Title Examiner

Full Time

Purpose:
To locate and provide information about a) owners of, b) liens filed against, and c) legal descriptions for real property assessed under delinquent tax accounts.

Essential Functions:
1. Obtains title examination materials from title plants and/or county records.
2. Reviews information set out in documents located during searches of records.
3. Assembles a chain-of-title that includes deeds, probate or heirship materials, liens that encumber search properties, and involuntary liens against owners
4. Identifies property owners and lien holders of mortgage and involuntary liens.
5. Furnishes a legal description identifying property with reasonable certainty.
6. Creates a run sheet that contains a legal description for land assessed under a delinquent account plus names of property owners and all lien holders.
7. Saves run sheets and digital copies of examination materials.
8. All other duties assigned.

Physical Demands & Work Environment:

1. Work takes place inside an office space located within the Houston PRC work area.
2. Being seated at a desk
3. Manually searching for land information on line or through a title plant; and then entering applicable details into a word processing document or a data base using an assigned computer and keyboard. Some work may be undertaken in a county clerk’s office, which requires traveling to a county courthouse. Courthouse work also involves reviewing computer-based records on a monitor and searching through records contained in large books, which requires the lifting of and replacing of the large books.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
1. Familiarity with real estate transactions and how real property is described.
2. Knowledge about ownership of, and interests in, real property.
3. Understanding of legal documents that convey and encumber real property.
4. Strong skills in interpreting wills and heirship information.
5. Experience using title plants and courthouse records in the metro Houston area.
6. The ability to handle work in a production-oriented environment.
7. Typing skills that facilitate the quick entry of information into reports.
8. A working understanding of multiple sources of land title information.

Supervisory Responsibilities:
1. A title examiner reports to the department manager and supervisor.
2. Title examiners are expected to make decisions independently; however, they should consult with the manager or supervisor when a matter is unclear.
3. A senior title examiner may sometimes assist co-workers with less experience.
4. Examiners frequently work with, or answer questions for, other parties who enter information from a title examination into the computer system.

Special Requirements:
1. Prior experience in land title examinations or some related area is necessary.
2. Must pass a background check made in connection with the submission of an application to obtain access to the records of Title Data, Inc.