H-0405.1

HOUSE BILL 1376

State of Washington
67th Legislature
2021 Regular Session
ByRepresentative Fey
Read first time 01/26/21.Referred to Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary.
AN ACT Relating to registration of land titles; creating new sections; repealing RCW 65.12.005, 65.12.010, 65.12.015, 65.12.020, 65.12.025, 65.12.030, 65.12.035, 65.12.040, 65.12.050, 65.12.055, 65.12.060, 65.12.065, 65.12.070, 65.12.080, 65.12.085, 65.12.090, 65.12.100, 65.12.110, 65.12.120, 65.12.125, 65.12.130, 65.12.135, 65.12.140, 65.12.145, 65.12.150, 65.12.155, 65.12.160, 65.12.165, 65.12.170, 65.12.175, 65.12.180, 65.12.190, 65.12.195, 65.12.200, 65.12.210, 65.12.220, 65.12.225, 65.12.230, 65.12.235, 65.12.240, 65.12.245, 65.12.250, 65.12.255, 65.12.260, 65.12.265, 65.12.270, 65.12.275, 65.12.280, 65.12.290, 65.12.300, 65.12.310, 65.12.320, 65.12.330, 65.12.340, 65.12.350, 65.12.360, 65.12.370, 65.12.375, 65.12.380, 65.12.390, 65.12.400, 65.12.410, 65.12.420, 65.12.430, 65.12.435, 65.12.440, 65.12.445, 65.12.450, 65.12.460, 65.12.470, 65.12.480, 65.12.490, 65.12.500, 65.12.510, 65.12.520, 65.12.530, 65.12.540, 65.12.550, 65.12.560, 65.12.570, 65.12.580, 65.12.590, 65.12.600, 65.12.610, 65.12.620, 65.12.630, 65.12.635, 65.12.640, 65.12.650, 65.12.660, 65.12.670, 65.12.680, 65.12.690, 65.12.700, 65.12.710, 65.12.720, 65.12.730, 65.12.740, 65.12.750, 65.12.760, 65.12.770, 65.12.780, 65.12.790, 65.12.800, and 65.12.900; and providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1. The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:
(1) RCW 65.12.005 (Registration authorizedWho may apply) and 2012 c 117 s 211 & 1907 c 250 s 1;
(2) RCW 65.12.010 (Land subject to a lesser estate) and 1907 c 250 s 2;
(3) RCW 65.12.015 (Tax title landConditions to registration) and 2012 c 117 s 212 & 1907 c 250 s 3;
(4) RCW 65.12.020 (Application) and 2012 c 117 s 213 & 1907 c 250 s 4;
(5) RCW 65.12.025 (Various lands in one application) and 1907 c 250 s 5;
(6) RCW 65.12.030 (Amendment of application) and 1907 c 250 s 6;
(7) RCW 65.12.035 (Form of application) and 2016 c 202 s 42, 2009 c 521 s 145, & 1907 c 250 s 7;
(8) RCW 65.12.040 (VenuePower of the court) and 1907 c 250 s 8;
(9) RCW 65.12.050 (Registrars of titles) and 1907 c 250 s 9;
(10) RCW 65.12.055 (Bond of registrar) and 2012 c 117 s 214 & 1907 c 250 s 10;
(11) RCW 65.12.060 (Deputy registrarDutiesVacancy) and 2012 c 117 s 215 & 1907 c 250 s 11;
(12) RCW 65.12.065 (Registrar not to practice lawLiability for deputy) and 2012 c 117 s 216 & 1907 c 250 s 12;
(13) RCW 65.12.070 (Nonresident to appoint agent) and 2012 c 117 s 217 & 1907 c 250 s 14;
(14) RCW 65.12.080 (Filing applicationDocket and record entries) and 1907 c 250 s 15;
(15) RCW 65.12.085 (Filing abstract of title) and 1907 c 250 s 15a;
(16) RCW 65.12.090 (Examiner of titlesAppointmentOathBond) and 2012 c 117 s 218 & 1907 c 250 s 13;
(17) RCW 65.12.100 (Copy of application as lis pendens) and 1907 c 250 s 16;
(18) RCW 65.12.110 (Examination of title) and 2012 c 117 s 219 & 1907 c 250 s 17;
(19) RCW 65.12.120 (Summons to issue) and 1907 c 250 s 18;
(20) RCW 65.12.125 (SummonsForm) and 2016 c 202 s 43 & 1907 c 250 s 206;
(21) RCW 65.12.130 (Parties to action) and 1907 c 250 s 19;
(22) RCW 65.12.135 (Service of summons) and 1985 c 469 s 60 & 1907 c 250 s 20;
(23) RCW 65.12.140 (Copy mailed to nonresidentsProofExpense) and 2012 c 117 s 220 & 1907 c 250 s 20a;
(24) RCW 65.12.145 (Guardians ad litem) and 1907 c 250 s 21;
(25) RCW 65.12.150 (Who may appearAnswer) and 2012 c 117 s 221 & 1907 c 250 s 22;
(26) RCW 65.12.155 (Judgment by defaultProof) and 1907 c 250 s 23;
(27) RCW 65.12.160 (Cause set for trialDefaultReferral) and 2012 c 117 s 222 & 1907 c 250 s 24;
(28) RCW 65.12.165 (Court may require further proof) and 1907 c 250 s 25;
