Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers

Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers investigate property ownership histories by carefully reviewing legal documents and public records. They spend their days examining deeds, mortgages, court records, tax documents, and other official paperwork to verify who legally owns a piece of real estate and whether any claims, liens, or restrictions affect the property. Much of their work takes place in offices, though they regularly visit courthouses, county recorder offices, and other government facilities to access physical records. They compile detailed reports summarizing their findings, which attorneys, real estate agents, lenders, and title insurance companies rely on before property transactions can proceed.