DOCUMENT STANDARDS

Minnesota Statute 507.093

The largest size sheet that will be considered standard is 8.5 inches by 14 inches

Fan folded mortgages for example that are 8.5 inches by 42 inches long are non standard

Large exhibits such as surveys or maps attached to a document make the document non standard

No mention was made in the law as to how small the sheet can be but if its too small to read, Standard # 2 (print size) or # 7 (legible to reproduce apply).

Documents such as plats, registered land surveys, condominiums, CICs and certified copies of surveys, are exempt because these are statutory documents or certified copies.

Hand written forms are non standard.

The form of the document must be in black ink but blanks filled in containing dates, names and signatures or any other added information may be hand written and in a contrasting color as long as they will reproduce clearly under Standard #7 (legible to reproduce).

The form of the document shall be no smaller than 8 point type. Blanks filled in are not covered by the 8 point type minimum but they have to be legible under Standard #7 (legible to reproduce).

Form name, form number, printing company name, printing company address, printing company phone number or page numbers may be in smaller than 8 point type as along as it can be reproduced. If it cannot, it would be nonstandard under Standard #7 (legible to reproduce).

Any colored papers including buff, pink or gray are non standard.

Twenty pound paper is standard office paper used for typing, printing and in copy machines. The onion skin type paper or paper lighter than 20 pound will be considered non standard. Paper that is heavier than twenty pound is ok.

Background logos, pictures, writing, scroll work, shading, etc., is considered non standard.

The ½ inch border is approximate to allow for slight variations in measurements. It can be more than ½ inch by 3/8 inch or less would be non standard.

Use of high lighter or shading on any part of the documents that covers any printing or writing on the documents makes it non standard.

On Minnesota Uniform Conveyance Blanks the colored border is exempt.

A section crossed out does not make the document non standard.

If any county official places information in the ½ inch border it is considered standard.

Fax information at the top of a document makes it non standard.

Anything written in this area, by someone other than the filing officer or Auditor/Treasurer, will make the document non standard.

If any county official places any information in the 3 inch border it is still standard.

A cover sheet that meets the above standard may be attached to a document where the first page does not meet the standard. The cover sheet should have the name of the document and all other requirements of this standard and Standard #3 (½ inch margin) and #5 (title below the blank space). It is preferred that there be some reference to the parties named in the document in the event that the cover sheet is separated from the rest of the document.

A document is considered non standard even if the portion of the form that is covered up is not being used. If the border line in the Minnesota uniform Conveyance Blank is covered by the newspaper clipping, it is considered standard.

This standard is necessary because the attachment needs to be removed so the portion of the form under the attachment can be filmed or imaged to show that portion of the form was not filled in.

If a documents has a blurred form (parts of the form are unreadable due to a bad reproduction or fax copy) and the recording officer determines that it cannot produce a permanent record that is readable, the document is considered non standard but is recordable.