Visit the Courthouse of the County or District in Which the Land Is Situated
Chains of title and deed information are available for your perusal if you visit the courthouse. You must go to the courthouse where the land is located. In some cases, you may have to go through the different papers by hand, noting the specific transfers of the title and any requirements that went along with it. This form of title search is time consuming, but it is free.
Visit the County Assessor
Most states now have additional tools available for free property title searches. You can find these on your state government sites under "county assessor." You will have to select your county, and you can then search through the listed properties. Bear in mind that in many counties, this information is incomplete. If you don't find your property through the title search, you will need to visit the courthouse in person.
Remember that you should always be able to find your property. If the property does not show up in the search, that means that the information is either mislabeled or it is not in the current system. It doesn't mean that there are no restrictions on it or other similar issues.
Find a real estate lawyer for more help doing a property title search.
This article contains general legal information and does not contain legal advice. Rocket Lawyer is not a law firm or a substitute for an attorney or law firm. The law is complex and changes often. For legal advice, please ask a lawyer.
