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Title Searcher/Abstractor Licensing

  • 1.  Title Searcher/Abstractor Licensing

    Posted 02-21-2023 13:42

    Hi All, Can you please let me know what states require Title Searchers/Abstractors to be licensed?  I am pushing Connecticut to require licensing and would love to know what other states are doing.  Thanks!



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    Jacqueline Purcell
    Director of Title Services
    Fusion Title Search
    Branford CT
    +1 (203) 488-3920
    ------------------------------
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  • 2.  RE: Title Searcher/Abstractor Licensing

    Posted 02-22-2023 07:10

    MN, ND, and NE are the only states I know of that offer some sort of abstractor licensing. 

    I currently have 20+ licensed abstractors in MN, and we have employees signed up to take the licensing tests in NE and ND this year. Please feel free to reach out with any questions!



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    Brad Abrahamson
    President
    Capitol Lien Records & Research, Inc.
    Saint Paul MN
    +1 (651) 488-0100
    ------------------------------

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  • 3.  RE: Title Searcher/Abstractor Licensing

    Posted 02-23-2023 01:43
    West Virginia considers abstracting the practice of law and therefore must be done by or under the supervision and control of an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of West Virginia. 

    Kim
     
    Kimberly A. Gilbert-Toelle, Esq.*
    134 Sedona Court
    Martinsburg, WV 25403
    Home: 304-274-6733
    Cell: 301-910-4625
     
    *Admitted in West Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia only
     
    CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:  This transmission may contain information that is privileged, confidential, legally privileged, and/or exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the information contained herein (including any reliance thereon) is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Although this transmission and any attachments are believed to be free of any virus or other defect that might affect any computer system into which it is received and opened, it is the responsibility of the recipient to ensure that it is virus free and no responsibility is accepted by Kimberly Gilbert-Toelle, Attorney at Law., its subsidiaries and affiliates, as applicable, for any loss or damage arising in any way from its use. If you received this transmission in error, please immediately contact the sender and destroy the material in its entirety, whether in electronic or hard copy format. Thank you.  



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  • 4.  RE: Title Searcher/Abstractor Licensing

    Posted 02-23-2023 09:00
    In Kansas Abstracters must be licensed.

    --

    Ellen Albrecht

    Senior Underwriter

    727 N. Waco Ave., Suite 300    |   Wichita, KS 67203

      Mobile: (402) 214-0209

    E: ealbrecht@security1st.com


    Licensed in KS, MO & NE NPN  3191055

    Security 1st Title License Numbers: CO-532633, IA-1741945, KS-271044816-000, MO-8324356, NE-100265053, NV-3607332





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  • 5.  RE: Title Searcher/Abstractor Licensing

    Posted 02-22-2023 07:13

    I would be interested in seeing the results, as I do not think any state require Searchers/Abstractors to be licensed.

    Some states, require licensing or State Bar membership to sign the commitments (e.g. Virginia, Pennsylvania, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma)

    Texas requires a licensed escrow officer to sign commitments or policies, but to qualify for such you only prove you haven't been convicted of a financial crime. The Texas Land Title Association does provide certifications for Abstracting, Escrow or Tittle Insurance, but they are not mandatory.



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    James Carroll
    VP Regional Title Production
    University Title Company
    College Station TX
    +1 (979) 260-9818
    ------------------------------

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  • 6.  RE: Title Searcher/Abstractor Licensing

    Posted 02-22-2023 07:41

    Correct, there aren't any states that require a license to search. In MN, the abstractor license is only required if you're putting together (and signing) full paper abstracts. Although we rarely put together physical abstracts anymore, the abstractor license is still part of our employee training and development. 

    I'm happy to dig up some samples and training materials for the MN test.



    ------------------------------
    Brad Abrahamson
    President
    Capitol Lien Records & Research, Inc.
    Saint Paul MN
    +1 (651) 488-0100
    ------------------------------

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  • 7.  RE: Title Searcher/Abstractor Licensing

    Posted 02-22-2023 10:41

    North Dakota requires us to be licensed with 16 continuing Education hours every 3 years.



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    Jill Christensen
    Abstractor
    The Title Team
    Williston ND
    +1 (701) 774-3054
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  • 8.  RE: Title Searcher/Abstractor Licensing

    Posted 02-23-2023 11:22

    Hi Jill 

    Do you know what state agency oversees the licensing?  I would love to see what the test looks like.

    best,

    jacquie



    ------------------------------
    Jacqueline Purcell
    Director of Title Services
    Fusion Title Search
    Branford CT
    +1 (203) 488-3920
    ------------------------------

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  • 9.  RE: Title Searcher/Abstractor Licensing

    Posted 02-22-2023 11:45

    According to the NAIC only Minnesota and New Mexico require abstractors to be licensed. See page 32


    Survey of State Insurance Laws Regarding Title Data ... - NAIC

    https://content.naic.org › default › files › inline-files


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    Amy Balensky
    Title Agent
    Coastal Title Agency LLC
    Westlake OH
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  • 10.  RE: Title Searcher/Abstractor Licensing

    Posted 02-22-2023 21:07

    Hi, I know that Oklahoma also requires abstractors to be licensed.

