Mondays - Fridays, 8:00 A.M. to ,4:00 P.M.
Kit Carson County Courthouse
1650 Donelan Avenue – Second Floor Suite 203
Burlington, CO 80807
(719)346-8638 option 3
(719)346-8721 (fax)
The Recording Department is responsible for recording documents to make them permanent and public record and the indexing of. An example of the documents being imaged are warranty deeds, deeds of trust, quit claim deeds, subdivision plats, military discharges, liens, etc. for the general public. The recording fees vary depending upon the type of document, and number of pages. The Recording Department is also responsible for issuing marriage licenses for the general public.
KIT CARSON COUNTY OPEN RECORDS POLICY/FORM
ONLINE RECORD SEARCHING is available from 1889 to the present. If you are interested in having an account for escrow account and/or a subscription for online record search transactions, here is the LETTER with more information and the APPLICATION that are needed to make an account. Please return via email to clerkandrecorder@kitcarsoncounty.org or call 719.346.8638 option 4 for more information. Red lettering has hyperlinks to the online record searching and account information.
Searches of Real Estate Records
Searches may be conducted by any member of the general public to establish a chain of ownership of a parcel of real property. This is done to establish ingress and egress rights, oil, gas and mineral rights, or easements or restrictions affecting the parcel. Title companies can be retained to conduct the research, or a private party may do the work. Recording Office Staff members are not allowed to conduct real estate searches. ONLINE RECORD SEARCHING is available as of August 5, 2016 for records from May 1994 to the present.
You may begin with the present owner and search “backwards” in time, starting with the date of the latest filing (deed). This is done by locating the present owner’s deed (ask a clerk for assistance) and identifying the seller (the old owner). Then you search backwards in time, looking for when this seller purchased the property. Once you find that transactions, you then take the name of that seller and continue tracing backwards. You continue to do this until you reach the original patent or deed (or run out of time and/or patience).
You can also begin with the original owner (in the case of a Patent) and trace the title “forward” in time. The owner’s name is traced as a seller until the deed is found. Identify the new owner (the buyer) and trace forward until they sell or deed the property.
Each deed is recorded in the Grantor and Grantee indices according to the date it was recorded (which is not necessarily the date the deed was issued or signed).
Once you have established a “chain of title” or ownership, you must search the owner(s) name in Grantor index. Any deeds transferring easements, mineral rights, etc., should be noted. You should view a photocopy of the deed for specific details.
General Recording Fees
Document | Fee | Exempt Documents – No Fee |
Warranty Deed | $13.00 per page (page means side) for legal size or less being 8 ½” x 14” for the first page and $5.00 there after | Public Trustee’s Deed |
Quit Claim Deed | Treasurer’s Deed | |
Mineral Deed | Commissioner’s Deed | |
Guardian’s Deed | Court Decree – Quiet Deed | |
Personal Representative’s Deed | Death Certificate | |
Executor’s Deed | Supplement Affidavit | |
Conservator’s Deed | Release Inheritance Tax | |
Bargain and Sale Deed | Release of Estate Tax | |
Contract for Sale | Sheriff’s Deed | |
School Bonds | Ratification of a Plat | |
Copies | .25 per single sheet | Water Decree |
Marriage Application/License | $30 due / application |
Documentary fee on all documents granting or conveying title to real property, when total paid by purchaser exceeds $500, for each $100 or major fraction there of: $0.01 per CRS 39-13-102(2)(b)
$13.00 per page (page means side) for legal size or less being 8 ½” x 14” for the first page and $5.00 there after. Documents that contain flaps either taped or glued-on that obscures a portion of the deed should be charged an additional $5.00.
Exceptions are:
No recording fees are collected on:
- Military Reports (DD 214’s)
- Colorado Tax Liens: (originals and releases) that are brought in or sent by the state. If the release is mailed in or brought in by a individual, the fee is collected.
- Documents recorded by the county offices – for all counties within the state of Colorado.
