Chapter 706

706.05(6) (6) Except as may otherwise be expressly provided, no instrument shall be denied acceptance for record because of the absence of venue, seals, witnesses or other matter of form.

706.05(7) (7) Every instrument which the register of deeds shall accept for record shall be deemed duly recorded despite its failure to conform to one or more of the requirements of this section, provided the instrument is properly indexed in a public index maintained in the office of such register of deeds and recorded at length at the place there shown.

706.05(8) (8) A duly recorded certificate signed by or on behalf of the holder of record of any mortgage or other security interest in lands, and authenticated as provided by s. 706.06 or ch. 140 identifying the mortgage or other interest and stating that the same has been paid or satisfied in whole or in part, shall be sufficient to satisfy such mortgage or other interest of record.

706.05(12) (12) Every conveyance of any interest in real property offered for recordation shall be accompanied by the form under s. 77.22 (2).

706.05 History History: 1971 c. 211; 1977 c. 217, 253, 447; 1979 c. 221; 1983 a. 492 s. 3; 1985 a. 174; 1991 a. 66, 269; 1993 a. 145, 486; 1995 a. 110, 201; 1997 a. 35; 1999 a. 96; 2005 a. 179, 441; 2013 a. 66; 2017 a. 59, 68, 102; 2019 a. 125; 2023 a. 12.

706.05 Annotation Under sub. (1), only instruments that affect an interest in land are entitled to be recorded. A land patent is the instrument by which the government conveys title to portions of the public domain to private individuals. “Land patents,” “updates of land patent,” and other, similarly-titled documents filed by private individuals that purport to be grants of private land from private individuals to themselves or other private individuals are not true land patents and are invalid on their face and not entitled to recording. OAG 4-12.

706.055 706.055 Conveyances of mineral rights. The register of deeds shall record all conveyances of mineral interests in the index maintained under s. 59.43 (9).

706.055 History History: 1977 c. 253; 2009 a. 98.

706.057 706.057 Lapse and reversion of interests in minerals.

706.057(1) (1) Applicability. This section does not apply to an interest in minerals which is owned by the same person who owns the fee simple interest in the surface of the land above the interest in minerals.

706.057(2) (2) Use of an interest in minerals. In this section, an interest in minerals is used if any of the following occur:

706.057(2)(a) (a) Any minerals are mined in exploitation of the interest in minerals.

706.057(2)(b) (b) A conveyance of mineral interests is recorded under this chapter.

706.057(2)(c) (c) Any other conveyance evidencing a transaction by which the interest in minerals is created, aliened, reserved, mortgaged or assigned is recorded under this chapter.

706.057(2)(d) (d) Property taxes are paid on the interest in minerals by the owner of the interest in minerals.

706.057(2)(e) (e) The owner of the interest in minerals records a statement of claim under sub. (4) or (5) concerning the interest in minerals.

706.057(3) (3) Lapse.

706.057(3)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b) or (c), an interest in minerals lapses if the interest in minerals was not used during the previous 20 years.

706.057(3)(b) (b) An interest in minerals which was not used during the 20-year period prior to July 1, 1984, does not lapse if the interest in minerals is used within 3 years after July 1, 1984.

706.057(3)(c) (c) An interest in minerals which was used during the period from 17 to 20 years prior to July 1, 1984, does not lapse if the interest in minerals is used within 3 years after July 1, 1984.

706.057(4) (4) Statement of claim; recording; requirements. If the owner of an interest in minerals uses the interest in minerals by recording a statement of claim, the statement of claim shall comply with this subsection. The statement of claim shall contain the name and address of the owner of the interest in minerals, a description of the location and boundary of the interest in minerals and a reference to the recorded instrument which created the interest in minerals. The statement of claim shall be recorded with the register of deeds for the county in which the interest in minerals is located.

706.057(5) (5) Cure of lapse. The lapse of an interest in minerals under sub. (3) is cured if the owner of the interest in minerals records a statement of claim complying with all of the requirements of sub. (4) before the surface owner records a statement of claim under sub. (6) (a) or before a statement of claim takes effect under sub. (6) (b) 1., whichever is later.

706.057(6) (6) Claim of lapsed interest in minerals.

706.057(6)(a) (a) The owner of the land under which an interest in minerals exists may claim that portion of a lapsed interest in minerals which lies beneath the owner’s land by recording a statement of claim. The statement of claim shall contain the name and address of the owner of the land under which the lapsed interest in minerals is located and a description of the land under which the interest in minerals is located. The statement of claim shall be recorded with the register of deeds for the county in which the land is located.

