search services

Searches

Providing a full array of products, as an industry leader in New York property title searches, lien searches, abstracts of title and municipal searches. Additional services available on request.EXAMINATION SEARCHES

Full Search

A full search is a title examination of the subject premises for a period of at least 40 years. The included full search will include abstracts: deeds, easements, agreements, covenants & restrictions, as well as open mortgages (including all related mortgage documents) that affect subject premises.

Short Search

A short search is a title examination of the subject premises going forward from the most recent bona fide deed of record that is at least 2 years old.

Co-op Lien Search

A co-op search involves searching for and documenting the last owner and deed of record into the Cooperative. We report on all open mortgages and liens against the property. We also search for liens, County and State UCCs, as well as patriot searches and bankruptcy searches against any name searched.

Attorney’s Search

An attorney search involves searching and documenting the last owner and deed chain covering 2 years or when they encounter the last bona fide deed of record, whichever comes first. We report on all open mortgages and liens against the property and against any name searched.

Foreclosure Search

A foreclosure search involves searching and documenting the last owner and deed chain starting with the deed into the item foreclosed. We report on all open mortgages and liens against the property and against any name searched.

Last Owner Search

A last owner search documents the last owner of record and provides a copy of the deed.

Covenants, Restrictions & Easements Search

A search for and copies of easements, agreements, covenants and restrictions for a minimum of 40 years.

Surrogate’s Court Search

A search for a full estate proceeding against the name of the deceased in the records of the County Surrogate’s Court.

Reissue Search

A reissue search is an update of a client-provided prior title examination, fee title report or title policy, covering the same subject premises.

Ten-Year Search

A ten-year search is a search for the last owner and deed chain covering the last 10 years. We report on all open mortgages and liens against the property and against any names searched. Additionally, all covenants, restrictions, easements and reservations recorded against a property can be added to search.

UCC & Federal Tax Lien Search

A search of county records to determine if Uniform Commercial Code Liens and Federal Tax Liens have been filed against collateral which an applicant pledges on a loan. Searches conducted at County and/or State Level.

Name Search

A name search involves searching for and documenting any outstanding liens against any name searched in the specified county. This includes a search for recorded federal tax liens and UCCs.

Patriot Search

A search to determine if an individual or business is included on the “Specially Designated Nationals & Block Persons” list.

Bankruptcy Search

A search of recorded Federal Bankruptcy Court records for both individual and/or corporate names.

Copy of Document

We obtain and provide a copy of the requested document. Additionally, this document can be provided as a Certified Copy, certified by the issuing municipality.

Continuation Search

The continuation of a search originally prepared within the last 6 months.

CORPORATE SEARCHES

Articles of Organization

Copy of papers filed to form a Limited Liability Company.

Business Certificate Search (aka DBA Certificate Search)

We search for and document any business certificates on file with the County’s Clerks Office.

Business Lien Search

A full judgment lien search of the business name. Includes state and county UCC search, federal tax liens, judgments and liens (county offices), bankruptcy search in appropriate district. In New York, Bronx, Kings and Queens Counties, parking violations and environmental control board violations are also searched.

Certificate of Application for Authority

A certificate stating a business has authority to conduct its activities in New York State.

Certificate of Good Standing

Also known as Certificate Under Seal or Certificate of Existence, is evidence that a New York business is in existence, is authorized to transact business in the State of New York, and complies with all State requirements.

Certificate of Incorporation- Copy of papers filed to form a business corporation.

Franchise Tax Search

A search of outstanding New York State taxes owed on a corporation for each calendar or fiscal year.

Proof of Publication

Proof that a company has published its Articles of Organization as required by New York State Law.

MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENT SEARCHES

Certificate of Occupancy Search

A report of building department records reporting all Certificates of Occupancy, Certificates of Compliance/Completion and all open building permits.

Emergency Repair Violations Search

A search for any repairs or services provided to a property of an emergency nature where property owner was negligent in responding shown in the municipal records of the appropriate municipality.

Fire Violations Search

Search for and report on any violations of record with the Fire Department’s local and/or central files.

Highway Search

A report listing open sidewalk notices filed against a specific block and lot.

Housing and Building Violations Search

The building violation search will check the Building Department records for all outstanding violations.

Street Report

Search for and document the current street width, and report on any applications for street widening on file at the Highway Department. Applies to NYC only.

TAX & WATER SEARCH

Tax Search

We search for and report on county and local tax records to ascertain the existence of arrears, tax liens, and to determine the current status of payments.

Tax Continuation

A tax continuation will provide an update on a previously prepared tax search giving any change in status of previously reported unpaid taxes and charges, as well as reporting new unpaid taxes and charges.

Water Department Bill

We obtain a copy of a current water bill showing items that are currently due.

Assessor’s Card

A copy of the assessor’s card will be provided.

Assessor’s Letter

An assessor’s letter will determine the tax classification prior to 1938 and provide a copy of the official 1937 assessment role.

Sewer Report

In Nassau County, this search determines if a property conforms to the Department of Public Works Ordinance #266 of the Public Health Ordinance of Nassau County, which mandates all properties within the Nassau County Sewer District be connected to said sewer within one year of official notice. In Suffolk County, this search indicates whether or not the property is located within a Municipal Sewer District. If the property does in fact lie within the district, the search will indicate the amount due.

SURVEY SEARCHES

Survey Inspection

A visual examination of a specific property and report listing any changes to the property structure(s), possible encroachments and to the property which have occurred since the last survey. This report is designed to report on title issues only.

Survey Locate

We will attempt to locate the most recent copy of a survey for a property.

MISCELLANEOUS SEARCHES

Air Resources

This search provides a report which reflects the status of the records at the Department of Environmental Protection regarding presently used fuel burning and/or compacting equipment.

Federal District Court Search

Name search conducted in the Federal District Courts. This search can be utilized to determine if a property has outstanding Environmental Liens.

Flood Zone Search

We will determine if a specific property is located within a designated flood hazard area. Upon request, the search will cover the life of loan and can be certified to the lender.

Fuel Oil Permit Search

We will provide a report identifying the most current permit for storing fuel oil on file at the Department of Fire Prevention.

Health Department Violation Search

In New York City: A request to the city's Health Department for any open window guard violations filed against a specific address. Outside New York City: A check of the county health department records for all outstanding violations.

Landmark Search

We will provide a report reflecting the Landmark Status of a structure and provide posted violations recorded by the Landmarks Preservation Commission.

Underground Storage Permit Search

A request for information on underground storage tanks from the NYC fire department.

Wetland Search (Freshwater & Tidal)

Freshwater: This search will reveal if a property lies within or near freshwater wetlands. A copy of the wetlands map will be provided for the properties within a wetlands area.

Tidal: This search will reveal if a property lies within or near tidal wetlands. A copy of the wetlands map will be provided for the properties within a wetlands area.

Zoning Report

A search where we will search municipal records and provide a report stating the zoning classification of the area.

Additional services available on request.