Abstract: Document sets, such as real estate deeds, are recorded at multiple recording stations with each deed set being recorded in the order that the set is presented, thereby preserving the arrival sequence of the documents as required by first-to-file recording systems. Document sets, with each set containing at least one document, are received at each of the recording stations independent of other recording stations. A unique arrival identifier is assigned to set, with the identifier including a time stamp for the document set and a document number for each document in the set. The time stamp differs from the time stamp assigned to the immediately preceding set received at any other receiving station by a predetermined time segment. Book and page numbers may also be assigned to each document, and a barcode label including the unique arrival identifier and the book and page numbers can be attached to each document.