How do I cancel or satisfy a recorded mortgage?
Full Question:
Answer:
With regard to cancelling or satisfaction of a mortgage the Florida statutes state:
701.04 Cancellation of mortgages, liens, and judgments.--
(1) Within 14 days after receipt of the written request of a mortgagor, the holder of a mortgage shall deliver to the mortgagor at a place designated in the written request an estoppel letter setting forth the unpaid principal balance, interest due, and the per diem rate. Whenever the amount of money due on any mortgage, lien, or judgment shall be fully paid to the person or party entitled to the payment thereof, the mortgagee, creditor, or assignee, or the attorney of record in the case of a judgment, to whom such payment shall have been made, shall execute in writing an instrument acknowledging satisfaction of said mortgage, lien, or judgment and have the same acknowledged, or proven, and duly entered of record in the book provided by law for such purposes in the proper county. Within 60 days of the date of receipt of the full payment of the mortgage, lien, or judgment, the person required to acknowledge satisfaction of the mortgage, lien, or judgment shall send or cause to be sent the recorded satisfaction to the person who has made the full payment. In the case of a civil action arising out of the provisions of this section, the prevailing party shall be entitled to attorney's fees and costs.
(2) Whenever a writ of execution has been issued, docketed, and indexed with a sheriff and the judgment upon which it was issued has been fully paid, it shall be the responsibility of the party receiving payment to request, in writing, addressed to the sheriff, return of the writ of execution as fully satisfied.
701.05 Failing or refusing to satisfy lien; punishment for.--Any person entitled to and receiving the payment of the amount of money due upon any mortgage, lien, or judgment, who shall fail for 30 days after written demand made by the person paying the same, to cancel and satisfy of record, as provided by law, any such mortgage, lien or judgment so paid, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
701.06 Certain cancellations and satisfactions of mortgages validated.--All cancellations or satisfactions of mortgages made prior to the enactment of chapter 4138, Acts of 1893, by the mortgagee or assignee of record of such mortgage entering same on the margin of the record of such mortgage in the presence of the custodian of such record and attested by the said custodian and signed by said mortgagee or assignee of record of such mortgage, shall be valid and effectual for every purpose as if the same had been done subsequent to the enactment of chapter 4138, Acts of 1893.