(29) RCW 65.12.170 (Application dismissed or withdrawn) and 2012 c 117 s 223 & 1907 c 250 s 26;
(30) RCW 65.12.175 (Decree of registrationEffectAppellate review) and 2012 c 117 s 224, 1988 c 202 s 56, 1971 c 81 s 132, & 1907 c 250 s 27;
(31) RCW 65.12.180 (Rights of persons not served) and 2012 c 117 s 225 & 1907 c 250 s 28;
(32) RCW 65.12.190 (Limitation of actions) and 1907 c 250 s 29;
(33) RCW 65.12.195 (Title free from incumbrancesExceptions) and 1907 c 250 s 30;
(34) RCW 65.12.200 (DecreeContentsFiling) and 2012 c 117 s 226 & 1907 c 250 s 31;
(35) RCW 65.12.210 (Interest acquired after filing application) and 1907 c 250 s 32;
(36) RCW 65.12.220 (RegistrationEffect) and 1917 c 62 s 1 & 1907 c 250 s 33;
(37) RCW 65.12.225 (Withdrawal authorizedEffect) and 1917 c 62 s 2;
(38) RCW 65.12.230 (Application to withdraw) and 2016 c 202 s 44 & 1917 c 62 s 3;
(39) RCW 65.12.235 (Certificate of withdrawal) and 2016 c 202 s 45, 2012 c 117 s 227, 1973 c 121 s 1, & 1917 c 62 s 4;
(40) RCW 65.12.240 (Effect of recording) and 1917 c 62 s 5;
(41) RCW 65.12.245 (Title prior to withdrawal unaffected) and 1917 c 62 s 6;
(42) RCW 65.12.250 (Entry of registrationRecords) and 2012 c 117 s 228 & 1907 c 250 s 34;
(43) RCW 65.12.255 (Certificate of title) and 2016 c 202 s 46, 2012 c 117 s 229, & 1907 c 250 s 35;
(44) RCW 65.12.260 (Owner's certificateReceipt) and 2012 c 117 s 230 & 1907 c 250 s 36;
(45) RCW 65.12.265 (Tenants in common) and 2012 c 117 s 231 & 1907 c 250 s 37;
(46) RCW 65.12.270 (Subsequent certificates) and 2016 c 202 s 47 & 1907 c 250 s 38;
(47) RCW 65.12.275 (Exchange of certificatesPlatting land) and 1907 c 250 s 39;
(48) RCW 65.12.280 (Effective date of certificate) and 1907 c 250 s 40;
(49) RCW 65.12.290 (Certificate of title as evidence) and 2012 c 117 s 232 & 1907 c 250 s 41;
(50) RCW 65.12.300 (Indexes and filesForms) and 2012 c 117 s 233 & 1907 c 250 s 42;
(51) RCW 65.12.310 (Tract and alphabetical indexes) and 2012 c 117 s 234 & 1907 c 250 s 43;
(52) RCW 65.12.320 (Dealings with registered land) and 2012 c 117 s 235 & 1907 c 250 s 44;
(53) RCW 65.12.330 (Registration has effect of recording) and 1907 c 250 s 45;
(54) RCW 65.12.340 (FilingNumberingIndexingPublic records) and 1907 c 250 s 46;
(55) RCW 65.12.350 (Duplicate of instruments certifiedFees) and 1907 c 250 s 47;
(56) RCW 65.12.360 (New certificateRegister of less than feeWhen form of memorial in doubt) and 2012 c 117 s 236 & 1907 c 250 s 48;
(57) RCW 65.12.370 (Owner's certificate to be produced when new certificate issued) and 2012 c 117 s 237 & 1907 c 250 s 49;
(58) RCW 65.12.375 (Owner's duplicate certificate) and 1907 c 250 s 50;
(59) RCW 65.12.380 (Conveyance of registered land) and 2012 c 117 s 238 & 1907 c 250 s 51;
(60) RCW 65.12.390 (Certificate of tax payment) and 1907 c 250 s 52;
(61) RCW 65.12.400 (Registered land charged as other land) and 1907 c 250 s 53;
(62) RCW 65.12.410 (Conveyances by attorney-in-fact) and 1907 c 250 s 54;
(63) RCW 65.12.420 (Encumbrances by owner) and 1907 c 250 s 55;
(64) RCW 65.12.430 (Registration of mortgages) and 2012 c 117 s 239 & 1907 c 250 s 56;
(65) RCW 65.12.435 (Dealings with mortgages) and 1907 c 250 s 57;
(66) RCW 65.12.440 (Foreclosures on registered land) and 1907 c 250 s 58;
(67) RCW 65.12.445 (Registration of final decreeNew certificate) and 2012 c 117 s 240 & 1907 c 250 s 59;
(68) RCW 65.12.450 (Title on foreclosureRegistration) and 2012 c 117 s 241 & 1907 c 250 s 60;
(69) RCW 65.12.460 (Petition for new certificate) and 1907 c 250 s 61;
(70) RCW 65.12.470 (Registration of leases) and 2012 c 117 s 242 & 1907 c 250 s 62;
(71) RCW 65.12.480 (Instruments with conditions) and 2012 c 117 s 243 & 1907 c 250 s 63;
(72) RCW 65.12.490 (Transfers between trustees) and 2012 c 117 s 244 & 1907 c 250 s 64;
(73) RCW 65.12.500 (Trustee may register land) and 2012 c 117 s 245 & 1907 c 250 s 65;
