Where and When Deeds Recorded; Priority as to Subsequent Deeds Taken Without Notice From Same Vendor

  1. Law
  2. Georgia Code
  3. Property
  4. Recordation and Registration of Deeds and Other Instruments
  5. Recording
  6. Recording of Deeds and Other Real Property Transactions
  7. Where and When Deeds Recorded; Priority as to Subsequent Deeds Taken Without Notice From Same Vendor

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Every deed conveying lands shall be recorded in the office of the clerk of the superior court of the county where the land is located. A deed may be recorded at any time; but a prior unrecorded deed loses its priority over a subsequent recorded deed from the same vendor when the purchaser takes such deed without notice of the existence of the prior deed.

(Laws 1755, Cobb's 1851 Digest, p. 159; Laws 1768, Cobb's 1851 Digest, p. 162; Laws 1785, Cobb's 1851 Digest, p. 164; Laws 1788, Cobb's 1851 Digest, p. 160; Laws 1837, Cobb's 1851 Digest, p. 175; Code 1863, § 2667; Code 1868, § 2663; Code 1873, § 2705; Code 1882, § 2705; Civil Code 1895, § 3618; Civil Code 1910, § 4198; Code 1933, § 29-401.)

Cross references.

- Recording of certificate of order for year's support, § 53-5-11.

OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

Instruments effective against third parties only from date filed for record.

- Deeds, mortgages, and liens take effect against third parties acting in good faith and without notice only from the time those documents are filed for record. 1945-47 Op. Att'y Gen. p. 120.

Constructive delivery of a warranty deed may be effected by delivery to an escrow agent within 120 days after the execution of the sales contract provided all of the following elements are present: (1) the escrow agent must be the agent of both the seller and the buyer, not just that of the seller; (2) the seller must release all control over the warranty deed when the seller delivers the deed to the escrow agent; (3) the escrow agent must be instructed to deliver the warranty deed to the buyer on the happening of a specific future event involving monetary consideration; (4) the escrow agent must be able to enforce the covenants and warranties found in former Code 1933, § 29-301 (see O.C.G.A. § 44-5-60) on behalf of the buyer; and (5) the real estate transaction must be properly recorded to put the world on notice of the buyer's equitable interest in the realty. 1974 Op. Att'y Gen. No. U74-17 (rendered prior to revision of Chapter 3, Article 1 of this Title).


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