Document Standards

Minnesota Statue 507.093 document standards effective August 1, 1997 – Revised July 1, 2005:

The document shall consist of one or more individual sheets measuring no larger than 8.5 inches by 14 inches.

  • The largest size sheet that will be considered STANDARD is 8.5” by 14”.
  • Fan folded Mortgages, etc. that are 8.5” by 42” long are NON-STANDARD.
  • Large exhibits such as surveys or maps attached to a document make the document NON-STANDARD.

The form of the document shall be printed, typed written or computer generated in black ink and the font of the document shall not be smaller than 8 point type.

  • Handwritten FORMS are NON-STANDARD.
  • The FORM of the document must be in black ink.
  • The FORM of the document shall be no smaller than 8-point type.

The document shall be on white paper of not less than 20 pound weight with no background color, images or writing and shall have a clear border of approximately  ½ inch on the top, bottom and each side.

  • Only documents printed on white paper are considered STANDARD.  Any colored paper including buff, pink or grey are NON-STANDARD.
  • 20 pound paper is the standard office paper.  Paper lighter than 20 pounds will be considered NON-STANDARD.
  • Background logos, pictures, writing, scroll work, etc. is considered NON-STANDARD.
  • Less than a ½ inch boarder would be NON-STANDARD.

The first page of the document shall contain a blank space at the top measuring three inches, as measured from the top of the page.  The right half to be used by the County Recorder for recording information or Registrar of Titles for filing information and the left half to be used by the County Auditor or Treasurer for certification.

  • Anything written or typed in this area not done by the Filing Officer or Auditor/Treasurer will make the document NON-STANDARD.

The title of the document shall be prominently displayed below the three-inch margin on the first page of the document.

  • The title of the document must be clearly shown directly below the 3” margin of the first page and should be set out from the rest of the form.

No additional sheet shall be attached or affixed to a page that covers up any information or printed part of the form.

  • This covers documents where an additional sheet is stapled or taped to a page that covers up other information or part of the form.  A document is considered NON-STANDARD even if the portion of the form being covered up is not being used.

A document presented for recording or filing must be sufficiently legible to reproduce a readable copy using the County Recorders or Registrar or Titles current method of reproduction.

  • If a document has a blurred form, parts of the form unreadable, a bad reproduction or a faxed copy it will be considered NON-STANDARD.


A document should conform to Minnesota Statue 507.093 standards but should not be rejected unless the document is not legible or cannot be archived. 
This subdivision applies only to documents dated after July 31, 1997, and does not apply to Minnesota Uniform Conveyancing blanks on file in the office of the Commissioner of Commerce provided for under Section 507.09, certified copies or any other form provided for under Minnesota Statutes.