2017 -- S 0659

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LC000763

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PROPERTY - FORMS AND EFFECT OF CONVEYANCES

     Introduced By: Senators Conley, Archambault, Calkin, Lombardi, and Jabour

     Date Introduced: March 29, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     (Attorney General)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 34-11-1.3, 34-11-22 and 34-11-24 of the General Laws in Chapter

34-11 entitled "Form and Effect of Conveyances" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     34-11-1.3. Name and address of mortgagor and mortgagee -- Recording.

     (a) Every mortgage deed presented for record shall contain or have endorsed upon it the

name and address of the mortgagor and mortgagee and the address shall be recorded as part of the

mortgage deed. Failure to comply with this section shall not affect the validity of any mortgage

deed, but the city or town clerk may charge an additional two dollars ($2.00) for a recording fee if

the name and address does not appear on the instrument. The purpose of including the

mortgagee's address is to facilitate in the eventual discharge thereof, and also for purpose of any

notice that may be sent to the mortgagor and mortgagee.

     (b) The term “mortgagee” for the purposes of this section shall mean the payee or lender

identified in the promissory note or other negotiable instrument as defined in chapter 3 of title 6A

which is secured by the mortgage deed, and shall not mean a third party purporting to act as an

agent or nominee. A mortgage naming a third party as the mortgagee who is not the named payee

or lender on the underlying promissory note or other negotiable instrument as defined in chapter 3

of title 6A secured by the mortgage shall be invalid for recording, and shall not be enforceable as

a mortgage lien except as provided in §34-11-45. A mortgage deed that identifies the mortgagee

and also lists the name and address of the mortgagee’s servicer for the purposes of facilitating the

eventual discharge of the mortgage and for the purpose of any notice that may be sent to the

mortgagee shall be considered compliant with the mortgagee’s address requirements herein.

     34-11-22. Statutory power of sale in mortgage.

     The following power shall be known as the "statutory power of sale" and may be

incorporated in any mortgage by reference:; provided that a mortgage that does not comply with

the mortgagee requirements set forth in §§34-11-1.3 and 34-11-24 shall not be entitled to invoke

the statutory power of sale:

     (Power)

     But if default shall be made in the performance or observance of any of the foregoing or

other conditions, or if breach shall be made of the covenant for insurance contained in this deed,

then it shall be lawful for the mortgagee or his, her or its executors, administrators, successors or

assigns to sell, together or in parcels, all and singular the premises hereby granted or intended to

be granted, or any part or parts thereof, and the benefit and equity of redemption of the mortgagor

and his, her or its heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns therein, at public

auction upon the premises, or at such other place, if any, as may be designated for that purpose in

this deed, or in the published notice of sale first by mailing written notice of the time and place of

sale by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the mortgagor, at his or her or its last known

address, at least twenty (20) days for mortgagors other than individual consumer mortgagors, and

at least thirty (30) days for individual consumer mortgagors, prior to first publishing the notice,

including the day of the mailing in the computation; second, by publishing the same at least once

each week for three (3) successive weeks in a public newspaper published daily in the city in

which the mortgaged premises are situated; and if there be no public newspaper published daily

in the city in which the mortgaged premises are situated, or if the mortgaged premises are not

situated in a city, then (1) if the mortgaged premises are situated in the city of Central Falls, in a

public newspaper published daily in the city of Pawtucket; (2) if the mortgaged premises are

situated in the town of North Providence, in a public newspaper published daily in either the city

of Providence or the city of Pawtucket; (3) if the mortgaged premises are situated in any of the

towns of Cumberland, Lincoln, Smithfield or North Smithfield, in a public newspaper published

daily in either the city of Pawtucket or Woonsocket; (4) if the mortgaged premises are situated in

the county of Providence elsewhere than in the above-named cities and towns, in a public

newspaper published daily in the city of Providence; (5) if the mortgaged premises are situated in

the county of Newport, in a public newspaper published daily in the city of Newport; but if there

be no such public newspaper so published, then in some public newspaper published anywhere in

the county of Newport; (6) if the mortgaged premises are situated in any of the counties of

