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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Kary – You are wise. The “scrivener’s error” theory that a document can be changed without requiring a signature (or initial) of the grantor PLUS a new acknowledgement is very, very limited. It has to be a patent
error, which means you can see from the erroneous document that there was an error. It has to be in the legal chain of title without the correction.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">A “</span>typographical error of the legal description<span style="color:#1F497D">” can be a scrivener’s error that can be corrected by a new corrected recording that is done by the title company. An obvious
misspelling of words is clearly a scrivenor’s error, which probably does not need correcting at all. A call to go “12.7 feet to a pint on the Wset lin of the secshun” is an example.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">However, a mistaken lot number is also a typographical error [lot 4 was intended but Lot 40 is on the deed]. Often that cannot be corrected without a grantor signature and acknowledgement. Lot 40 of a 4-lot short
plat is a patent error. But if there is both a lot 4 and 40, then the error is not patent. If the grantor also owns Lot 40, then the mistake is latent and not a scrivener’s error that can be done without a new grantor signature and acknowledgement. There is
no indication on the incorrect document that Lot 40 is an error.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">A typo to the grantee’s spelling of the name is an easy and clear scrivener’s error. But a significant error on the grantor’s spelling means that the deed is not in the legal chain of title. Our chain of title
is based on a grantor-grantee name search. A deed from Schmitz is not in the chain of title from Schmidt.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">A typo on the name of the subdivision can be a scrivener’s error if there is no other plat of that name. A call in a legal description to go 1.27’ feet to a point on the west line of the subdivision is a scrivener’s
error if it is 12.7’ feet to that point. But a call in a legal description to go East instead of West probably puts that outside the chain of title. Clearly not possible if the grantor owns the mistaken land too.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Too many people think that a new recording can done of an altered deed without a new acknowledgment. Even if a title company uses the scrivener’s error theory and insures validity, a wise and appropriately conservative
real property lawyer might want a new document with a new grantor signature and acknowledgement. Getting the document recorded does not mean it is in the legal chain of title. Getting the document recorded does not ensure it will withstand a Statute of Frauds
challenge.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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