Before any independent oil/gas abstractors take Mr. Reed up on his offer for real estate title work, I would suggest reading the Advisory Opinion 2010-002 from the WV State Bar. It explains that an independent abstractor conducting title examinations (searches) in WV for real estate transactions is engaged in the unauthorized practice of law. The unauthorized practice of law is a criminal offense. A layperson can conduct title searches if a "bona fide full time employee" of an attorney and is performing those services for his/her regular employer, but not as an independent abstractor/contractor, even if an attorney "signs off" on their search. The entirety of the opinion can be found at:

http://www.wvbar.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Advisory-Opinion-2010-002-a.pdf 

Just trying to help those abstractors who might not be aware of the legal issues involved in real estate searches in WV. WV and other attorney states are a bit of a different ball of wax, especially with the CFPB rules and industry regulations.

Nicole