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Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Title Document Search

Turnaround, where the records come from, what electronic records do and do not cover, and the difference between a document search and a title search.

How long does it take to receive the records?
It depends on the product. A current deed retrieval or a document retrieval averages one to three business days. A mortgage assignment chain or a judgment and lien search averages three to five. Times vary with the county’s records access and the complexity of the search.
How are the records obtained?
For fast turnaround the records are retrieved from electronic property records databases.
Is all the information available in electronic records?
Most properties have information in electronic records. Some information may not be available online for a specific property. In those cases the only source for the documents would be the municipal records office.
Is this the same as a title search?
No. In most cases a title search is performed by a title abstractor who reviews the actual paper documents directly at the county courthouse. A document search reports what has been recorded electronically for the property searched. It is not title insurance, and it is not a legal opinion on who holds title today — that is a conclusion for an attorney licensed in that state.
Are electronic records accurate?
Electronic records are copied from the actual county courthouse records. There may be some variations, as some counties do not report all records electronically. Recording and indexing practice varies county by county.
What is the difference between "voluntary" and "involuntary" liens?
A voluntary lien is one placed on the title voluntarily by the property owner, such as a mortgage. The property owner gives up a lien on their property in exchange for getting the mortgage — a mortgage is simply a type of lien for financing. An involuntary lien is one placed by a creditor on the title to collect a debt. This can be a tax lien, a mechanics lien, or another claim against the property or its owner. An involuntary lien is the type of lien typically thought of when liens are being searched.
What is contained on a deed?
A property deed will show the grantor and grantee of the transfer, the legal description of the property, and the vesting. The date of transfer and the amount are also shown.

The Short Answer

What this service is, in one paragraph

We retrieve property documents from county land records: the current-owner deed with its legal description, any recorded document you name, the open mortgages and every recorded assignment of them, and the judgments and involuntary liens recorded against a name or a parcel. Retrievals average one to three business days and searches three to five, because the source is the recorded electronic index rather than a trip to the courthouse.

That is also the limit. What we report is what has been recorded, for the property searched, in the county where the property sits. Some counties do not report all records electronically, and recording and indexing practice varies county by county. Where a specific property's records are not online, the municipal records office is the only source.

It is not title insurance, and it is not a legal opinion on who holds title today — that is a conclusion for an attorney licensed in that state.

Compare the four packages →How ordering works →Call 877-848-5337

Order Your Property Documents

Pick the product that covers what you need — a current deed retrieval from $75, or a search for the mortgages, judgments and liens recorded against the property. Records are retrieved from the county's public records office and arrive as an emailed link, typically in one to three business days for a retrieval and three to five for a search. Open a sample first if you want to see exactly what you get.

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Questions? Call 877-848-5337 or email info@afxllc.com