Don't Fall For Deceptive Deed Company

Question: I received a "Deed Processing Notice" in the mail from a company called Secured Document Services in Washington, D.C.

The notice was directing me to send them a fee of $85 by a certain date in order to obtain a copy of the deed to my home. It also informed me of an additional service fee of $35 for payment made after the due date.

After going through my files, I realized that I don’t seem to have a copy of my deed but probably should for my records. What do you think?

J.Y. Newtown

Answer: The notice that you are referring to is from a company that charges you a fee for a service that you can do yourself for much less. While it is not illegal, some might say that it is deceptive.

Please disregard the notice and throw it away.

Although there will not likely be an occasion that you would need to show a copy of the deed to your home, your deed is on file at the county in which you reside.

The responsibility of the Recorder of Deeds Office is to record and maintain for permanent record all documents related to real estate (deed, mortgages, subdivision plans, etc.) and various other documents.

The good news is that if you would still like a copy for your records, you can receive an uncertified, or a certified copy from the Recorder of Deeds office for a nominal fee.