Steps in conducting title search

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Conducting a real estate title search is imperative prior to purchasing a piece of real estate. A real estate title search is also helpful if you are interested in buying foreclosed real estate or a tax sale property. A real estate title search will reveal any encumbrances or liens on the property. You can conduct a real estate title search by completing the following steps:

1
Determine the tax map number or the name of the current owner of the real estate. If you don't have this information, take the property address to the tax assessment office in the county where the real estate is located.

2
Go to the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the real estate is located.

3
Staff at the Office of the Recorder of Deeds will assist you in locating the most recent deed for the real estate. The staff are usually very knowledgeable and can be very helpful in conducting a real estate title search.

4
Each deed contains a "recital clause," which indicates the manner in which the grantor obtained the property. Trace backwards through the recital clauses to establish a chain of title back 60 years or to the next general warranty deed.

5
Check the validity of all of the deeds in the chain of title. To do this make sure all of the deeds were signed by all of the grantors. Additionally, all of the deeds must be acknowledged, and the date of the acknowledgment must be subsequent to or the same as the date of the deed. All spouses to the grantor must have signed a spousal release.

6
Include a search for adverse conveyances in your real estate title search. To do this, search the names of the individual grantors in the chain of title. Did they convey any parcels of land, right of ways, easements, or mineral rights?

7
Determine if there are any outstanding inheritance tax liens on the real estate. If any of the parties in the chain of title died and someone else received the property through an inheritance, check with the register of wills in the county where the real estate is located to determine if the inheritance taxes have been paid.

8
Include a search for delinquent taxes in your real estate title search. Determine if there are any outstanding real estate taxes by contacting the county tax claim bureau and the municipality tax collector.

9
Determine if there are any judgments attached to the real estate by contacting the prothonotary in the county where the real estate lies.
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