This section names the Alabama Residential Mortgage Satisfaction Act, limits its application to certain residential mortgages, and defines key terms used in the article.
(a) This article shall be known as the Alabama Residential Mortgage Satisfaction Act. This article applies only to mortgages securing residential real property located in this state which is used primarily for personal, family, or household purposes and is improved by one to four dwelling units. Without limitation, this article does not apply to mortgages on commercial or other types of property. This article also does not apply to a security interest exclusively in one or more fixtures as defined in Title 7, Article 9A. (b) For purposes of this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings: (1) ENTITLED PERSON. The person or persons liable for payment or performance of the obligation secured by the real property described in a security instrument. (2) EQUITY LINE SECURITY INSTRUMENT. A security instrument securing, in whole or in part, indebtedness created under a line of credit, a revolving or open-end credit agreement, or a credit agreement that provides for future advances. The credit agreement may be referred to in this article as an “equity line” or an “equity line of credit.” (3) RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY or REAL PROPERTY. Real property located in this state which is used primarily for personal, family, or household purposes and is improved by one to four dwelling units. (4) SECURED CREDITOR. At any particular time, the person that currently holds or is the beneficiary of a security interest or that is authorized both to receive payments on behalf of a person that currently holds a security interest and to record a satisfaction of the security instrument upon receiving full performance of the secured obligation. The term does not include a trustee under a security instrument. (5) SECURITY INSTRUMENT. A mortgage or other agreement that creates or provides for an interest in residential real property to secure payment or performance of an obligation. (6) SECURITY INTEREST. An interest in residential real property created by a security instrument. For purposes of this article, a security interest exclusively in one or more fixtures, as defined in Title 7, Article 9A, does not constitute an interest in residential real property. (7) SUBMIT FOR RECORDING. To deliver, with required fees and taxes, a document, sufficient to be recorded, to the judge of probate of the county in which the property is located. For purposes of this article, without limitation, mailing, delivering, or sending by overnight or other delivery service a satisfaction of mortgage or other document to be submitted for recording to the address of the office for recording satisfactions of mortgages or other documents, as applicable, is sufficient to constitute submission for recording. (8) TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY. An organization authorized to conduct the business of insuring titles to real property in this state and licensed by the Department of Insurance as defined in subdivision (9) of Section 27-25-3.