A mortgagee, Bank X, holds a mortgage on a commercial property owned by Borrower Y. Bank X decides to sell and assign the mortgage to Bank Z as part of a portfolio sale. Shortly after the transfer, Borrower Y discovers that Bank Z has incorrectly recorded the assignment in the county records office, listing the mortgage as discharged. Bank Z attempts to recover the debt from Borrower Y when payments are missed. Borrower Y argues they have no obligation to pay because the mortgage appears to have been discharged. How should the dispute be resolved according to standard principles of mortgage law?
Bank Z must renegotiate a new mortgage agreement with Borrower Y due to the error in recordation.
Bank Z has forfeited its right to enforce the mortgage due to negligence in recordation.
Borrower Y remains obligated to pay Bank Z because the incorrect recordation does not extinguish the mortgage obligations.
Borrower Y is discharged from payment obligations because the county records show the mortgage as satisfied.
The correct answer is grounded in the principle that the obligations and rights under a mortgage do not cease merely because of a clerical or recording error. A valid assignment between Bank X and Bank Z transfers all rights under the mortgage, even if the county records reflect an error. Borrower Y's obligation to pay remains intact unless a release or satisfaction agreement had been validly executed. Mistaken discharge by recording does not eliminate the debt owed under a valid mortgage assignment. Other options are wrong because they presume either the error negates the mortgage or disregards standard remedies available to rectify recording mistakes.
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