Minnesota Session Laws - 2010, Regular Session

CHAPTER 371--S.F.No. 3361

An act

relating to civil law; prohibiting private transfer fees; modifying effective date of certain child support provisions;

amending Laws 2010, chapter 238, section 7; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 513.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [513.73] DEFINITIONS. new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Application. new text end

new text begin As used in sections 513.73 to 513.76, the following terms have the meanings given in this section. new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Transfer. new text end

new text begin "Transfer" means the sale, grant, gift, conveyance, assignment, inheritance, or other transfer of an ownership interest in real property located in this state. new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Private transfer fee. new text end

new text begin "Private transfer fee" means a fee or charge required by a private transfer fee obligation and payable upon the transfer of an interest in real property, or payable for the right to make or accept the transfer, regardless of whether the fee or charge is a fixed amount or is determined as a percentage of the value of the property, the purchase price, or other consideration given for the transfer. The following are not private transfer fees for purposes of this section: new text end

new text begin (1) consideration payable by the grantee to the grantor for the interest in real property being transferred, including any subsequent additional consideration for the property payable by the grantee based upon any subsequent appreciation, development, or sale of the property, provided that the additional consideration is payable on a onetime basis only, and the obligation to make the payment does not bind successors in title to the property. For the purposes of this clause, an interest in real property may include a separate mineral estate and its appurtenant surface access rights; new text end

new text begin (2) commission payable to a licensed real estate broker for the transfer of real property pursuant to an agreement between the broker and the grantor or the grantee, including any subsequent additional commission for that transfer payable by the grantor or the grantee based upon any subsequent appreciation, development, or sale of the property; new text end

new text begin (3) interest, charges, fees, or other amounts payable by a borrower to a lender pursuant to a loan secured by a mortgage against real property, including but not limited to a fee payable to the lender for consenting to an assumption of the loan or a transfer of the real property subject to the mortgage, fees, or charges payable to the lender for estoppel letters or certificates, and shared appreciation interest or profit participation or other consideration and payable to the lender in connection with the loan; new text end

new text begin (4) rent, reimbursement, charge, fee, or other amount payable by a lessee to a lessor under a lease, including but not limited to a fee payable to the lessor for consenting to an assignment, subletting, encumbrance, or transfer of the lease; new text end

new text begin (5) consideration payable to the holder of an option to purchase an interest in real property or the holder of a right of first refusal or first offer to purchase an interest in real property for waiving, releasing, or not exercising the option or right upon the transfer of the property to another person; new text end

new text begin (6) consideration payable by a contract for deed vendee to the vendor pursuant to the terms of a recorded contract for deed, including any subsequent additional consideration for the property payable by the vendee based upon any subsequent appreciation, development, or sale of the property; new text end

new text begin (7) a tax, fee, charge, assessment, fine, or other amount payable to or imposed by a governmental authority; new text end

new text begin (8) a fee, charge, assessment, fine, or other amount payable to a homeowner's condominium, cooperative, mobile home, or property owner's association pursuant to a declaration or covenant or law applicable to the association, including but not limited to fees or charges payable for estoppel letters or certificates issued by the association or its authorized agent; new text end

new text begin (9) a fee, a charge, an assessment, dues, a contribution, or other amount pertaining to the purchase or transfer of a club membership relating to real property owned by the member, including but not limited to any amount determined by reference to the value, purchase price, or other consideration given for the transfer of the real property; and new text end

new text begin (10) a mortgage from the purchaser of real property granted to the seller or to a licensed real estate broker. new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Private transfer fee obligation. new text end

new text begin "Private transfer fee obligation" means a declaration or covenant recorded or filed against the title to real property, or any other contractual agreement or promise, whether or not recorded or filed, that requires or purports to require the payment of a private transfer fee to the declarant or other person specified in the declaration, covenant, or agreement, or to their successors or assigns, upon a subsequent transfer of an interest in the real property. new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin [513.74] PROHIBITION. new text end

new text begin A private transfer fee obligation recorded, filed, or entered into in this state on or after the effective date of this section does not run with the title to real property and is not binding on or enforceable at law or in equity against any subsequent owner, purchaser, or mortgagee of any interest in real property as an equitable servitude or otherwise. Any private transfer fee obligation that is recorded, filed, or entered into in this state on or after the effective date of this section is void and unenforceable. It is the public policy of this state that no private transfer fee obligation should be valid or enforceable whenever entered into, recorded, or filed. new text end

Sec. 3.