Bristol, Kent or Washington, in a public newspaper published daily in the city or town in which

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the mortgaged premises are situated; but if there be no public newspaper so published, in some

public newspaper published or previously published in the county and presently distributed daily

in the county in which the mortgaged premises are situated or in a public newspaper published

daily in the city of Providence; provided however if the mortgaged premises are situated in the

town of New Shoreham then in addition to publication in a public newspaper published daily as

required above, it shall also be published in a public newspaper published in the town of New

Shoreham, and, in the event there is no public newspaper published in the town of New

Shoreham, then in a public newspaper distributed in the town of New Shoreham; with power to

adjourn such sale from time to time, provided that publishing of the notice shall be continued,

together with a notice of the adjournment or adjournments, at least once each week in that

newspaper; and in his, her or its or their own name or names, or as the attorney or attorneys of the

mortgagor, for that purpose by these presents duly authorized and appointed with full power of

substitution and revocation to make, execute and deliver to the purchaser or purchasers at that

sale a good and sufficient deed or deeds of the mortgaged premises in fee simple, and to receive

the proceeds of such sale or sales, and from such proceeds to retain all sums hereby secured

whether then due or to fall due thereafter, or the part thereof then remaining unpaid, and also the

interest then due on the proceeds, together with all expenses incident to the sale or sales, or for

making deeds hereunder, and for fees of counsel and attorneys, and all costs or expenses incurred

in the exercise of such powers, and all taxes, assessments, and premiums for insurance, if any,

either theretofore paid by the mortgagee or his or her executors, administrators or assigns, or then

remaining unpaid, upon the mortgaged premises, rendering and paying the surplus of the

proceeds of sale, if any there be, over and above the amounts so to be retained as aforesaid,

together with a true and particular account of the sale or sales, expenses and charges, to the

mortgagor, or his, her or its heirs, executors, administrators, successors or assigns; which sale or

sales made as aforesaid shall forever be a perpetual bar against the mortgagor and his, her or its

heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and all persons claiming the premises, so

sold, by, through or under him or her, them or any of them.

     34-11-24. Effect of assignment of mortgage.

     SECTION 2. Section 34-13-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 34-13 entitled "Recording

of Instruments" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     34-13-1. Instruments eligible for recording.

     Any of the following instruments shall be recorded or filed by the town clerk or recorder

of deeds, in the manner prescribed by law, on request of any person and on payment of the lawful

fees therefor:

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     (1) Letters of attorney.

     (2) All contracts for sale of land.

     (3) Bonds for title or covenants or powers concerning lands, tenements and

hereditaments.

     (4) All notices to be filed under the provisions of § 9-4-9.

     (5) All notices and process to be filed under other statutory provisions, and all decrees in

equity and judgments at law affecting the title to land.

     (6) All instruments evidencing or relating to a security interest in personal property or

fixtures that may be filed pursuant to chapter 9 of title 6A.

     (7) All instruments required by statute to be recorded, including deeds, mortgages and

transfers and discharges thereof, leases or memoranda thereof, and transfers and cancellations

thereof, and the covenants, conditions, agreements and powers therein contained.; provided that

no mortgage or transfer thereof shall be recorded if the mortgage or transfer thereof does not

comply with the requirements set forth in §§34-11-1.3 and 34-11-24.

     (8) Instruments of defeasance.

     (9) Instruments (excepting wills) creating trusts.

     (10) All instruments and notices, affecting, or purporting to affect, the title to land or any

interest therein or giving or terminating the right to sever any building or part thereof or fixture,

when signed and acknowledged as required for deeds.

     (11) All affidavits as to family facts, including dates of birth, marriage, and death, which

relate or purport to relate to title to land.

     (12) All affidavits as to bounds and monuments of land.

     (13) All certificates of the secretary of state as to change of corporate name.

