The Florida Senate

696.01  Contracts for sale of realty must be acknowledged in order to be recorded.

696.02  Assignments of contracts for sale of realty not entitled to record unless original is recorded or entitled to record.

696.03  When agreement executed by agent or attorney may be recorded.

696.04  What instruments affected by ss. 696.01-696.03.

696.05  Photographic recording by clerk of circuit court.

696.06  Photographic recording by county court judge.

696.01  Contracts for sale of realty must be acknowledged in order to be recorded.--No contract, agreement, or other instrument purporting to contain an agreement to purchase or sell real estate shall be recorded in the public records of any county in the state, unless such contract, agreement or other instrument is acknowledged by the vendor in the manner provided by law for the acknowledgment of deeds; and where there is no acknowledgment on the part of the vendor, the recording officers in the various counties of this state shall refuse to accept such instrument for record.

History.--s. 1, ch. 11813, 1927; CGL 5719.

696.02  Assignments of contracts for sale of realty not entitled to record unless original is recorded or entitled to record.--No assignment of any contract, agreement, or other instrument purporting to contain an agreement to purchase or sell real estate shall be recorded in any of the public records of this state, unless the contract, agreement or other instrument sought to be assigned shall have been recorded, or is entitled to be recorded under the provisions of ss. 696.01-696.04.

History.--s. 2, ch. 11813, 1927; CGL 5720.

696.03  When agreement executed by agent or attorney may be recorded.--No contract or agreement or other instrument purporting to contain an agreement to sell or purchase real estate, which has been executed by an agent or attorney in fact shall be recorded in any of the public records of this state, unless the authority of such agent or attorney in fact to execute the instrument sought to be recorded is produced and recorded by the recording officer, or is already recorded in the county where such instrument is sought to be recorded; and for the purposes of ss. 696.01-696.04 no authority for the execution of instruments by an agent or attorney in fact shall be accepted which is not executed in the manner provided by law for the execution of deeds.

History.--s. 3, ch. 11813, 1927; CGL 5721.

696.04  What instruments affected by ss. 696.01-696.03.--Sections 696.01-696.03 shall apply to all contracts and instruments, which had not been recorded on June 6, 1927; but nothing therein contained shall enlarge, impair, alter, or diminish the obligation of any such contract or agreement affected thereby as between the parties privy thereto, or as to those who have actual notice thereof.

History.--s. 4, ch. 11813, 1927; CGL 5722.

696.05  Photographic recording by clerk of circuit court.--

(1)  In every county in this state, the clerk of the circuit court may record any and all instruments filed for record by photographic process, this phrase being used in its most general sense and including miniature photographic, microfilming or microphotographic processes or any other photographic, mechanical or other process heretofore or hereafter devised, however designated, such as may be recommended by the clerk from time to time and approved by the board of county commissioners. The board of county commissioners shall provide out of the general revenue fund adequate equipment and supplies for making and preserving such records in accordance with the process so recommended and approved, and shall also provide adequate equipment for reproduction, and for viewing where said recording process is miniature photographic, microfilming or microphotographic, it being the intent hereof that such records shall be readily available for public inspection and copying. The clerk of the circuit court may note on the index to the photographic record of a mortgage or lien a note of assignment or a note of satisfaction of the mortgage or lien.

(2)  All instruments heretofore recorded and all action of the boards of county commissioners and clerks of the circuit courts heretofore performed in the purchase of photographic equipment and its use in accordance with the provisions of this act are hereby validated and shall be held good and valid. All service charges shall be as provided in s. 28.24.

History.--s. 1, ch. 10300, 1925; CGL 1936 Supp. 5722(1); ss. 1, 2, 3, 4, ch. 22051, 1943; s. 8, ch. 29749, 1955; s. 1, ch. 59-429; s. 1, ch. 61-186; s. 28, ch. 70-134.

696.06  Photographic recording by county court judge.--

(1)  In every county in the state, the county court judge may record any and all instruments filed for record by photographic process, this phrase being used in its most general sense not excluding any photographic process heretofore or hereafter devised, however designated, such as may be recommended by the county court judge from time to time and approved by the board of county commissioners, and the board of county commissioners shall provide out of the general revenue fund adequate equipment and supplies for making and preserving such records in accordance with the process so recommended and approved.

(2)  Any instrument heretofore recorded and any action of the boards of county commissioners or county court judges heretofore performed in accordance with the provisions of this section shall be held good and valid.

History.--s. 1, ch. 11382, 1925; CGL 5723; ss. 1, 2, ch. 21785, 1943; s. 26, ch. 73-334.