Will “Abstract Searcher” be Automated?

Core Skills & Abilities

• Examine documentation such as mortgages, liens, judgments, easements, plat books, maps, contracts, and agreements to verify factors such as properties' legal descriptions, ownership, or restrictions.

• Prepare and issue title commitments and title insurance policies, based on information compiled from title searches.

• Read search requests to ascertain types of title evidence required and to obtain descriptions of properties and names of involved parties.

• Confer with realtors, lending institution personnel, buyers, sellers, contractors, surveyors, and courthouse personnel to exchange title-related information or to resolve problems.

• Prepare reports describing any title encumbrances encountered during searching activities and outlining actions needed to clear titles.

• Retrieve and examine real estate closing files for accuracy and to ensure that information included is recorded and executed according to regulations.

• Summarize pertinent legal or insurance details, or sections of statutes or case law from reference books for use in examinations or as proofs or ready reference.

• Determine whether land-related documents can be registered under the relevant legislation, such as the Land Titles Act.

• Assess fees related to registration of property-related documents.

• Verify accuracy and completeness of land-related documents accepted for registration, preparing rejection notices when documents are not acceptable.

• Prepare lists of all legal instruments applying to a specific piece of land and the buildings on it.

• Direct activities of workers who search records and examine titles, assigning, scheduling, and evaluating work, and providing technical guidance as necessary.

• Enter into record-keeping systems appropriate data needed to create new title records or to update existing ones.

• Examine individual titles to determine if restrictions, such as delinquent taxes, will affect titles and limit property use.

• Obtain maps or drawings delineating properties from company title plants, county surveyors, or assessors' offices.

• Copy or summarize recorded documents, such as mortgages, trust deeds, and contracts, that affect property titles.