Effective 28 Aug 2004

443.130. Liability for failing to satisfy — demand by certified mail required. — 1. If the secured party, receiving satisfaction for the debt secured pursuant to this chapter, does not, within forty-five days after request and tender of costs, submit for recording a sufficient deed of release, such secured party shall be liable to the mortgagor for the lesser of an amount of three hundred dollars a day for each day, after the forty-fifth day, that the secured party fails to submit for recording a sufficient deed of release or ten percent of the amount of the security instrument, plus court costs and attorney fees to be recovered in any court of competent jurisdiction. In the event a document submitted for recording by a secured party is rejected for recording for any reason, such secured party shall have sixty days following receipt of notice that the document has been rejected in which to submit a recordable and sufficient deed of release.

2. To qualify under this section, the mortgagor or his or her agent shall provide the request in the form of a demand letter to the secured party by certified mail, return receipt requested or in another form that provides evidence of the date of receipt to the mortgagor. The letter shall include good and sufficient evidence that the debt secured by the deed of trust was satisfied with good funds, and the expense of filing and recording the release was advanced.

3. In any action against such person who fails to release the lien as provided in subsections 1 and 2 of this section, the plaintiff, or his or her attorney, shall prove at trial that the plaintiff notified the holder of the note by certified mail, return receipt requested, or as otherwise permitted by subsection 2 of this section.

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(RSMo 1939 § 3472, A.L. 1994 H.B. 1312, A.L. 1996 H.B. 1432, A.L. 2004 H.B. 959)

Prior revisions: 1929 § 3085; 1919 § 2244; 1909 § 2850

(1996) Cost means the recorder of deeds' fee for releasing the deed of trust. Murray v. Fleet Mortgage Corp., 936 S.W.2d 212 (Mo.App. E.D.).

(1996) This section requires a deed of release be delivered to the party making the satisfaction. Masterson v. Roosevelt Bank, 919 S.W.2d 9 (Mo.App. E.D.).