Title Searches, Lien Searches, Judicial Reports and Title Opinions
A title search reads the public record to find who has owned a property and what claims are attached to it. Lien searches, judicial reports and title opinions are different ways of reporting what that research finds.
Recorded documents or a county records terminal. A real working moment, not a stock file room.
What each one is.
These terms get used loosely. Here is what each one means.
Title search
Traces ownership back through recorded deeds, mortgages, easements and court filings. An easement is a right that lets someone else use part of the property, such as a utility line.
Property lien search
Looks for unpaid debts recorded against the property or its owner. A lien is a legal claim on a property for a debt, such as a mortgage, a court judgment or unpaid taxes.
Judicial title report
A report used in court cases such as foreclosures. It shows who has an interest in a property so every party can be named in the case.
Title opinion
A written opinion on who owns a property and what affects it. Often used in commercial deals or when no title insurance policy is being issued.
Property surveys
A survey shows a property's boundaries, buildings and easements. Cornerstone connects clients with licensed surveyors and coordinates the survey with the closing.
Who it is for
Attorneys, lenders, buyers, investors and anyone who needs to know the state of a property's title.
What Cornerstone does
- Search the county records for ownership, mortgages, liens, judgments, taxes and easements.
- Report what we find in plain language, and flag anything that needs attention.
- Explain what it would take to clear a problem, and who needs to act.
- Bring in an attorney from the same building when the issue calls for legal judgment.
What you need to bring or do
- The property address and, if you have it, the parcel number.
- The names of the current owners.
- What the report is for, such as a sale, a refinance or a court case.
- Any deadline you are working against.
Turnaround: [PLACEHOLDER: turnaround times for each report type]
Need a search or a report?
Send the address and tell us what it is for. We will tell you what we can do.