The Register must be familiar with the requirements for acceptance applicable to each document.  The prerequisites for acceptance of a document vary with the type of document.  The Register is not a notary and does not have a statutory power to take acknowledgments, as does the County Clerk.

The Register has specific directions on how to index, record, and maintain the records.  T.C.A. § 8-13-108.  The Register must:  (1) require specific information on instruments registered in the office; (2)  perform the assigned tasks in a diligent manner, since the notice of a recorded instrument may affect who holds legal title to property and who has priority in liens against property; (3)  carefully place the time of receipt of instruments into the notebook, record the instruments in the correct book, and index the instrument properly; (4) keep accurate records of the fees, commissions, and taxes collected as well as of office expenses; (5) make reports on the fees, commissions, and expenses to the County; and (6) make reports on the taxes collected to the State revenue department.  T.C.A. §§ 8-13-108, 67-4-409.   Fee officials, including Registers, must collect all fees to which they are entitled.  T.C.A. § 8-22-102.

The Register is responsible for collecting "transfer" and "mortgage" taxes.    T.C.A. § 67-4-409.   With some statutory exceptions, the Register must collect a tax on the transfer of all interests in real estate, and the "mortgage" tax on recording instruments which evidence an indebtedness.  T.C.A. § 67-4-409.  The Register must be knowledgeable concerning the many special rules and exceptions that apply to the collection of these taxes.  Also, the Register must be knowledgeable about the required statements on instruments evidencing transfers of real estate or certain interests in real estate and instruments of indebtedness.