An Attorney's Opinion of Title is a legal document in which an attorney provides their judgment regarding the validity and marketability of a property title after conducting a thorough examination of public records and property title abstracts.
A Certificate of Title is an authoritative opinion rendered by an attorney regarding the status of a property's title based on public records. It ensures the property's title is clear of public record claims.
Constructive notice is a legal concept wherein an individual is presumed to have knowledge of a fact when such fact is a matter of public record, even if they do not have actual knowledge of it.
Deed books are official public records maintained by county governments, containing deeds and various real estate-related documents critical for property transactions and ownership verification.
Document recording is a crucial process in real estate transactions that involves filing documents, such as deeds or mortgages, with a recorder of deeds or an appropriate government office to create a public record of property ownership and interests.
A Grantor/Grantee Index is a crucial public record that cross-indexes grantors and grantees and the properties they relate to. This index aids in tracing the history of property ownership.
A hidden defect in real estate refers to any title defect that is not apparent from an examination of public records. These defects can significantly impact the rights of property ownership.
The term 'Owner of Record' refers to the person or entity listed in public records as the legal owner of a property. While the owner of record is the recognized owner in official documents, beneficial ownership may differ.
The record owner is the individual or entity whose name is listed on the public records as the current legal owner of a property or asset.
A Recorder is the public official responsible for maintaining records of documents pertaining to real property, including deeds, mortgages, and liens. This vital role ensures the documentation is publicly accessible.
Recording is the process of formally documenting instruments affecting the title to real property in a public registry, thus giving legal notice of the recorded facts to the world.
Recording fee closing costs are charges incurred during the real estate transaction to record documents, such as the deed or mortgage, in public records. These fees are mandatory and generally paid to local government offices to ensure the transaction is officially noted and legally recognized.
A tax map is a detailed and comprehensive document that shows the location, boundaries, dimensions, and various relevant information about parcels of land subject to property taxes. These maps are typically bound into books and maintained as public records at local tax offices.
An unrecorded deed is an instrument that transfers title from one party (grantor) to another party (grantee) without providing public notice of the change in ownership. Recording is essential to protect one’s interest in real estate.