- Marriages – (The recording fee is included in the $30.00 fee collected at the time the license is applied for.)
School Bonds:
$11.00 per page (page means side) for legal size or less being 8 ½” x 14” for the first page and $5.00 thereafter are charged for school bonds. The bond recorded as real estate and the original bond is recorded in the School Bonds book.
Miscellaneous Fees:
Copies of recorded documents are $.25 per page. Copies of marriages with or without application are $3.00. We do not charge for copies of military reports, up to three copies.Certifications – The fee for certifications is $1.00 per document. We do not charge for certifications of military reports, up to three.
Non-Real Estate UCC Financing Statements are to be filed with:
Colorado Secretary of State
Central Filing Officer
1560 Broadway, Suite 200
Denver, CO 80202
Recording/Filing Procedures
Fees are assessed in all documents recorded (real estate). Each document is assigned a (sequential) reception number and a film number. The date and time of filing are also listed along with the County Clerk’s name and “KIT CARSON COUNTY RECORDER.” This is generated by a computer that state “Real Estate Records”. Information from each document is entered into the computer. This information consists of the type of document, legal description, fee(s) collected, grantor/debtor, grantee/secured party, supplemental reception numbers, and the return address of the document. All documents are recorded or filed on the day they are received if they comply with the statutory requirements. On the next working day following recording or filing, the documents are filmed, which are accessible by computer. Copies are distributed for public use. Computer printouts containing the information from the documents are available by 1:00 P.M. of the next working day following their recording/filing. Information from all recorded documents is found in the Grantor, Grantee and Real Estate reception books. Information from UCC filings is listed in the Debtor index and the Debtor reception book. Some additional indices are produced from information in the Real Estate records. A few of these are the Marriage, Tax Lien, Judgment, and Trade Name indices.
Prohibition on Legal Advice
Staff members cannot give legal advice. This prohibition includes assisting or advising with documents to file or record, completing the documents, or assessing the legality or “correctness” of a document(s). If you need this type of assistance, you must contact your attorney or legal adviser.
Searches of Real Estate Records
Searches may be conducted by any member of the general public to establish a chain of ownership of a parcel of real property. This is done to establish ingress and egress rights, oil, gas and mineral rights, or easements or restrictions affecting the parcel. Title companies can be retained to conduct the research, or a private party may do the work. Recording Office Staff members are not allowed to conduct real estate searches.
You may begin with the present owner and search “backwards” in time, starting with the date of the latest filing (deed). This is done by locating the present owner’s deed (ask a clerk for assistance) and identifying the seller (the old owner). Then you search backwards in time, looking for when this seller purchased the property. Once you find that transactions, you then take the name of that seller and continue tracing backwards. You continue to do this until you reach the original patent or deed (or run out of time and/or patience).
You can also begin with the original owner (in the case of a Patent) and trace the title “forward” in time. The owner’s name is traced as a seller until the deed is found. Identify the new owner (the buyer) and trace forward until they sell or deed the property.
Each deed is recorded in the Grantor and Grantee indices according to the date it was recorded (which is not necessarily the date the deed was issued or signed).
Once you have established a “chain of title” or ownership, you must search the owner(s) name in Grantor index. Any deeds transferring easements, mineral rights, etc., should be notated. You should view a photocopy of the deed for specific details.
Torrens
NOTICE TO TORRENS REGISTERED LAND OWNERS
Torrens Title Registration System
Concerning the Torrens title registration system.
Sponsors: Sen. J. Sonnenberg | Rep. J. Becker | Rep. J. Arndt
Beginning January 1, 2018, the bill closes the Torrens title registration system to new applications to register land title in this state. The House amendment to the bill provide the guidelines for the Torrens Conclusion, which mean all Torrens certificates must be entered into the public recording system on or before January 1, 2020.
Kit Carson County has over 140 active Torrens which is one of the largest counties in the State of Colorado, following Washington and Logan counties. Susan Corliss and Pam Bacon both testified during hearings at the State Capitol to support the Torrens bill.