Section 35-10-92 - Submission of a satisfaction of a security instrument for recording(a) A secured creditor shall submit for recording a satisfaction of a security instrument within 30 days after the creditor receives full payment and performance of the secured obligation, and the secured creditor has no obligation to make advances, incur obligations, or otherwise give value under any agreement. Equity line security instruments are fully paid and performed only if, in addition to full payment and performance, the equity line previously has been closed pursuant to the request of the entitled person or the entitled person's authorized agent or otherwise closed as provided by law and all secured obligations have been paid in full.(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this article, any notification demanding satisfaction of the security instrument must be sent to the secured creditor's address by a method that also provides proof of receipt by the secured creditor.(c) A secured creditor that is required to submit a satisfaction of a security instrument for recording and does not do so by the end of the period specified in subsection (a) is liable to the mortgagors for five hundred dollars ($500) if following the expiration of the time period in subsection (a) the mortgagors make a written request to the secured creditor to record a satisfaction and the secured creditor fails to do so within 21 days after receipt of the written request. The written request must be signed by the mortgagors and by all other persons who have a right to require the mortgage to extend value or signed by an authorized agent of these persons.(d) A secured creditor that is required to submit a satisfaction of a security instrument for recording and does not do so by the end of the period specified in subsection (c) is not liable to the mortgagors other than for the penalty set forth in subsection (c) and any actual economic damages directly caused by the failure to comply with this section.(e) A secured creditor is not liable under this article if it does the following: (1) Establishes a reasonable procedure to achieve compliance with its obligations under this article.(2) Complies with that procedure in good faith as defined in Section 7-9A-102(43).(3) Fails to comply with its obligations either because of circumstances beyond its reasonable control or as a result of a bona fide error, notwithstanding maintenance of reasonable procedures of compliance.(f) Subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) do not apply if the secured creditor receives full payment or performance of the secured obligation before March 1, 2013.Ala. Code § 35-10-92 (1975)
Added by Act 2012-278,§ 3, eff. 3/1/2013.