Land records · Parcel maps · October 5, 2026

How to Do a Title Search Yourself, Step by Step

How to do a title search: start with the current deed, trace owners back through the grantor-grantee index, then check liens, judgments, and taxes.

How to do a title search comes down to reading a property’s history in the public records: who owned it, how it changed hands, and what claims were recorded against it. Professionals do this for every sale, but anyone can do a basic search using county recorder records, many of which are online. A do-it-yourself search is useful for research or due diligence, though it is not a substitute for title insurance or a professional examination. This page is general land-records background, not legal advice.

What you need to start

• The property address and parcel number (APN or PIN), often found on the tax bill or a county parcel viewer.
• The current owner’s name from the assessor.
• Access to the county recorder, register of deeds, or clerk records for the county where the land sits.

Step 1: Find the current deed

Look up the current owner in the recorder’s index and pull the most recent deed. It gives the legal description, the grantor (seller), and a reference to the prior deed, often by book and page or instrument number. See how to get a copy of my deed.

Step 2: Trace ownership back

1. Search the grantee index for the grantor on the current deed to find the deed they received.
2. Repeat for each prior owner, building a chain of deeds.
3. Note any gaps, name mismatches, or changes in the legal description.

Professional searches often go back several decades, commonly 40 to 60 years or to a reliable starting point such as a land patent, depending on local practice. The grantor-grantee index guide explains how the indexes work.

Step 3: Search for encumbrances

For each owner during their time holding the property, look for:

• Mortgages and deeds of trust, and whether each has a recorded release.
• Liens: tax liens, mechanics’ liens, HOA liens, and judgment liens.
• Easements and right-of-way grants.
• Covenants and restrictions, including those on recorded plats.
• Lis pendens, notices of pending lawsuits affecting the property.

Step 4: Check taxes and courts

• Confirm property taxes are paid with the county treasurer or tax collector.
• Search court records for judgments, divorces, probate, and bankruptcy involving recent owners.
• Check for municipal liens like unpaid water or code enforcement fines, which may be recorded separately or kept by the city.

Step 5: Summarize what you found

Make a simple table: date, document type, parties, instrument number, and notes. Flag anything open, such as a mortgage without a release or a name that does not match.

Limits of a DIY search

Older records may be on microfilm or only at the courthouse. Indexes can contain errors. Some issues, like forgery, unrecorded easements, or survey problems, do not appear in the index. That is why buyers rely on title insurance.

Bottom line

To do a title search, start with the current deed, trace each owner back through the grantor-grantee index, then check every owner’s period for mortgages, liens, easements, and court cases, and confirm taxes are paid. Record what you find in a timeline. Use the Platbookmapper map to find county parcel and record links.

Keep reading

• How to use a grantor grantee index
• What is chain of title
• How to find liens on a property
• How to get a copy of my deed

• Topics on this page
• what you need to start
• step 1: Find the current deed
• step 2: Trace ownership back
• FAQ

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