new text begin [513.75] LIABILITY FOR VIOLATION. new text end

new text begin A person who records or files or enters into an agreement imposing a private transfer fee obligation in the person's favor after the effective date of this section shall be liable for (1) any and all damages resulting from the imposition of the transfer fee obligation on the transfer of an interest in the real property, including, without limitation, the amount of any transfer fee paid by a party to the transfer, and (2) all attorney fees, expenses, and costs incurred by a party to the transfer or mortgagee of the real property to recover the transfer fee paid or in connection with an action to quiet title or register the title or a proceeding subsequent to initial registration. If an agent acts on behalf of a principal to record or file or secure a private transfer fee obligation, liability shall be assessed to the principal, but not to the agent. new text end

Sec. 4.

new text begin [513.76] NOTICE REQUIREMENTS FOR EXISTING TRANSFER FEE OBLIGATIONS. new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Prior obligations. new text end

new text begin For a private transfer fee obligation imposed prior to the effective date of this section, the receiver of the fee shall record or file, prior to December 31, 2010, against the real property subject to the private transfer fee obligation a separate document with the county recorder or registrar of titles of the county in which the real property is located that meets all of the following requirements: new text end

new text begin (1) the title of the document shall be "Notice of Private Transfer Fee Obligation" in at least 14-point boldface type; new text end

new text begin (2) the amount, if the fee is a flat amount, or the percentage of the sales price constituting the cost of the transfer fee, or any other basis by which the transfer fee is to be calculated; new text end

new text begin (3) the date or circumstances under which the private transfer fee obligation expires, if any; new text end

new text begin (4) the purpose for which the funds from the private transfer fee obligation will be used; new text end

new text begin (5) the name of the person or entity to which funds are to be paid and specific contact information regarding where the funds are to be sent; new text end

new text begin (6) the acknowledged signature of the payee; and new text end

new text begin (7) the legal description of the real property burdened by the private transfer fee obligation. new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Amendments. new text end

new text begin The person or entity to which the transfer fee is to be paid may record or file an amendment to the notice of transfer fee containing new contact information, but the amendment must contain the information of the notice of transfer fee that it amends and the legal description of the property burdened by the private transfer fee obligation. new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Results of noncompliance. new text end

new text begin (a) If the payee fails to comply fully with subdivision 1, the grantor of any real property burdened by the private transfer fee obligation may proceed with the conveyance of any interest in the real property to any grantee. The grantor shall be deemed to have acted in good faith and shall not be subject to any obligations under the private transfer fee obligation, and the real property thereafter shall be conveyed free and clear of the transfer fee and private transfer fee obligation. new text end

new text begin (b) If the payee fails to provide a written statement of the transfer fee payable within 30 days of the date of a written request for the statement sent to the address shown in the notice of transfer fee, then the grantor, on recording or filing of the affidavit required under subdivision 4, may convey any interest in the real property to any grantee without payment of the transfer fee and shall not be subject to any further obligations under the private transfer fee obligation. The real property shall be conveyed free and clear of the transfer fee and private transfer fee obligation. new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Affidavit requirement. new text end

new text begin (a) An affidavit stating the facts enumerated under paragraph (b) must be recorded or filed with the county recorder or registrar of titles in the county in which the real property is located prior to or simultaneously with a conveyance pursuant to subdivision 3, paragraph (a), of real property unburdened by a private transfer fee obligation. An affidavit filed under this paragraph must state that the affiant has actual knowledge of the facts in the affidavit and must include the legal description of the real property burdened by the private transfer fee obligation, the name of the person appearing by the record to be the owner of the real property at the time of the signing of the affidavit, and a reference by recording or filing information to the instrument of record containing the private transfer fee obligation. new text end

new text begin (b) When recorded or filed, an affidavit as described in paragraph (a) constitutes prima facie evidence that: new text end

new text begin (1) a request for the written statement of the transfer fee payable in order to obtain a release of the fee imposed by the private transfer fee obligation was sent to the address shown in the notification; and new text end

new text begin (2) the entity listed on the notice of transfer fee failed to provide the written statement of the transfer fee payable within 30 days of the date of the notice sent to the address shown in the notification. new text end

Sec. 5.

Laws 2010, chapter 238, section 7, is amended to read:

Sec. 7.

EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION.

Sections 2 deleted text begin to 6 deleted text end new text begin and 3 new text end are effective January 1, 2011. Sections 4 to 6 new text begin are effective July 1, 2011, and new text end apply retroactively to child support judgments, including judgments by operation of law, that have not expired before deleted text begin January deleted text end new text begin July new text end 1, 2011.

Sec. 6.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin Sections 1 to 4 are effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Presented to the governor May 15, 2010

Signed by the governor May 19, 2010, 9:58 a.m.