Scrivener's affidavits — Definition

Ark. Code Ann. § 18-12-108, under Conveyances.

Ark. Code Ann. § 18-12-108

(a) As used in this section, “scrivener's affidavit” means a sworn and acknowledged affidavit relating to:(1) The identification, marital status, heirship, relation, death, or the time of death of a person who is a party to an instrument affecting the title to real property;(2) The identification of a corporation or other legal entity that is a party to an instrument affecting the title to real property; or(3) The legal description to real property.

(1) The identification, marital status, heirship, relation, death, or the time of death of a person who is a party to an instrument affecting the title to real property;

(2) The identification of a corporation or other legal entity that is a party to an instrument affecting the title to real property; or

(3) The legal description to real property.

(b) A scrivener's affidavit may be executed and recorded by a:(1) Licensed attorney who prepared the original instrument;(2) Licensed attorney who represents a party to the original instrument;(3) Party to the original instrument if the party prepared the original instrument;(4) Current employee of a title company that completed the form of the original instrument;(5) Licensed engineer or surveyor who prepared the original survey, plat, replat, lot split, boundary line adjustment, or other instrument that affects or is related to the title to the real property; or(6) Notary public who witnessed the execution of an original instrument and executed an acknowledgement to the original instrument that contains an error.

(1) Licensed attorney who prepared the original instrument;

(2) Licensed attorney who represents a party to the original instrument;

(3) Party to the original instrument if the party prepared the original instrument;

(4) Current employee of a title company that completed the form of the original instrument;

(5) Licensed engineer or surveyor who prepared the original survey, plat, replat, lot split, boundary line adjustment, or other instrument that affects or is related to the title to the real property; or

(6) Notary public who witnessed the execution of an original instrument and executed an acknowledgement to the original instrument that contains an error.

(c) A scrivener's affidavit shall:(1) Be sworn to and acknowledged before a person authorized to administer an oath under the laws of this state;(2) Conspicuously identify in its title that it is a “Scrivener's Affidavit”; and(3) Contain the following information concerning the original instrument:(A) The name of the person or entity that completed or prepared the original instrument;(B) The names of all parties to the original instrument;(C) The recording information, including the recording date of the original instrument; and(D) A brief description of each error that the scrivener's affidavit is designed to correct.

(1) Be sworn to and acknowledged before a person authorized to administer an oath under the laws of this state;

(2) Conspicuously identify in its title that it is a “Scrivener's Affidavit”; and

(3) Contain the following information concerning the original instrument:(A) The name of the person or entity that completed or prepared the original instrument;(B) The names of all parties to the original instrument;(C) The recording information, including the recording date of the original instrument; and(D) A brief description of each error that the scrivener's affidavit is designed to correct.

(A) The name of the person or entity that completed or prepared the original instrument;

(B) The names of all parties to the original instrument;

(C) The recording information, including the recording date of the original instrument; and

(D) A brief description of each error that the scrivener's affidavit is designed to correct.

(d) A scrivener's affidavit may be prepared in substantially the following form:

“SCRIVENER’S ERROR AFFIDAVIT KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS that: prepared or completed the form of a [Name] | [Type of instrument] with | regard | to | a | conveyance | from | as [Name(s)] to | as [grantor, | mortgagor, | etc.] | [Name(s)] . The | which was [grantee, mortgagee, etc.] | [Type of instrument] recorded | in | the | records | of | County, | Arkansas, | on , | as | Instrument | Number [Date] | [in | Book | at | Page | ] contained | a | scrivener’s | error | with | regard | to | the . [reason for correction(s)] The aforementioned | should reflect that the [Type of | instrument] read as follows: [Type of instrument] . [Insert correction(s)] Further affiant sayeth naught. WITNESS my hand and seal on this | day of | , 20 | . [Signature] Name printed: ACKNOWLEDGMENT STATE OF | } }ss. COUNTY OF | } On this day of | day of | , 20 | , before me, a Notary Public in and for the said county and state, personally appeared | , to me well known, and acknowledged that [he/she] had executed the foregoing document for the consideration, uses, and purposes therein mentioned and set forth. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and official seal. Notary Public My Commission Expires: | ”

(e) A scrivener's affidavit that complies with this section in substantially the form provided by subsection (d) of this section or in a custom form shall be:(1) Recorded by the county recorder in the land records of the county where the real property is located;(2) Indexed by the county recorder in the general index under the names of the original parties to the instrument as they are identified in the scrivener's affidavit; and(3) Admissible as evidence to the same extent as a deed or other instrument recorded pursuant to § 18-12-201 et seq. in an action involving the instrument to which it relates or the title to the real property affected by the instrument.

(1) Recorded by the county recorder in the land records of the county where the real property is located;

(2) Indexed by the county recorder in the general index under the names of the original parties to the instrument as they are identified in the scrivener's affidavit; and

(3) Admissible as evidence to the same extent as a deed or other instrument recorded pursuant to § 18-12-201 et seq. in an action involving the instrument to which it relates or the title to the real property affected by the instrument.

(f) (1) Except as provided in subdivisions (f)(2) and (3) of this section, notice of the corrective information provided by the scrivener's affidavit is effective at the time the scrivener's affidavit is recorded.(2) If an error contained in a scrivener's affidavit is of an obvious nature, notice of the corrective information provided by the scrivener's affidavit is effective at the time the original instrument being corrected was recorded.(3) Subdivision (f)(2) of this section does not apply to a bona fide purchaser for value of real property.

(1) Except as provided in subdivisions (f)(2) and (3) of this section, notice of the corrective information provided by the scrivener's affidavit is effective at the time the scrivener's affidavit is recorded.

(2) If an error contained in a scrivener's affidavit is of an obvious nature, notice of the corrective information provided by the scrivener's affidavit is effective at the time the original instrument being corrected was recorded.

(3) Subdivision (f)(2) of this section does not apply to a bona fide purchaser for value of real property.