Your biggest mistake was not insisting on having the date of payment written on the search order she sent you. The second mistake you made is delaying collection.

When you have the date of payment written on the search order it becomes evidence of the agreed intent to make timely payment. When you make demand for payment, and confront them with their own stated date of payment ... it becomes very difficult for them to argue otherwise. I run into this scenario quite often with closings, and it always works...especially when you back it up by informing them of your intent to initiate litigation  with a prejudgment remedy (Connecticut Law) garnishing their receivables from their clients.

Delaying collection especially in this economy only gives them an opportunity to dissipate any funds they have available to pay you.

Their waiting to be paid in order to pay you is not a valid defense unless payment to you was conditioned upon their receipt of payment first.

Your loss. You should have been more assertive. Maybe it is not too late.