706.057(6)(b) (b)

706.057(6)(b)1. 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., a statement of claim which is recorded under par. (a) before the lapse of the interest in minerals to which the claim applies takes effect when the interest in minerals lapses.

706.057(6)(b)2. 2. A statement of claim which is recorded under par. (a) before the lapse of the interest in minerals to which the claim applies is void 6 years after the statement of claim is recorded if the interest in minerals does not lapse within that 6-year period.

706.057(7) (7) Statement of claim; recording; register of deeds’ duty. The register of deeds shall provide copies of the uniform form for statements of claim under subs. (4), (5) and (6). Upon receipt of a statement of claim under sub. (4), (5) or (6) in the office of the register of deeds, the register of deeds shall record the claim in a manner which will permit the existence of an interest in minerals to be determined by reference to the parcel or parcels of land above the interest in minerals. The claimant shall pay the recording fee under s. 59.43 (2).

706.057(9) (9) Determination of ownership.

706.057(9)(a) (a) The owner of an interest in minerals which is the subject of a claim under sub. (6) (a), within 3 years after the claim is recorded with the register of deeds or within 3 years after the claim takes effect as provided under sub. (6) (b) 1., whichever is later, may bring an action for a declaratory judgment or declaration of interest on the ownership of the interest in minerals. The action shall be commenced in the circuit court in the county where the interest in minerals is located.

706.057(9)(b) (b)

706.057(9)(b)1. 1. If the court finds that the owner of the interest in minerals used the interest in minerals within the time limits specified under sub. (3) or that the owner of the interest in minerals recorded a claim under sub. (5) before the surface owner recorded a claim under sub. (6) (a) or before the claim took effect as provided under sub. (6) (b) 1., whichever is later, the court shall issue a judgment declaring that the interest in minerals is not lapsed.

706.057(9)(b)2. 2. If the court finds that the owner of the interest in minerals did not use the interest in minerals within the time limits specified under sub. (3) and did not record the claim under sub. (5) before the surface owner recorded the claim under sub. (6) (a) or before the claim took effect as provided under sub. (6) (b) 1. whichever is later, the court shall issue a judgment affirming the surface owner’s claim.

706.057(9)(c) (c) Upon the issuance of a judgment affirming the surface owner’s claim or, if no action is brought under par. (a), at the end of the 3-year period after the surface owner’s claim is recorded or at the end of the 3-year period after the claim takes effect as provided under sub. (6) (b) 1., whichever is later, the ownership of the interest in minerals reverts to the owner of the land under which the lapsed interest in minerals is located and title to the interest in minerals is merged with the title to the surface of the land.

706.057(10) (10) Waiver; limitation. No person may waive or agree to waive the provisions of this section and any waiver or agreement of this type is void.

706.057 History History: 1983 a. 455; 1985 a. 29; 1995 a. 201.

706.057 Annotation Sub. (3) (a) sets forth a general rule that an interest in minerals must be used at least once every 20 years to avoid lapsing. Sub. (3) (b) creates a three-year grace period—lasting from July 1, 1984, to July 1, 1987—during which owners could use their rights and thereby prevent the automatic lapse that would have otherwise occurred under sub. (3) (a). The use of an interest in mineral rights during the three-year period does not permanently prevent that interest from lapsing. Instead, once an interest has been used during the requisite three-year period, it is again subject to sub. (3) (a) and will lapse if not used at least once every 20 years. Lakeland Area Property Owners Ass’n, U.A. v. Oneida County, 2021 WI App 19, 396 Wis. 2d 622, 957 N.W.2d 605, 20-0858.

706.057 Annotation The U.S. Supreme Court’s conclusions in Texaco, 454 U.S. 516 (1982), compel a conclusion in this case that sub. (3) does not result in an unconstitutional taking of property without just compensation, nor does the statute violate due process for lack of notice. Similar to the statute at issue in Texaco, sub. (3) provides that a mineral rights owner’s interest lapses if not used for 20 years and sets forth a grace period during which owners who did not use their mineral rights during the previous twenty years could take action to prevent those rights from lapsing. Lakeland Area Property Owners Ass’n, U.A. v. Oneida County, 2021 WI App 19, 396 Wis. 2d 622, 957 N.W.2d 605, 20-0858.

706.057 Annotation Due process requires that every owner of a recorded interest, including a mineral interest under this section, be provided written notice of an application for a tax deed. 74 Atty. Gen. 59.

706.057 Annotation Under this section, the owner of land under which mineral rights have lapsed must record a claim to the lapsed mineral rights in order to foreclose a separate mineral rights owner from curing the lapse. 79 Atty. Gen. 61.

