Unclear property ownership records can delay deals, trigger legal issues, and increase risk for investors, attorneys, and government agencies. Abstract Authority provides accurate, jurisdiction-verified ownership reports to streamline real estate due diligence.
Our standardized 30-Year Reports and Ownership Reports help uncover title risks, verify chain of title, and identify exceptions across all 50 states. With consistent formatting, reliable sourcing, and fast turnaround, we offer a trusted alternative to traditional title searches.
This white paper explains the real-world problems caused by incomplete ownership data, showcases how our reports solve them, and includes use cases from legal, investment, and public sectors. Whether you're acquiring land, litigating property rights, or evaluating risk, Abstract Authority delivers clarity where it counts.
The Growing Complexity of Real Estate Ownership Verification
Verifying property ownership has become increasingly complex due to fragmented public records, jurisdictional discrepancies, and inconsistent documentation standards. In many counties across the United States, record digitization remains incomplete, and cross-referencing between assessor, recorder, and court data is not automated. As a result, professionals involved in real estate transactions, legal proceedings, or land-use planning face delays, legal exposure, and missed opportunities when ownership is not clearly established.
These risks are particularly acute in:
- Multi-parcel or inherited properties, where ownership interests may be split, unrecorded, or improperly transferred.
- Distressed or tax-delinquent assets, where lien status and title encumbrances are often opaque.
- Jurisdictional border properties, where research must span multiple counties or states.
According to the American Land Title Association (ALTA), title problems affect one in three real estate transactions and can cost stakeholders thousands in legal fees or lost investments.
Inadequacies of Traditional Title Checks
While title insurance companies perform searches as part of underwriting, these often focus narrowly on insurable interest and can omit deeper due diligence concerns. Many professionals require a more comprehensive view that includes:
- Historical chain of title
- Vesting issues and probate indicators
- Unreleased liens and unrecorded claims
- Jurisdiction-specific red flags
Relying solely on title insurance products or DIY online searches often fails to surface these deeper issues, especially for off-market acquisitions, pre-litigation reviews, and land banking strategies.
The Need for Standardized, Research-Driven Reports
The absence of a standardized, third-party ownership reporting model leaves professionals without a consistent tool to assess and verify risk. Abstract Authority fills this gap by delivering consistent, formatted ownership reports that draw from verified public records and apply exception tracking to highlight potential conflicts.
By addressing the critical need for accuracy, consistency, and scalability in ownership due diligence, Abstract Authority supports smarter decisions across legal, financial, and public-sector projects.
Abstract Authority’s Solution
Abstract Authority was created to fill the gap between raw public records and actionable ownership intelligence. Our ownership report service provides a professional-grade alternative to informal searches or limited underwriting checks. By consolidating data from county records, assessor databases, probate filings, and other verified sources, we deliver reliable, formatted reports tailored to legal, financial, and transactional use.
“Our reports are used by attorneys, investors, municipalities, and title examiners who need a consistent, independent product they can trust.”
Abstract Authority adheres to recognized real estate and title examination standards to ensure each ownership report meets the expectations of professionals operating in legal, financial, and governmental roles. Although our reports are not title insurance commitments, they are modeled on principles found in ALTA guidelines, state-specific statutes, and litigation-ready documentation formats.
Abstract Authority's ownership report service is built around a rigorous, transparent process that ensures consistency, accountability, and clarity across jurisdictions. Whether for a single property or a multi-parcel portfolio, our method is designed to integrate seamlessly with legal, investment, or administrative workflows.
We combine manual research with structured reporting standards to produce court-ready, editable documents that can be trusted for risk evaluation, legal proceedings, or regulatory compliance.