Hi Smitty,

I would think most clients would appreciate that - unless, perhaps, they need to use it as an exhibit in litigation.  I know that I have reviewed copies that were not legible and without some sort of mark-up it would be a royal pain to figure out.

Our solution has always been to write out all of the information on our search forms, so in reality our clients never needed the copies.  We "abstracted" the document type, parties names, dated date, filed date and time, volumes and pages, amount (if any), and any relevant notes (such as the primary term on an oil and gas lease, or pertinent information from an assignment, or any defects like missing marital status or an improper acknowledgment).

I never liked getting a search that consists of nothing but a tax print-out and a bunch of copies.  In my opinion that ain't "abstracting" - its "copying." But, I know it has become a common practice.  And, with clients paying what they do, its no wonder nobody has time to write anything down.

Best,
Robert A. Franco
SOURCE OF TITLE