Good points Constance. I don't think there is any reason any county should put the images online for free or otherwise. Counties will often claim they do it for the sake of transparent government. This doesn't make government more transparent but it certainly strips the citizens of any sense of security and leaves them exposed to all types fraud from criminals anywhere in the world.

Its time to say no to shipping our documents, security and jobs overseas via the Internet.

On the bright side some some companies are beginning to  realize that no abstractor who does not have physical access to the records can do a complete, accurate and certifiable report. Just look at what happened in Tarrant County Texas recently. The Clerk there recently announced that nearly a million records could not be seen on the website for the past six months. Anyone who relied on internet search for records during that period has a 1 in 12 chance of having missed critical documents. Even worse, they will not be able to show in court that they used the official records for a thorough and accurate report. Websites are not official and their disclaimers make it clear they should not be used for legal purposes.

David Bloys

News for Public Officials