{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-42-404","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 42-404","heading":"Failures in formal requisites of an instrument.","body":"(a)\nThe failures in the formal requisites of an instrument that may be cured by this act are:\n(1)\nAn omission of an acknowledgment, defective or improper acknowledgment, or any failure to meet a requirement in the taking of an acknowledgment;\n(2)\nA failure to attach a clerk’s certificate;\n(3)\nAn omission of a notary seal or other seal; or\n(4)\nAn omission of an attestation.\n\n(b)\nNothing in this act shall be construed to eliminate the requirement that a deed be under seal. Any deed accepted for recordation without a seal but made effective by operation of this act shall be deemed a sealed instrument.\n\n(c)\nNothing in this act shall be construed to validate any instrument with respect to which there was any misrepresentation, fraudulent act, or illegal provision in connection with its execution or acknowledgment.\n\n(d)\nAny person convicted of a fraudulent act, in connection with the validation of any instrument under §§  42-402, 42-403, and 42-602 shall be subject to the penalties set forth in § 22-3222.","path":["Title 42. Real Property.","Chapter 4. Deed Effective and Recordation Dates."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/42-404","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"a8be9399f19586f8d2e0f6ecbc42480a409ec590b26c021310207593b079b1a1","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-42-403","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-42-405"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}