59.43(2m)(a)6. 6. The margins on the bottom and sides of the instrument are at least 0.25 inch.

59.43(2m)(b) (b) Except as provided in pars. (d) and (e), no document may be recorded in the office of a register of deeds unless it substantially complies with all of the following:

59.43(2m)(b)1. 1. The paper is white and is at least 20 pound weight.

59.43(2m)(b)2. 2. The page width is 8.5 inches and the page length is either 11 inches or 14 inches. The maximum deviation from any of these measurements may not exceed 0.25 inch.

59.43(2m)(b)3. 3. A multipage instrument is not hinged or otherwise joined completely at the top or sides.

59.43(2m)(b)4. 4. The entire document is clear and the letters, numbers, symbols, diagrams and other representations in the document are large enough and dense enough to be reproduced or read by a copy machine and a microfilm camera or optical scanner to the extent that the image captured is legible.

59.43(2m)(b)5. 5. The ink is black or red, except that signatures and coded notations on maps may be other colors.

59.43(2m)(b)6. 6. The top margin of each page is 0.5 inch, except that company logos may appear within this margin if they do not interfere with any of the other requirements of this subsection.

59.43(2m)(c) (c) The register of deeds shall provide, upon request, a blank form which a person may complete and use as the first page of an instrument that the person seeks to record. The blank form shall be provided without charge and shall conform to the provisions of pars. (a) and (b).

59.43(2m)(d) (d) Paragraphs (a) and (b) do not apply to any of the following instruments:

59.43(2m)(d)1. 1. Copies of documents that are certified by the state or by a city, village, town or county, or by a subunit or instrumentality of any of the foregoing.

59.43(2m)(d)2. 2. Rerecorded documents.

59.43(2m)(d)3. 3. Filed documents.

59.43(2m)(d)4. 4. Federal income tax lien form 688 (Y) (c).

59.43(2m)(e) (e) Every instrument that the register of deeds accepts for recordation under this subsection shall be considered recorded despite its failure to conform to one or more of the requirements of this subsection, if the instrument is properly indexed in a public index maintained in the office of the register of deeds.

59.43(3) (3) Register of deeds; deputies. Every register of deeds shall appoint one or more deputies, who shall hold office at the register's pleasure. The appointment shall be in writing and shall be recorded in the register's office. The deputy or deputies shall aid the register in the performance of the register's duties under the register's direction, and in case of the register's vacancy or the register's absence or inability to perform the duties of the register's office the deputy or deputies shall perform the duties of register until the vacancy is filled or during the continuance of the absence or inability.

59.43(4) (4) Register of deeds; microfilming and optical disk and electronic storage.

59.43(4)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), upon the request of the register of deeds, any county, by board resolution, may authorize the register of deeds to photograph, microfilm or record on optical disks or in electronic format records of deeds, mortgages or other instruments relating to real property or may authorize the register of deeds to record on optical disks or in electronic format instruments relating to security interests in accordance with the requirements of s. 16.61 (7) or 59.52 (14) and to store the original records within the county at a place designated by the board. The storage place for the original records shall be reasonably safe and shall provide for the preservation of the records authorized to be stored under this paragraph. The register of deeds shall keep a photograph, microfilm or optical disk or electronic copy of such records in conveniently accessible files in his or her office and shall provide for examination of such reproduction or examination of a copy generated from an optical disk or electronic file in enlarged, easily readable form upon request. Compliance with this paragraph satisfies the requirement of sub. (1) (a) that the register of deeds shall keep such records in his or her office. The register of deeds may make certified copies reproduced from an authorized photograph, from a copy generated from optical disk or electronic storage or from the original records.

59.43(4)(b) (b) The register of deeds may microfilm or record on optical disks or in electronic format notices of lis pendens that are at least one year old, in accordance with the requirements of s. 16.61 (7) or 59.52 (14) (b) to (d). The register of deeds shall keep a microfilm or optical disk or electronic copy of notices of lis pendens in conveniently accessible files in his or her office and shall provide for examination of such reproduction or examination of a copy generated from optical disk or electronic storage in enlarged, easily readable form upon request. Compliance with this paragraph satisfies the requirement of sub. (1) (a) that the register of deeds shall keep such records in his or her office. The register of deeds may make certified copies reproduced from a copy generated from microfilm or from optical disk or electronic storage. The register of deeds may destroy or move to off-site storage any notice of lis pendens that has been microfilmed or recorded on optical disk or in electronic format under this paragraph.

59.43(5) (5) Including name of person drafting instrument.

59.43(5)(a) (a) No instrument by which the title to real estate, or any interest therein or lien thereon, is conveyed, created, encumbered, assigned or otherwise disposed of shall be recorded by the register of deeds unless the name of the person who, or governmental agency which, drafted such instrument is printed, typewritten, stamped or written thereon in a legible manner. An instrument complies with this subsection if it contains a statement in the following form: "This instrument was drafted by .... (name) ....".

59.43(5)(b) (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to an instrument executed before May 9, 1957, or to:

59.43(5)(b)1. 1. A decree, order, judgment or writ of a court.

59.43(5)(b)3. 3. An instrument that is executed or acknowledged outside of this state.

59.43(5)(b)4. 4. A transportation project plat that conforms to s. 84.095.

59.43(6) (6) Effect of certain omissions in registers' records. The validity and effect of the record of any instrument in the office of register of deeds shall not be lessened or impaired by the fact that the name of any grantor, grantee, witness or notary was not printed or typed on the instrument or by the fact that it does not comply with sub. (5).

59.43(7) (7) Including parcel identification number.

59.43(7)(a) (a) In counties with a population of 500,000 or more where parcel identification numbers are used in the tax roll for taxes based on the value of property in municipalities, any conveyance, as defined in s. 706.01 (4), of any interest in real estate located in such a municipality shall contain reference to the parcel identification number affected. The parcel identification number shall be required for the recording of the conveyance.

59.43(7)(b) (b) In counties with a population of less than 500,000 where parcel identification numbers are used in the tax roll for taxes based on the value of property in municipalities, any conveyance, as defined in s. 706.01 (4), of any interest in real estate located in such a municipality shall contain reference to the parcel identification number affected if the county in which the parcel is located enacts an ordinance that requires the use of such a number in a conveyance. The parcel identification number shall be required for the recording of the conveyance, for administrative purposes only, if the county enacts an ordinance under this paragraph.