Home/property owners abstract

[Duffyjr]

I was just curious how many of you that own a home or property actually have a copy of your abstract/title?

Also if you have an easement do you have a copy of that?

 

[MasterSolenoid]

I have a copy of the Abstract of Title.
It's a list of who owned my property and surrounding area years before.
It goes back a couple hundred years and you can watch the property getting smaller and smaller.
I was told not to loose it because it's expensive to replace.

I totally believe in 'documentation' (saving ALL important documents we receive in every day life).
I also have the document from the County showing my mortgage was paid in full.

Documentation - in two Months I go to Small Claims Court for auto accident caused by other driver.
I'm getting my documents ready now.

 

[Wolf359]

I have it somewhere, they usually send it to you after the closing. But you don't really ever need it. It's all online and when you sell the place, you don't need to provide the original copy. It's basically worthless to have a physical copy of it. If they ever need proof of ownership, I just print off a copy from the local registry of deeds. I think in 10+ years it's only been asked for when I'm doing rentals to section 8 tenants...

 

[Leo99]

I need to get a copy of my deed. I assume the township or county has it.

 

[Duffyjr]

I need to get a copy of my deed. I assume the township or county has it.

The court house should had a Registry of Deeds office but good luck.

This is why I was curious about this, my neighbor has never had one, the house was always handed down but this last time it was gifted to a sister and they are having a hard time getting this done for some reason they won't disclose to me. There is also an easement for the driveway we share that is included in our abstract which they don't have either.

 

[TnT_M]

my lawyer has our abstract, I don't want it. They update it when I sell or have refinanced the property in the past anyway...

Just my $0.02

 

[Job]

If it has been handed down verbally through children and no paperwork was done, they probably need to get a real estate attorney. Otherwise each new owner has a deed recorded at the county. Children are just another owner. So the last owner grants a new deed to the next owner. A deed in hand isn’t necessary, it’s what is recorded last at the county clerk or whatever jurisdiction keeps the records. Should be pretty simple to find that info out before proceeding. What if it wasn’t deeded correctly to children through the estate? That could be a real mess. If you have a deed and sell the house your old physical deed is just a remembrance, only the latest recorded deed matters. Otherwise people would be running out with deeds claiming they own property they sold.

 

[Wolf359]

I need to get a copy of my deed. I assume the township or county has it.

What do you need it for? I always hear of scams that charge people $75-$100 to get a copy of their deed when you can go down to the registry and get a certified copy for like $2 a page.

 

[PandaBear]

One of mine that I paid off has the actual title, the other, after I paid off they transfer to a common / industry wide "holder" to make future sales / refinance more convenient and cost efficient. I don't mind that, as I don't think they would "lost" it easily like in a fire or something.

 

[jagdriver727]

I had an abstract for my house in Montgomery. House was built in 1940 and records in the file went as far back as the late 1800s. The whole thing took up a standard banker box. Old deeds, mortgages, plans for the house and pervious structures on the site, surveys, easements, etc. As far as the actual title, was on file with the county.

Have a hard copy of warranty deeds for both my shop and current home, but all the records are maintained electronically as far as I know.

 

[Duffyjr]

If it has been handed down verbally through children and no paperwork was done, they probably need to get a real estate attorney.....What if it wasn’t deeded correctly to children through the estate? That could be a real mess.

My FIL, who passed away a few years ago was actually the attorney that represented the neighbors 60ish years ago in the easement for the driveway, so my wife is fairly knowledgable when it comes to this and what you said is exactly what she said. When the kid took it over they said they couldn't find the abstract, why they didn't go down to the court house and get one or at least notify them of the transfer is beyond us but apparently there is no record of that transaction. Fast forward to 4 years ago when they gifted the house to a sister is the last thing they have on record since the original owners.

Some of you are asking why you need a copy or are relying on the county to take care of this are probably fine doing this but if you have any special easements or other amendments you should make sure it is getting recorded, it may save you a headache down the road.

Here is the issue for the neighbor, they have no copy of the easement for the driveway and the court house does not have one on record for them, right now we are the only ones that have a copy and all attorney's have passed away.

I had an abstract for my house in Montgomery. House was built in 1940 and records in the file went as far back as the late 1800s. The whole thing took up a standard banker box. Old deeds, mortgages, plans for the house and pervious structures on the site, surveys, easements, etc. As far as the actual title, was on file with the county.

Have a hard copy of warranty deeds for both my shop and current home, but all the records are maintained electronically as far as I know.

Yes, ours goes back to the late 1800's when they started plotting land into sections. Where our house is now there was a farm house which was about 2 miles from the old main street. That house was torn down in the 40's and our house was built in 1954. It is very interesting to read thru all that information.