More information from O*NET OnLine:

Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers - 23-2093.00

O*NET-SOC Description

Search real estate records, examine titles, or summarize pertinent legal or insurance documents or details for a variety of purposes. May compile lists of mortgages, contracts, and other instruments pertaining to titles by searching public and private records for law firms, real estate agencies, or title insurance companies.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

Abstractor
Commercial Title Examiner
Searcher
Title Abstractor

Title Agent
Title Examiner
Title Officer
Title Searcher

SOC Occupation Groups

23-0000	Legal Occupations
23-2000	Legal Support Workers
23-2090	Miscellaneous Legal Support Workers
23-2093.00	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers

Related Occupations

13-1041.04	Government Property Inspectors and Investigators Bright Outlook
13-2022.00	Appraisers of Personal and Business Property
13-2023.00	Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate
23-2011.00	Paralegals and Legal Assistants
27-3092.00	Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners
43-4031.00	Court, Municipal, and License Clerks
43-4041.00	Credit Authorizers, Checkers, and Clerks
43-4071.00	File Clerks
43-6012.00	Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
43-9041.00	Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks

Tasks

Assess fees related to registration of property-related documents.
Confer with realtors, lending institution personnel, buyers, sellers, contractors, surveyors, and courthouse personnel to exchange title-related information or to resolve problems.
Copy or summarize recorded documents, such as mortgages, trust deeds, and contracts, that affect property titles.
Determine whether land-related documents can be registered under the relevant legislation, such as the Land Titles Act.
Direct activities of workers who search records and examine titles, assigning, scheduling, and evaluating work, and providing technical guidance as necessary.
Enter into record-keeping systems appropriate data needed to create new title records or to update existing ones.
Examine documentation such as mortgages, liens, judgments, easements, plat books, maps, contracts, and agreements to verify factors such as properties' legal descriptions, ownership, or restrictions.
Examine individual titles to determine if restrictions, such as delinquent taxes, will affect titles and limit property use.
Obtain maps or drawings delineating properties from company title plants, county surveyors, or assessors' offices.
Prepare and issue title commitments and title insurance policies, based on information compiled from title searches.
Prepare lists of all legal instruments applying to a specific piece of land and the buildings on it.
Prepare real estate closing statements, using knowledge and expertise in real estate procedures.
Prepare reports describing any title encumbrances encountered during searching activities and outlining actions needed to clear titles.
Read search requests to ascertain types of title evidence required and to obtain descriptions of properties and names of involved parties.
Retrieve and examine real estate closing files for accuracy and to ensure that information included is recorded and executed according to regulations.
Summarize pertinent legal or insurance details, or sections of statutes or case law from reference books for use in examinations or as proofs or ready reference.
Verify accuracy and completeness of land-related documents accepted for registration, preparing rejection notices when documents are not acceptable.

Detailed Work Activities

Confer with court staff to clarify information.
Coordinate legal schedules or activities.
Evaluate information related to legal matters in public or personal records.
Meet with individuals involved in legal processes to provide information and clarify issues.
Prepare legal documents.
Research relevant legal materials to aid decision making.