three party document; the borrower (trustor), the beneficiary (lender), and the trustee who holds title to real property under the terms of a deed of trust.
  • Assignment of Deed of Trust / Mortgage
    The transfer/sale of a Deed of Trust (loan or debt) from the current lender (beneficiary) to a new beneficiary, which gives them the right to collect the payment of the debt.
  • Substitution of Trustee
    A document through which the lender (beneficiary), owner, or holder of the note (loan) replaces a new Trustee in the Deed of Trust.
  • Re-conveyance
    The instrument that releases the loan that was a lien against real property. (Satisfaction of the loan)
  • Satisfaction of Mortgage
    Release of the loan that was a lien against real property.
  • Substitution of Trustee & Full Re-conveyance
    A combined document where the lender substitutes a new Trustee and the new trustee executes the Re-conveyance or releases the loan that was a lien against real property.
  • Subordination Agreement
    A document where the current lender agrees to makes their encumbrance deed of trust, subject-to (junior) to another loan.
  • Request for Notice of Default
    A document whereby the junior lenders require the senior lender to notify them when the borrower defaults on their loan.
  • Notice of Default
    A notice to show that the borrower under a mortgage or deed of trust is in default (behind in payments)
  • Rescission of Notice of Default
    A document that nullifies removes or abrogates the notice of default.
  • Notice of Trustee's Sale
    A document recorded to notify the public of the foreclosure (sale) proceedings by the Trustee for non-payment or non-performance of the conditions of the deed of trust.
  • Mechanic's Lien
    A document recorded to create a lien in favor of persons contributing labor, material, supplies, etc., to a work of improvement upon real property.
  • Release of Mechanic's Lien
    A document recorded to remove the lien (mechanic's lien) against real property.
  • Notice of Completion
    A document recorded to evidence that a work of improvement on real property other than public works is completed.
  • Notice of Non-Responsibility
    A document to evidence that the owner of real property interest will not be responsible for payment of cost of improvements contracted for thereon by some other person.
  • Abstract of Judgment
    A court issued money judgment to secure payment to the judgment creditor and when recorded, it creates a general lien on real property of the judgment debtor in the County in which the abstract is recorded.
  • Notice of Lis Pendens / Notice of Pendency of Action
    A recorded notice that litigation (a lawsuit) is pending in court which may affect the title of the real estate involved.
  • Voluntary Petition
    A document recorded to evidence the filing of bankruptcy by a petitioner.
  • Notice of Levy / Writ / Attachments & Executions
    A document recorded to notify a party served with writ of execution that specific property is taken in satisfaction of a debt.
  • Power of Attorney
    A document recorded to delegate the authority of the principal to his attorney-in-fact (agent) authorizing another person, to act for him/her in his/her name in a designated capacity.
  • Declaration of Homestead
    A document recorded by either a homeowner or head of household on his primary residence to protect his home from forced sale in satisfaction of certain types of creditors claims.
  • Affidavit of Death
    A document recorded to verify the death and identify the decedent as a former interest holder in specifically described or referred to real property.
  • Trustee's Deed
    Deed given by the trustee when the real property is sold under the power of sale in a deed of trust in a foreclosure proceeding.
  • Trustee Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure / Upon Sale
    Document recorded to evidence the transfer of real property from the defaulting trustor (borrower) to the beneficiary (lender) in lieu of foreclosure.
  • Grant Deed
    It is the form of deed, common in California, which contains implied warranties to the effect that the grantor has not previously conveyed or encumbered the real property.
  • Quitclaim Deed
    It is the form of deed that conveys or releases any interest that the grantor may have acquired in real property.
  • Leases
    To evidence the conveyance of real property for a term of years and a contract of its possession during that term.
  • Declaration of Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions
    Document recorded to specify the limitations or qualifications on land use imposed in a conveyance or other instrument.