Land Records Clerk

About the role

The Land Records Clerk performs non-judicial clerical and cashiering work in the Prince George?s County Circuit Court. Work involves examining, recording, verifying, and indexing real estate and other documents, such as deeds, mortgages, release agreements, plats, homeowner?s depository, etc. Land Record instruments may be received in person, by mail, or electronically. Requires accurate recording of documents and fees collected or taxes due.

Responsibilities

• Records incoming Land Records instruments; determines recordability, collects fees and taxes, operates a cash register, determines register balances against register tape.
• Numbers and documents pages received from recording.
• Keeps filings in the order they were received.
• Scans instruments in proper sequence, ensures that the book and page numbers are correct, and that the date reflects the accurate recording date and pages are legible.
• Indexes ? inputs Grantor/Grantee names, document type, and other essential information needed to identify the instrument.
• Verifies ? provides Land Records personnel the opportunity to review the land instrument paired with its index data and make any necessary corrections.
• Runs indexes? ?accounts for all instruments that have been recorded for Plats, Homeowners Associations.
• Handles recording procedures, inquiries, or general questions in person, by telephone or via the mail.
• Handles requests for certified copies, assists with quick-key buttons for copies of documents, and opens the mail.

  Requirements

  • Education: High school diploma (or GED equivalent).
  • Experience: One (1) year of general clerical experience.
  • Note A Bachelor’s Degree may substitute the required work experience.
  • A Paralegal/Associates Degree or 60 college credits may substitute the required work experience.
  • A Paralegal Certificate may substitute the required work experience.
  • Judicial policies, procedures, and forms.
  • Basic English and arithmetic to include, but not limited to, spelling, punctuation, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
  • Office equipment including, but not limited to, computers, telephones, copiers, scanners, fax machines, etc.
  • Knowledge of job-related terminology, codes, policies, procedures, rules, regulations, and laws.
  • Communicating information effectively.
  • Analyzing records, reports, and other business and financial documents noting details and facts pertinent to this assignment.
  • Skill in applying job-related terminology, codes, policies, procedures, rules, regulations, and laws.
  • Communicating information effectively.
  • Ability To Use standard office and business equipment including, but not limited to, personal computers, word processing, spreadsheets, database software, copier, microfilm machine, register, scanner, fax machine, etc.
  • Operate special duplication equipment, typewriter, time/date document liber/folio, adding machine, numbering, and scanners.
  • Calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, and percentages.
  • Communicate clearly, tactfully, and effectively with judges, the public, police agencies, attorneys, and other court officials and personnel, both verbally and in writing.
  • Interpret, apply, and follow a variety of written or verbal instructions.
  • Provide assistance, guidance, and direction to others in a polite and efficient manner.
  • Work within time constraints, meet fixed deadlines, and demonstrate good organizational skills.
  • Learn instrument codes and instrument-specific indexing procedures.
  • Examine legal property documents.

  Qualifications

  • Light work.
  • Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
  • If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for sedentary work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for light work.
  • Desktop computer and laptop computer to index, verify, edit, and record land instruments.
  • Computerized cash register to process recording fees, copy fees, etc.
  • Credit card machine to process credit card payments.
  • Xerox machine print copies for the customers.
  • Fax machine to transmit information electronically to customers.
  • Telephone and language links to properly communicate when language barriers are an issue.
  • Software and computer skills: Microsoft Office to record pertinent information needed such as Incoming Tracking Log, Stats for Reports. MDEC to research and verify information for customers. Plats.net to research plats for customers. SDAT to research and verify information for customers. Optix to index, verify, and edit customers information. PaperVision to research information for customers. Computerized cash register to process recording fees, copy fees, etc.

  Skills

  • Applying job-related terminology, codes, policies, procedures, rules, regulations, and laws.
  • Communicating information effectively.
  • Analyzing records, reports, and other business and financial documents noting details and facts pertinent to this assignment.
  • Using standard office and business equipment including, but not limited to, personal computers, word processing, spreadsheets, database software, copier, microfilm machine, register, scanner, fax machine, etc.
  • Operating special duplication equipment, typewriter, time/date document liber/folio, adding machine, numbering, and scanners.
  • Calculating figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, and percentages.
  • Communicating clearly, tactfully, and effectively with judges, the public, police agencies, attorneys, and other court officials and personnel, both verbally and in writing.
  • Interpreting, applying, and following a variety of written or verbal instructions.
  • Providing assistance, guidance, and direction to others in a polite and efficient manner.
  • Working within time constraints, meeting fixed deadlines, and demonstrating good organizational skills.
  • Learning instrument codes and instrument-specific indexing procedures.
  • Examining legal property documents.

  Benefits

  The Maryland Judiciary offers a generous benefit package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, tuition assistance, continuing education programs, employee assistance programs, and State Retirement and Pension plans.