The judge of probate may provide for an improved recording, archiving, and retrieval system in the probate office.
The judge of probate is authorized to provide for the installation and the maintenance of an improved recording, archiving, and retrieval system in the probate office. The initial installation of the improved recording, archival, and retrieval system shall include all of the following: (1) The acquisition of the equipment provided for in the definition of an improved recording, archiving, and retrieving system. (2) The establishment of procedures for the continued recording, archiving, and retrieving of all instruments and records that will constitute a part of the improved recording, archiving, and retrieving system after the effective installation date. (3) The initial installation of the improved recording, archiving, and retrieving system shall be performed by a person or persons, firm, or corporation engaged in the records management business and experienced in setting up county records and shall be supervised and inspected by a person who is experienced in handling records pertaining to abstracts or titles. Following its installation in the county, the improved recording, archiving, and retrieving system shall be maintained in the county and all real property instruments, general property instruments, personal property instruments, and other documents and records shall constitute a part of the system, that may be thereafter filed for record in the probate office of the county in accordance with the improved recording, archiving, and retrieving system. Each real property instrument and each personal property instrument shall be operative as a record from the time of its delivery to the judge of probate of the county, in accordance with the provisions of existing law, including, without limitation, Section 12-13-43.