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Clay County recorder details 2024 workload, online services and fraud-alert option
Summary
Recorder Kimberly Savjo told the Clay County Board of Commissioners the office recorded more than 8,500 real-estate documents in 2024, issued hundreds of marriage licenses and thousands of certified vital records, described Torrens-title work and urged residents to use the county’s free property fraud-alert service.
Clay County Recorder Kimberly Savjo presented the Recorder's Office annual update to the Clay County Board of Commissioners, summarizing 2024 recording volumes, services and changes to public access.
Savjo said the office recorded just over 8,500 real-estate documents in 2024, issued more than 600 marriage licenses, recorded almost 200 marriage-officiant registrations, processed more than 100 notary filings and issued more than 4,500 certified birth and death certificates. "The mission statement for the Recorder's Office is to promptly record, file and preserve documents in an efficient, responsible and professional manner for posterity and legal purposes," Savjo told the board.
Savjo reviewed how documents are handled and screened before recording and described two recording systems the office uses. "Torrens is a system of registration where the county guarantees the title for that property," she said, noting about 300 parcels in Clay County are on Torrens records out of roughly 30,000 parcels countywide.
She told commissioners about expanded online access: about 75% of documents now arrive electronically, the office offers two online search platforms (some pay, some subscription) and certain records — plats, recorded corner certificates and survey records — are available free through the county website. Thanks to funding obtained during the COVID period, Savjo said all documents have been imaged back to the county’s earliest records so historical deeds and easements are accessible online.
Savjo also encouraged residents to sign up for a free property-fraud alert that notifies registrants when documents are recorded using their name. "This does not prevent fraud from happening, but it's a notification system of when something is recorded in our office by your name," she said, and told the board residents may sign up at propertyfraudalert.com or receive assistance at the Recorder's Office.
On vital records, Savjo said Clay County issues certified birth certificates for people born within Minnesota (requesters must be the subject or an authorized requester and provide valid ID; fee $26) and certified death records for deaths in Minnesota after 1997 (fee $13). She said marriage licenses are valid for six months in Minnesota, applicants must be at least 18, and the license fee is $115; the office began offering civil marriage ceremonies in June 2024 and performed 36 ceremonies last year at a $150 fee.
Commissioners asked about multilingual options for marriage ceremonies and about how to sign up for the fraud-alert service; Savjo said the office can provide in-person assistance and uses a video translation service when needed.
The Recorder's update closed after commissioners praised staff work and asked few follow-up questions. Savjo's presentation included specific operational and fee details for residents seeking copies or services.