(74) RCW 65.12.510 (Creation of lien on registered land) and 1907 c 250 s 66;
(75) RCW 65.12.520 (Registration of liens) and 1907 c 250 s 67;
(76) RCW 65.12.530 (Entry as to plaintiff's attorney) and 2012 c 117 s 246 & 1907 c 250 s 68;
(77) RCW 65.12.540 (Decree) and 1907 c 250 s 69;
(78) RCW 65.12.550 (Title acquired on execution) and 2012 c 117 s 247 & 1907 c 250 s 70;
(79) RCW 65.12.560 (Termination of proceedings) and 2012 c 117 s 248 & 1907 c 250 s 71;
(80) RCW 65.12.570 (Land registered only after redemption period) and 2012 c 117 s 249 & 1907 c 250 s 72;
(81) RCW 65.12.580 (Registration on inheritance) and 1907 c 250 s 73;
(82) RCW 65.12.590 (Probate court may direct sale of registered land) and 2012 c 117 s 250 & 1907 c 250 s 74;
(83) RCW 65.12.600 (Trustees and receivers) and 2012 c 117 s 251 & 1907 c 250 s 75;
(84) RCW 65.12.610 (Eminent domainReversion) and 2012 c 117 s 252 & 1907 c 250 s 76;
(85) RCW 65.12.620 (Registration when owner's certificate withheld) and 2012 c 117 s 253 & 1907 c 250 s 77;
(86) RCW 65.12.630 (Reference to examiner of title) and 1907 c 250 s 78;
(87) RCW 65.12.635 (Examiner of titles) and 2012 c 117 s 254 & 1907 c 250 s 79;
(88) RCW 65.12.640 (Registered instruments to contain names and addressesService of notices) and 2012 c 117 s 255 & 1907 c 250 s 80;
(89) RCW 65.12.650 (Adverse claimsProcedure) and 2012 c 117 s 256 & 1907 c 250 s 81;
(90) RCW 65.12.660 (Assurance fund) and 1973 1st ex.s. c 195 s 75 & 1907 c 250 s 82;
(91) RCW 65.12.670 (Investment of fund) and 1907 c 250 s 83;
(92) RCW 65.12.680 (Recoveries from fund) and 1907 c 250 s 84;
(93) RCW 65.12.690 (Parties defendantJudgmentPaymentDuties of county attorney) and 2012 c 117 s 257 & 1907 c 250 s 85;
(94) RCW 65.12.700 (When fund not liableMaximum liability) and 1907 c 250 s 86;
(95) RCW 65.12.710 (Limitation of actions) and 2012 c 117 s 258, 1971 ex.s. c 292 s 49, & 1907 c 250 s 87;
(96) RCW 65.12.720 (Proceeding to change records) and 2012 c 117 s 259 & 1907 c 250 s 88;
(97) RCW 65.12.730 (Certificate subject of theftPenalty) and 2003 c 53 s 291 & 1907 c 250 s 89;
(98) RCW 65.12.740 (Perjury) and 2003 c 53 s 292 & 1907 c 250 s 90;
(99) RCW 65.12.750 (FraudFalse entriesPenalty) and 2003 c 53 s 293 & 1907 c 250 s 91;
(100) RCW 65.12.760 (ForgeryPenalty) and 2003 c 53 s 294 & 1907 c 250 s 92;
(101) RCW 65.12.770 (Civil actions unaffected) and 2012 c 117 s 260 & 1907 c 250 s 93;
(102) RCW 65.12.780 (Fees of clerk) and 1995 c 292 s 19 & 1907 c 250 s 94;
(103) RCW 65.12.790 (Fees of registrar) and 2012 c 117 s 261, 1973 1st ex.s. c 195 s 76, 1973 c 121 s 2, & 1907 c 250 s 95;
(104) RCW 65.12.800 (Disposition of fees) and 2012 c 117 s 262 & 1907 c 250 s 96; and
(105) RCW 65.12.900 (ConstructionChapter applicable to state registered domestic partnerships2009 c 521) and 2009 c 521 s 144.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2. The repeal of the statutes listed in section 1 of this act does not affect any right accrued or established, or any liability or penalty incurred, under those statutes before their repeal.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3. Unless real property subject to the provisions of chapter 65.12 RCW on the effective date of this section is previously withdrawn from the registry system by its owner in the manner provided by section 4 of this act, the real property shall cease to be subject to the provisions of chapter 65.12 RCW upon the effective date of this section.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4. (1) By July 1, 2022, the owner of real property registered under the provisions of chapter 65.12 RCW on the effective date of this section shall surrender their duplicate certificate of title for the real property or their certified copy of the original certificate of title for the real property, as the case may be, to the registrar of titles for the county in which the real property is situated. If such duplicate certificate or certified copy has been lost, mislaid, or destroyed the owner of the real property shall make affidavit before the registrar of titles or any other officer authorized to administer oaths wherein the owner shall state, to the best of his or her knowledge, the circumstances of the loss, the description of the real property, the name and address of each registered owner, and each such owner's interest in the real property.