     (14) All original linen and/or original mylar maps, plats, surveys, and drawings, whether

or not attached to, or a part of, another recordable instrument, Provided, however, That those

requiring the approval of any council; commission, officer, or other body by law shall not be

recorded without such approval.

     All survey plans received for recording shall be drawn on archival mylar or linen, those

of which shall not exceed a size of 24" x 36" and shall be recorded as originally drafted. Said

plans shall contain as a minimum all items set forth in the "Procedural and Technical Standards

for the practice of Land Surveying in the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations" as

adopted by the Rhode Island Board of Registration of Professional Land Surveyors effective

April 1, 1994 and any amendments or modifications thereof. Further, all plans must be able to be

reproduced so that the contents of said plans are legible.

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     Indexes of survey plans shall be maintained indicating (a) the title of the plan; and (b) the

street(s) or road(s) on which the subject property abuts. Such plans shall include a separate

listing, in or attached to the legend on the plan, of all streets and roads on which the subject

property abuts.

     (15) All declarations of restrictions and covenants in connection with a plat of record or

to be recorded or with a tract or parcel of land which is to be subdivided.

     (16) Statements of covenants, conditions, and powers of sale which are intended to be

incorporated in mortgages by reference.

     SECTION 3. Section 34-26-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 34-26 entitled

"Redemption, Release, and Transfer of Mortgages" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     34-26-8. Release of mortgage -- Affidavit.

     (a) For purposes of this section:

     (1) "Mortgage" means a mortgage upon any interest in real property located in the State

of Rhode Island.

     (2) "Person" means an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership,

association, joint venture, government, governmental subdivision or agency, or other legal or

commercial entity;

     (3) "Mortgagor" means the grantor of a mortgage;

     (4) "Mortgagee" means the grantee of a mortgage that meets the requirements of §§34-

11-1.3 and 34-11-24; provided, if the mortgage has been assigned of record. "Mortgagee" means

the last person to whom the mortgage has been assigned of record; provided further, if the

mortgage has been serviced by a mortgage servicer, "Mortgagee" means the mortgage servicer;

     (5) "Mortgage servicer" means the last person to whom the mortgagor has been instructed

by the mortgagee to send payment of the mortgage. The person who has transmitted a payoff

statement shall be deemed to be the mortgage servicer with respect to the mortgage described in

that payoff statement;

     (6) "Attorney-at-law" means any person admitted to practice law in this state and in good

standing;

     (7) "Title insurance company" means any corporation or other business entity authorized

and licensed to transact the business of insuring titles to interests in real property in this state; and

     (8) "Payoff statement" means a written statement of the amount of the unpaid balance on

a mortgage, including principal, interest and other charges properly assessed pursuant to the loan

documentation of such mortgage and of the interest on a per diem basis with respect to the unpaid

principal balance of the mortgage.

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     (b) If a mortgagee fails to execute and deliver a release of mortgage to the mortgagor or

to the mortgagor's designated agent within thirty (30) days from receipt of payment of the

mortgage by the mortgagee in accordance with the payoff statement furnished by the mortgagee,

any attorney-at-law or duly authorized officer of a title insurance company may, on behalf of the

mortgagor or any transferee of the mortgagor who has acquired title to the premises described in

the mortgage, execute and cause to be recorded in the land records of each city or town where the

mortgage was recorded, an affidavit which complies with the requirements of this section.

     (c) An affidavit pursuant to this section shall state that:

     (1) The affiant is an attorney-at-law or the authorized officer of a title insurance

company, and that the affidavit is made in behalf of and at the request of the mortgagor;

     (2) The mortgagee has provided a payoff statement with respect to the loan secured by

the mortgage;

     (3) The affiant has ascertained that the mortgagee has received payment of the loan

secured by the mortgage in accordance with the payoff statement, as evidence by a bank check,

certified check or attorney's clients' funds account which has been negotiated by the mortgagee or

by other documentary evidence of such receipt of payment by the mortgagee;

     (4) More than sixty (60) days have elapsed since payment was received by the

mortgagee; and

     (5) The affiant has given the mortgagee at least thirty (30) days' notice in writing by

certified mail, return receipt request and signed for and completed, of intention to execute and

cause to be recorded an affidavit in accordance with this section with a copy of the proposed

affidavit attached to such written notice, and that the mortgagee has not responded in writing to

such notification, or that any request for additional payment made by the mortgagee has been

complied with at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date of the affidavit.

