Union County’s Oldest Title & Property Searches Company

We are Union County, IA’s longest-serving title and property searches company. We then present a unified document called an Abstract.This allows you to be sure that the land you are purchasing is free and clear for you to own. Our business believes that when it comes to property Abstracts, one of the most important aspects is trustworthiness. When you choose us, you can trust that we will provide a thorough search of every property to ensure there is an accurate history of the chain of title.

Learn More About Title & Property Searches

We perform a Title Search to answer these primary questions regarding a property:

What is Contained in an Abstract?

An abstract shows items such as:

  • Who has owned a specific piece of property,
  • Any mortgages they may have had,
  • Easements if the property ever changed hands through an estate or divorce proceedings,
  • Any unpaid judgments a particular owner may have had while they owned the property,
  • Mechanics liens, and
  • Ordinances.

How Much Does an Abstract Cost?

We hear this question almost every time someone needs to update their abstract. The price varies based on the amount of new information added to the abstract. The cost can be high if it has been several years since they updated the abstract or we have to make a new one. But until the abstractor has had a chance to look at your abstract and search their tract indices, court records, tax records, etc., there is no way the abstractor can give you an accurate cost. It's similar to hitting a deer with your car. Until you take it to a body shop, there is no way to tell how much it will cost to fix.

Explain the Process of Updating an Abstract:

The seller or agent will send the abstract for a preliminary update when you buy the property. The abstractor will search the county records and their tract indices and identify any new recordings we need to add to the abstract since the previous continuation. This could include mortgages, liens, judgments, easements, divorces, estates, and foreclosures, to name a few items. The abstractor will type up these new recordings in abbreviated format and then deliver the completed abstract to the buyer's attorney for a preliminary title opinion.

How Long Does it Take to Update an Abstract?

Again, it will depend on the number of entries that need to be made. At Union County Abstract, Inc., we strive to maintain Iowa Title Guaranty's standard of a three-day turnaround for a preliminary and a seven-day turnaround for a final. We ask for two weeks for a Root of Title or new abstract. Of course, if we have to wait for documents to be filed, such as a mortgage release, that time can be more significant.

Who is Responsible for Providing the Abstract?

The property seller is usually required to provide the buyer with the abstract.

Get your title and property search done today, call (641) 782-4610.

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