(A) Except in a county in which the county recorder has elected to require that all satisfactions of mortgages be recorded by separate instrument as allowed under section 5301.28 of the Revised Code, when recording a mortgage, county recorders shall leave space on the margin of the record for the entry of satisfaction, and record therein the satisfaction made on the mortgage, or permit the owner of the claim secured by the mortgage to enter such satisfaction. Such record shall have the same effect as the record of a release of the mortgage.

(B) Within ninety days from the date of the satisfaction of a mortgage, the mortgagee shall record a release of the mortgage evidencing the fact of its satisfaction in the appropriate county recorder's office and pay any fees required for the recording. The mortgagee may, by contract with the mortgagor, recover the cost of the fees required for the recording of the satisfaction by the county recorder.

(C) If the mortgagee fails to comply with division (B) of this section, the mortgagor of the unrecorded satisfaction and the current owner of the real property to which the mortgage pertains may recover, in a civil action, damages of two hundred fifty dollars. This division does not preclude or affect any other legal remedies or damages that may be available to the mortgagor.

(D)

(1) If upon the expiration of the ninety-day period described in division (B) of this section, the satisfaction of mortgage remains unrecorded, the current owner of the real property shall provide the mortgagee written notice, in accordance with the Rules of Civil Procedure, of the failure to enter the release of the mortgage of record. The notice shall be in substantially the following form:

"OHIO LAW REQUIRES A MORTGAGEE, WHETHER THE ORIGINAL MORTGAGEE OR ANY SUCCESSOR TO THE INTEREST OF THE ORIGINAL MORTGAGEE, TO RECORD A RELEASE OF A MORTGAGE EVIDENCING ITS SATISFACTION IN THE APPROPRIATE COUNTY RECORDER'S OFFICE AND TO PAY ANY FEES REQUIRED FOR THE RECORDING WITHIN A CERTAIN TIME PERIOD. (Name of mortgagor)'S MORTGAGE LOAN, (loan number or other loan identification), FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT (property address), WAS SATISFIED ON (date of satisfaction). IT APPEARS YOU HAVE YET TO RECORD A RELEASE OF THIS MORTGAGE. FAILURE TO RECORD THE RELEASE WITHIN 15 DAYS OF RECEIVING THIS NOTICE MAY RESULT IN A CIVIL ACTION FILED AGAINST YOU TO RECOVER REASONABLE ATTORNEYS' FEES AND COSTS INCURRED IN SUCH AN ACTION OR OTHERWISE TO OBTAIN THE RECORDING, PLUS DAMAGES OF $100 FOR EACH DAY OF NONCOMPLIANCE NOT TO EXCEED $5,000 IN TOTAL DAMAGES."

(2) Within fifteen days after delivery of the notice described in division (D)(1) of this section, the mortgagee shall record a release of the mortgage evidencing the fact of its satisfaction in the appropriate county recorder's office and pay any fees required for the recording. The mortgagee may, by contract with the mortgagor or current owner of the real property, recover the cost of the fees required for the recording of the satisfaction by the county recorder.

(E) If the mortgagee fails to comply with division (D)(2) of this section after receiving the notice in accordance with division (D)(1) of this section, the current owner of the real property may recover, in a civil action, reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred in such an action or otherwise to obtain the recording of a satisfaction of mortgage plus damages of one hundred dollars for each day of noncompliance, not to exceed five thousand dollars in total damages.

This division does not preclude or affect any other legal remedies or damages that may be available to the current owner.

(F) A mortgagee that records a release of a mortgage evidencing the fact of its satisfaction within the time periods required by this section shall not be in violation of this section, or subject to damages or fees, due to the failure of a county recorder to timely process that release of mortgage.

(G) A current owner may combine the civil actions described in divisions (C) and (E) of this section by bringing one action to collect for both damages, or may bring separate actions.

(H) As used in this section:

(1) "Mortgagee" includes the original mortgagee or any successor to or assignee of the original mortgagee.

(2) "Satisfaction" means that the obligation secured by a mortgage has been paid in full and the underlying obligation terminated, with no opportunities for future advancements.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 201, §1, eff. 3/23/2015.

Effective Date: 12-13-1984 .