Chattooga County Clerk of Superior Court Kim Windle James is reminding local property owners about Georgia’s electronic filing requirements for real estate documents and a free service that can help residents monitor activity involving their property records.

Under a Georgia law that took effect January 1, 2025, individuals filing real estate documents on their own are required to submit those documents electronically rather than on paper.

Anyone submitting real estate documents electronically must first complete identity verification through the Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority. The process includes photographic identification verification and is intended to help protect the integrity of property records.

Certain professionals and organizations, including licensed attorneys, banks, mortgage lenders, surveyors and real estate professionals, may still submit paper documents under exemptions established by state law.

The clerk’s office is also encouraging residents to take advantage of a free service called the Filing Activity Notification System, or FANS.

The program allows property owners to sign up for electronic notifications when certain documents involving their property or name are filed in Georgia’s official records.

The service can help alert property owners to potentially unauthorized activity, including suspicious filings involving deeds or other real estate documents.

FANS is voluntary and free to use. Residents can register online and establish notification requests based on their name or other qualifying property record information.

Notifications apply to future filings after an alert has been established. The service does not prevent fraudulent documents from being filed, and not every filing will necessarily generate a notification.

Residents interested in registering can visit fans.gsccca.org.

Those needing to electronically file real estate documents can use the state’s official portal at efile.gsccca.org.

For additional assistance, residents may contact the Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority at 1-800-304-5174.

The Chattooga County Clerk of Superior Court’s Office says the information is being shared to help residents better understand filing requirements and take advantage of services available to protect their property records.

Sources: Chattooga County Clerk of Superior Court Kim Windle James, Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority, Georgia Real Estate Electronic Recording Rules, Filing Activity Notification System.