     (d) Such affidavit shall state the names of the mortgagor and the mortgagee, the date of

the mortgage, and the volume and page of the land records where the mortgage is recorded. The

affidavit shall give similar information with respect to any recorded assignment of the mortgage.

     (e) The affiant shall attach to the affidavit:

     (i) Photostatic copies of the documentary evidence that payment has been received by the

mortgagee, including mortgagee's endorsement of any bank check, certified check or attorney's

clients' funds account,

     (ii) A photostatic copy of the written payoff statement and shall certify on each that it is a

true copy of the original document, and

     (iii) Evidence of mailing and receipt notice to mortgagee.

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     (f) Such affidavit, when recorded, shall be a release of the lien of such mortgage of the

property described therein.

     (g) The city or town clerk shall index the affidavit in the name of the mortgagor as

grantor.

     (h) Any person who causes an affidavit to be recorded in the land records of any city or

town in accordance with this section knowing the information and statements therein contained to

be false may be fined not more than a dollar amount that is double the face amount of the

mortgage falsely discharged and shall make restitution to the affected mortgagee to the extent

such mortgagee suffers direct financial loss due to said mortgage being falsely discharged.

     (i) The provisions of this section shall not be applicable to mortgages securing lines of

credit nor to any mortgage held by a financial institution incorporated under the laws of the state

of Rhode Island or to any mortgage held by any financial institution organized under federal laws

and maintaining a principal place of business within the state of Rhode Island or to any mortgage

held by the Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation.

     SECTION 4. Chapter 34-11 of the General Laws entitled "Form and Effect of

Conveyances" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     34-11-45. Assignment of mortgages and mortgage assignments previously recorded

in name of nominee.

     (a) Any mortgage or mortgage assignment that therein identifies as the mortgagee an

entity that is not the payee, holder or beneficial owner of the note secured by the mortgage at the

time of the recording, or that identifies an entity as the mortgagee in a nominee or agency

capacity for the original lender, owner or holder of the note, shall not be valid or enforceable if

recorded after the effective date of this act. The invalidity of the mortgage shall not invalidate the

underlying indebtedness intended to be secured by the mortgage.

     (b) Notwithstanding the provisions in subsection (a) of this section, any mortgage or

mortgage assignment recorded prior to the effective date of this act which identified as the

mortgagee an entity acting as the nominee or agent of the note holder or originating lender of a

mortgage loan shall be deemed void, except that such mortgage shall be deemed valid and

enforceable upon the following conditions:

     (1) The mortgage interest is assigned from the entity identified as a nominee or agent to

the current holder of the note secured by the mortgage within ninety (90) days of the effective

date of this act;

     (2) If any transfers of the note secured by the mortgage took place since the original

recording of the mortgage were not accompanied by a recorded assignment of the mortgage

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interest, then all such transfers shall be documented with a corresponding instrument assigning

the mortgage from the transferor of the note to the transferee of the note, and indicating the date

of the transfer; and

     (3) All assignments described as required herein shall be recorded pursuant to §34-11-24,

with all applicable recording fees for each assignment paid in full.

     SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC000763

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PROPERTY - FORMS AND EFFECT OF CONVEYANCES

***

     This act would provide that all transfers of a mortgage interest on residential property be

recorded so as to provide a clean chain of title for consumers to track the owner of their mortgage

loans, and will render moot the question of standing of a nominee in foreclosure actions by

discontinuing the practice of recording mortgages in the name of a party other than the holder of

the note secured by the mortgage.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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