706.06 706.06 Authentication.

706.06(1) (1) Any instrument may be acknowledged, or its execution otherwise authenticated by its signators, as provided by the laws of this state; or as provided in this section or ch. 140.

706.06(2) (2) Any public officer entitled by virtue of his or her office to administer oaths, and any member in good standing of the State Bar of Wisconsin, may authenticate one or more of the signatures on an instrument relating to lands in this state, by endorsing the instrument “Acknowledged,” “Authenticated,” or “Signatures Guaranteed,” or other words to similar effect, adding the date of authentication, his or her own signature, and his or her official or professional title. The endorsement, unless expressly limited, shall operate as an authentication of all signatures on the instrument; and shall constitute a certification that each authenticated signature is the genuine signature of the person represented; and, as to signatures made in a representative capacity, shall constitute a certification that the signer purported, and was believed, to be such representative.

706.06(3) (3) Affidavits shall be authenticated by a certificate of due execution of the instrument, executed by a person entitled to administer oaths.

706.06(4) (4) In addition to any criminal penalty or civil remedy otherwise provided by law, knowingly false authentication of an instrument shall subject the authenticator to liability in tort for compensatory and punitive damages caused thereby to any person.

706.06 History History: 1971 c. 211; 1973 c. 243; 1979 c. 110; 1983 a. 492 s. 3; 1993 a. 486; 2001 a. 103; 2019 a. 125.

706.08 706.08 Nonrecording, effect.

706.08(1) (1) 

706.08(1)(a) (a) Except for patents issued by the United States or this state, or by the proper officers of either, every conveyance that is not recorded as provided by law shall be void as against any subsequent purchaser, in good faith and for a valuable consideration, of the same real estate or any portion of the same real estate whose conveyance is recorded first.

706.08(1)(b) (b) A conveyance of mineral interests which is not recorded in the office of the register of deeds of the county in which the land is located, within 30 days after it is signed by the lessor, is void.

706.08(2) (2) Where a public tract index or abstract of title index is maintained, an instrument properly indexed therein and recorded at length at the place there shown shall be deemed to be duly recorded for purposes of this section, despite any error or omission in the process of including the instrument, or prior instruments in the same chain of title, in other records. Where an instrument is not properly indexed in such tract or abstract of title index, or where such index is not publicly maintained, the instrument shall be deemed to be duly recorded only if the instrument, together with prior instruments necessary to trace title by use of alphabetical indexes by names of parties, are properly indexed in such alphabetical indexes, and recorded at length at the places there shown. Wherever an instrument is duly recorded hereunder, its record shall be effective as of the date and hour at which it is shown by the general index to have been accepted for record.

706.08(3) (3) When an express trust is created, but its existence is not disclosed in a recorded conveyance to the trustee, the title of the trustee shall be deemed absolute as against the subsequent creditors of the trustee not having notice of the trust and as against purchasers from such trustee without notice and for a valuable consideration.

706.08(4) (4) It shall be conclusively presumed that a person is a trustee of a valid express trust and has full power of conveyance if all of the following occur:

706.08(4)(a) (a) The person is designated as trustee and holds an interest in land as trustee.

706.08(4)(b) (b) The person’s authority and powers as trustee are not set forth in a recorded instrument.

706.08(4)(c) (c) The person conveys an interest in land as trustee to a good faith purchaser, as defined in s. 401.201 (2) (qm).

706.08(5) (5) When a conveyance purports to be absolute in terms, but is made or intended to be made defeasible by force of another instrument for that purpose, the original conveyance shall not be thereby defeated or affected as against any person other than the maker of the defeasance or the maker’s heirs or devisees or persons having actual notice thereof, unless the instrument of defeasance has been recorded in the office of the register of deeds of the county where the lands lie.

706.08(6) (6) The recording of an assignment of a mortgage shall not in itself be deemed notice of such assignment to the mortgagor so as to invalidate any payment made to the mortgagee without actual notice of such assignment.

706.08(7) (7) No letter of attorney or other instrument containing a power to convey lands, when executed and recorded under this chapter, shall be deemed to be revoked by any act of the party by whom it was executed unless the instrument containing such revocation is also recorded in the same office in which the instrument containing the power was recorded, and such record shall import notice to all persons, including the agent named in said letter of attorney of the contents thereof. The death of the party executing such letter of attorney shall not operate as a revocation thereof as to the attorney or agent until the attorney or agent has notice of the death, or as to one who without notice of such death in good faith deals with the attorney or agent.

