Filing a FOIA to Find Out if Title is Insurable

[Alvin Grier]

Has anyone ever filed a FOIA request with a municipality to find out if the title on a property is insurable?

I overheard someone at the title company the other day talking about filing a FOIA to find out if a particular property that was bought at a tax auction had an insurable title.

I can do that myself, if that's all it takes, as I've filed numerous FOIA's in the past.

My question, though, is if I file a FOIA with the local Register of Deeds (R.O.D), is it as simple as saying, "Please let me know if the title on 123 Main St. is insurable or not?"

I didn't know if I would need to be more specific, and spell out each and every type of situation that could've occurred in the past on the title chain that could prevent the title being insured or not.

...as I type, I'm thinking that it's likely that the level of specifics I include would depend on the competency level of the person handling the request at the ROD office.

Yeah, I know, I can ask the people at the Register of Deeds office...  if only they answered the phone.  Furthermore I'm trying to avoid having to drive down there to ask in-person if at all possible :-)

...and yes, I also realize that I could simply call the title company and ask (and I may do that on Monday), but hey, any chance I get to talk with you guys on here I take advantage.

Thanks in advance.

[Wayne Brooks]

You're misunderstanding something, towns don't make determinations if title to a particular property is clear.  They can only tell you what is in Their records, which is the whole purpose of the inquiry, and a FOIA request is usually Not the proper method, the agency will have a particular procedure...FOIA is usually someone's dumb a$$ idea of how to get the information, because they don't know any better.