Career Overview
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.
Also Known As
- Abstractor
- Title Examiner
- Title Officer
- Title Searcher
Alternate Job Titles
- Abstract Clerk
- Abstract Searcher
- Abstract Writer
- Abstractor
- Advisory Title Officer
- Automotive Title Clerk
- Closing Specialist
- Commercial Title Assistant
- Commercial Title Examiner
- Data Abstractor
- DMV Title Clerk (Department of Motor Vehicles Title Clerk)
- Escrow Officer
- Foreclosure Specialist
- Land and Estates Officer
- Land Examiner
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
- Prepare reports describing any title encumbrances encountered during searching activities and outlining actions needed to clear titles.
- Copy or summarize recorded documents, such as mortgages, trust deeds, and contracts, that affect property titles.
- Verify accuracy and completeness of land-related documents accepted for registration, preparing rejection notices when documents are not acceptable.
- Prepare lists of all legal instruments applying to a specific piece of land and the buildings on it.
- Read search requests to ascertain types of title evidence required and to obtain descriptions of properties and names of involved parties.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- English Language
- Law and Government
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Deductive Reasoning
- Speech Recognition
- Near Vision
- Speech Clarity
- Inductive Reasoning
- Problem Sensitivity
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
- Integrity
- Perseverance
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Support
- Achievement
- Working Conditions
- Independence
- Relationships
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Acrobat
- Google Workspace software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
- Salesforce software
Tools & Equipment
- 10-key calculators
- Computer data input scanners
- Computer laser printers
- Desktop computers
- Laptop computers
- Laser facsimile machines
- Multiline telephone systems
- Personal computers
- Photocopying equipment
Work Environment
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $36,710 |
| Median | $54,980 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $87,240 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 48,170
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
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Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate
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Median Salary: Varies
Court, Municipal, and License Clerks
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $47,700
Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $48,450
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.