706.08 History History: 1977 c. 253; 1989 a. 231; 1993 a. 486; 1999 a. 85; 2009 a. 320.

706.08 Annotation An unrecorded conveyance, if delivered, is valid against judgment creditors since they are not bona fide creditors for value. West Federal Savings & Loan Ass’n v. Interstate Investment, Inc., 57 Wis. 2d 690, 205 N.W.2d 361 (1973).

706.08 Annotation A purchaser having constructive notice that there may have been an unrecorded conveyance was not a “purchaser in good faith” under sub. (1) (a). Kordecki v. Rizzo, 106 Wis. 2d 713, 317 N.W.2d 479 (1982).

706.08 Annotation An original mortgagee’s knowledge of a prior mortgage not properly of record will not be imputed to an assignee of the mortgage with no knowledge of the prior mortgage and does not render the assignee not a purchaser in good faith under sub. (1) (a) who cannot claim priority. Bank of New Glarus v. Swartwood, 2006 WI App 224, 297 Wis. 2d 458, 725 N.W.2d 944, 05-0647.

706.08 Annotation “Good faith” for purposes of sub. (1) (a) exists only when there is no notice under s. 706.09. Anderson v. Quinn, 2007 WI App 260, 306 Wis. 2d 686, 743 N.W.2d 492, 06-2462.

706.085 706.085 Correction instruments.

706.085(1) (1) Entitled to be recorded; purposes. An instrument correcting a previously recorded conveyance shall be entitled to record in accordance with s. 706.05 in the office of the register of deeds of the county in which the conveyance is recorded and shall include one or more of the following:

706.085(1)(a) (a) The correction of a legal description, including a distance; angle; direction; bearing; chord; lot, block, unit, or building number or letter; appurtenant easement; section number; township name or number; municipality, county, or state name; range number or meridian; certified survey map number; or subdivision or condominium name.

706.085(1)(b) (b) The addition, correction, or clarification of information other than a legal description, including any of the following information:

706.085(1)(b)1. 1. A party’s name, including the spelling of the name; a first or middle name or initial; a name suffix, such as senior or junior; alternate names by which the party is known; or a description of an entity as a corporation, company, or similar identifier.

706.085(1)(b)2. 2. A party’s marital status.

706.085(1)(b)3. 3. The date on which the conveyance was executed.

706.085(1)(b)4. 4. Whether the property is a homestead.

706.085(1)(b)5. 5. The tax parcel number.

706.085(1)(b)6. 6. The identity of the drafter.

706.085(1)(b)7. 7. The recording data for an instrument referenced in the conveyance.

706.085(1)(b)8. 8. The nature and purpose of the conveyance.

706.085(1)(b)9. 9. The title of the conveyance.

706.085(1)(b)10. 10. Facts relating to the acknowledgment or authentication.

706.085(1)(c) (c) The addition of an acknowledgment or authentication.

706.085(1)(d) (d) The disclaimer by a grantee under a deed of that party’s interest in the real property that is the subject of the deed.

706.085(1)(e) (e) The addition of a mortgagee’s consent or subordination.

706.085(2) (2) Execution requirements.

706.085(2)(a) (a) A correction instrument shall be acknowledged or authenticated in accordance with s. 706.06 or ch. 140. It shall recite the document number of the conveyance, the names of the grantor and grantee, and, if given on the conveyance, the volume and page where the conveyance is filed or recorded.

706.085(2)(b) (b)

706.085(2)(b)1. 1. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, a correction instrument that is executed after May 28, 2010, may be executed by a person having personal knowledge of the circumstances of the conveyance and of the facts recited in the correction instrument, including the grantor, the grantee, the person who drafted the conveyance that is the subject of the correction instrument, or the person who acted as the settlement agent in the transaction that is the subject of the conveyance, and shall recite the basis for the person’s personal knowledge. A correction instrument that was executed before May 28, 2010, is not rendered ineffective by reason of the instrument’s failure to recite that the maker had the knowledge or capacity required under this subdivision.

706.085(2)(b)2. 2. A correction instrument that makes the correction under sub. (1) (e) shall be signed by the consenting party, or an heir, successor, or assignee of the party.

706.085(2)(b)3. 3. A correction instrument that adds, removes, or replaces a divisible parcel in a conveyance shall be signed by the following persons:

706.085(2)(b)3.a. a. If the correction instrument supplies a lot, block, unit, or building number or letter that was omitted from a conveyance, by any party identified in subd. 1.

706.085(2)(b)3.b. b. If a parcel is being added to a conveyance that also correctly conveys other land, only by the grantor.