What Is Title Search?
Title Search: A review of public records to confirm who owns a property and find liens or other claims.
A title search examines public records, such as deeds, mortgages, court judgments, tax records and recorded plats, to confirm the seller owns the property and to find claims against it.
What it can find
- Existing mortgages that must be paid off
- Liens for unpaid taxes, contractors or judgments
- Easements and restrictions
- Errors in past deeds or legal descriptions
- Ownership disputes or missing signatures from past owners
What happens next
The results go into the title commitment. Problems must be resolved, usually by the seller, before closing.
Good to know
A search can't find everything, such as forged documents or unknown heirs. That's what title insurance covers.