Seller ID checks

[Temi I.]

At what stage of the transaction do title companies usually request identification from the sellers? Does it vary or should it always be at the offset when the title search is ran?

The reason why I ask is because my title company requests at different stages. With the first transaction it was as soon as they opened the file, but with the second current one they waited until the title commitment came back. Now the sellers are unresponsive and this is holding up the closing.

[Tom Gimer]

@Temi I. Until the title search is done, the status of ownership and who needs to sign the deed and other settlement docs is unknown. Once the owner(s) of record are determined the title company would reach out for seller identification (and death certificates for any deceased owners).

You'd be surprised how many contracts get signed without all of the owners.