TITLE SEARCHER


  

DEFINITION


       Under limited supervision of a Title Examiner or other supervisory
  offficial in a state department, institution, or agency, does the field
  work involved in making searches in the various county and state
  offices wherein title and court proceedings are recorded and filed
  covering properties to be acquired by the state; performs searches and
  examines abstract of titles, deeds, and maps; surveys historical
  information and other legal documents to establish State claims to
  lands formally flawed by mean high tides; does related work as
  required.

  
EXAMPLES OF WORK:


       Primary duty is to examine, search, and abstract the records in
  the offices of County Clerks, Registers of Deeds, Surrogates and other
  county offices in the Superior Court of New Jersey and other State
  offices, and in the District Court of the United States for the
  District of New Jersey.  May be required to testify in a Court of Law
  regarding the title investigation.

       Locates and abstracts all instruments and data recorded or filed
  in such offices during a specific period of time which may affect the
  title of lands indicated in detailed descriptions including:  deeds,
  contracts of sale and assignments thereof, leases and assignments and
  releases thereof, mortagages open of record and all instruments
  affecting such mortgages, including assignments, postponements,
  subordinations, discharges, releases and satisfactions, wills and
  probate and intestacy proceedings; letters testamentary and of
  administration; certificates of tax sale; secured transactions,
  inheritance tax proceedings or waiver; notices of Lis Pendens: all
  liens affecting the premises specified, including mechanics' liens,
  mechanics' notices of intention, judgements, recognizances, bonds to
  sheriff, attachments and federal liens; and all instruments of
  satisfaction, discharge, assignment or release concerning such liens.

       May personally serve legal notices or other papers related to
  Right of Way acquisitions and possessory actions.

       Makes copies of filed maps which affect lands under examination.

       Makes plottings of deed descriptions of property.

       Makes preliminary investigations of the ownership of property in
  the various county and municipal offices.

       As required, examines road books for road returns, vacations, and
  abandonments of roads and streets.

        As directed makes such other specific or general investigations
  relative to the acquisition of property as required.

       As required, performs searches of various old records of
  construction to determine impact of conservation on the mean high water
  line of waterfront areas.

       Prepares factual reports of title searching matters.

       Maintains essential records and files.

       Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic
  and/or manual recording and computerized information systems used by
  the agency, office, or related units.

  REQUIREMENTS:

       EXPERIENCE:

            Two (2) years of work experience in title searching or
  abstracting.

       LICENSE:

           Appointee will be required to possess a driver's license valid
  in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee
  mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

  KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

           Knowledge of the public records and the methods and procedures
  to be used in locating information concerning real property, title, and
  ownership.

           Knowledge of the form, content, and purpose of the several
  types of legal instruments used in the transfer of the ownership of
  real property and their interpretation.

           Knowledge of the particular county and municipal offices in
  which records of property, title, and ownership are to be found after a
  period of training.

           Knowledge of the procedures to be used in title searching,
  conveyancing, and related legal and title matters.

           Ability to use the varied forms of indices to be found in land
  title offices and to locate needed data.

           Ability to review, comprehend, analyze, and interpret the
  legal documents used in title and real estate conveyance work, and to
  make accurate and legible abstracts of legal instruments and documents
  of varied types.

           Ability to protract correctly a surveyor's description of
  lands and ability to copy maps.

           Ability to work effectively with associates and with employees
  of several county, municipal, and other offices wherein needed
  information is located.

           Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate, and detailed
  reports of title, ownership, and real property for submission to the
  Title Officer.

           Ability to maintain essential records and files.

           Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or
  manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or
  related units.

           Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in
  English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position.  American
  Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of
  communication.

           Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as
  long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after
  reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations.  If the
  accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue
  hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

  CODES: 15/Al5-57l62                  JMR                  9/19/95