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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Some of you will recall that I have served for the past several years as the WSBA representative to the Recording Standards Commission (RSC).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">The RSC was formed by the legislature to be the official body that adopts WACs governing recording of documents at county recorders/auditor’s offices. The goal is to harmonize recording practices across the
state’s many counties. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">A new issue that has arisen which relates to multi-transaction or multi-title documents sent in for recording. The issue is a bit convoluted, but is as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Let’s say you were recording a document clearing title of multiple liens or conveying multiple interests to multiple unrelated parties. An example would be an old railroad easement which is being cleared
from the title of dozens or hundreds of parcels. Some counties treat this as a single recording and some treat it (and index it) as however many parcels are involved. This means that the recording fee for a single document could be thousands of dollars for
the first page (we heard a story from Spokane county of a $4,000 recording fee for the first page of such a document.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">While quite an arcane issue, it may impact some of you (and your clients) tremendously. The RSC is looking for one or two attorneys who would be interested in joining the subcommittee which will make recommendations
to the RSC on this issue, and ultimately part of the WACs. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">This is not a huge commitment. It might only involve attending 3 or 4 zoom meetings.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">If interested, please reply to me with a short statement of why you would have helpful insights to contribute.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Call me for any follow-up questions.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">Chris Benis<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">First Avenue Law Group, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">321 First Avenue West, Seattle, WA 98119<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">206.447-1900 office – 206.447.9075 fax – www. firstavenuelaw.com <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">This message contains information that may be CONFIDENTIAL AND PRIVILEGED. Unless you are the addressee (or authorized to receive for the addressee), you may not use, copy or disclose to
anyone the message or any information contained in the message. If you have received the message in error, please advise the sender by reply e-mail chrisb@firstavenuelaw.com, and delete this message. Thank you very much.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">To comply with recent IRS rules, we must inform you that this message, if it contains advice relating to federal taxes, was not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used, for
the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed under federal tax law. Under recent IRS rules, a taxpayer may rely on professional advice to avoid federal tax penalties only if that advice is reflected in a comprehensive tax opinion that conforms to
stringent requirements under federal law. Please contact me if you would like to discuss our preparation of an opinion that conforms to these new rules.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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