(2) Except as otherwise provided by subsection (3) of this section, the surrender of the duplicate certificate, certified copy, or the making of an affidavit under subsection (1) of this section shall be considered as a withdrawal of the real property therein described from the registry system in accordance with chapter 65.12 RCW.
(3) The registrar of titles for the county in which the real property is situated shall:
(a) Accept, without charging therefor, the surrender of such duplicate certificate of title, certified copy of the original certificate of title, or affidavit; and
(b) Issue, without charging therefor, a certificate of withdrawal for the real property as required by chapter 65.12 RCW; and
(c) Cause to be duly recorded in the office of the county auditor for the county, without charge, the certificate of withdrawal issued under (b) of this subsection and all instruments filed in the office of the registrar of titles that relate to outstanding interests in such real property and to outstanding liens, mortgages, and other charges upon such real property, referred to in or noted upon the original certificate of title to such real property on the date of the issuance of the certificate of withdrawal for such real property pursuant to (b) of this subsection.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5. On July 1, 2022, the registrar of titles for the county shall cause the volumes of the register of titles for the county and the accompanying alphabetical indices and tract indices and other files and records in the office of the registrar of titles to be closed and placed in the permanent deed records of the county. At this time all properties remaining in registration are automatically withdrawn according to section 4(3) (b) and (c) of this act.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6. (1) By December 1, 2021, the registrar of titles for each county shall send to each owner of real property situated in the county that is subject to the provisions of this act a written notice containing the following:
(a) A statement that the registry system has been discontinued by this act;
(b) A statement that such owner's real property will cease to be subject to registration under this act on July 1, 2022;
(c) A statement that such owner may withdraw, without charge, his or her real property from registration and the provisions of this act in the manner provided in section 4 of this act prior to such date;
(d) A statement that the validity and priority of lien interest or ownership is not affected by this process; and
(e) A statement that the registrar of titles for the county, upon completion of the required withdrawal procedures, shall cause the instruments described in section 4(3) of this act to be properly restored to the recording system without charge.
(2) The registrar of titles shall send the notice required by subsection (1) of this section to each such owner at the most recent address indicated on the original certificate of title for the owner's real property contained in the volumes of the register of titles for the county.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7. Sections 3 and 5 of this act take effect July 1, 2022.
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