     

    Jacquie

     

     




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  • 11.  RE: Title Searcher/Abstractor Licensing

    Posted 02-22-2023 21:10

    This is so very helpful @Amy Balensky Thank you so much!

     

    Jacquie

     

     

     

     

     

    Jacqueline Purcell, MBA, MSW, MSCJ

    Managing Director

     

                Follow us on twitter @fusiontitle

          Like us on facebook @fusiontitlesearch

     

     

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  • 12.  RE: Title Searcher/Abstractor Licensing

    Posted 02-23-2023 09:12

    Great discussion, for everyone interested in knowing more about  title insurance compliance and regulations in each state, the TIRS State Compliance Guides are a great resource.

    The guides are organized into seven sections: Introduction, Title Insurers, Title Agents, Abstracters, Escrow/Closing Personnel, Market Practices, and Real Estate Practices.

    You can find more information at https://www.alta.org/tirs-state-compliance-guide/ and a free sample of the District of Columbia Guide (under Vol. 2) to see the kind of information is included in the guides. 

    Message me if you have any questions. Thanks!



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    Carolina Perez
    Product Manager
    American Land Title Association
    Washington DC
    +1 (202) 296-3671
    ------------------------------

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  • 13.  RE: Title Searcher/Abstractor Licensing

    Posted 02-23-2023 10:17

    Oklahoma has required licenses for Abstractors that research and compile abstracts of title since 1986. We have regulations that require your plants to hold a license (Certificate of Authority) and any employee that does indexing, ie posting to your plant records, to be licensed and if you research to compile an abstract of title you are required to have a license.  Look at the Oklahoma Statutes, it is Title 1 of the Oklahoma Statutes.  We also require the renewal of the COA and individual license annually, but do not have current CE requirements. 

        We have and are doing some revisions to Title 1 this year to define electronic abstract plants, common carrier and physical presence.  We are licensed per county that you hold a COA. 

    Glenda M. Mittasch

    President

    Powers Abstract Company

    Perry, Oklahoma 

    580-336-4068. 



    ------------------------------
    Glenda Mittasch
    President
    Powers Abstract Company, Inc.
    Perry OK
    +1 (580) 336-4068
    ------------------------------

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  • 14.  RE: Title Searcher/Abstractor Licensing

    Posted 02-23-2023 11:10
    Thank you for all the information. In CT we are town based (only 1 of the 3 states in the country) so we house our land records in each 169 towns. Since COVID and towns all going online, more and more title companies are outsourcing title searching overseas. It is very reckless in my opinion especially seeing many towns have separate sewer/water lien books that are not recorded on the land records. I see a huge mess in CT in the future due to using out of state and even India as professional CT Title Searchers/Abstractors. It’s scary!

    Sent from My iPhone


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  • 15.  RE: Title Searcher/Abstractor Licensing

    Posted 02-23-2023 12:10

    I uploaded the basic test handbook and content outline for the MN Abstractor exam (this also includes info for the broker and salesperson test).  

    Besides paying a $90 renewal fee to the state each year, there are no other requirements to maintaining your license after you pass the test. 

    Jeanne Johnson from The MN Real Estate Learning Group would also be a good resource. Her company offers exam prep for the MN abstractor test. 



    ------------------------------
    Brad Abrahamson
    President
    Capitol Lien Records & Research, Inc.
    Saint Paul MN
    +1 (651) 488-0100
    ------------------------------

    Attachment(s)

    pdf
    MN PEARSON VUE CONTENT OUTLINE.pdf   228 KB 1 version
    pdf
    MN PEARSON VUE TEST HANDBOOK.pdf   330 KB 1 version
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  • 16.  RE: Title Searcher/Abstractor Licensing

    Posted 02-24-2023 10:27

    You also need to have e&o coverage to be licensed in MN....



    ------------------------------
    Brad Abrahamson
    President
    Capitol Lien Records & Research, Inc.
    Saint Paul MN
    +1 (651) 488-0100
    ------------------------------

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  • 17.  RE: Title Searcher/Abstractor Licensing

    Posted 02-24-2023 13:39

    Thank you Brad!



    ------------------------------
    Jacqueline Purcell
    Director of Title Services
    Fusion Title Search
    Branford CT
    +1 (203) 488-3920
    ------------------------------

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  • 18.  RE: Title Searcher/Abstractor Licensing

    Posted 11-12-2024 22:39

    I spoke at the General Assembly Real Estate Commission Hearing, and they determined that it "must me looked at" and research must be done.  But then I started to think in reality title searchers are the very definition of what falls under Special Licensing of Private Detective Agencies and Investigative Researchers.  So, I am looking at that route now. I am in school working towards my PhD in Investigations and its crazy how many cases we are reviewing if a proper title search was done it would have uncovered fraud!



    ------------------------------
    Jacqueline Purcell MAS, MBA
    Property Title Researcher
    Fusion Title Search
    Branford CT
    +1 (203) 488-3920
    ------------------------------

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