Those are good points, we have all gotten used to or accept the newer ways of doing things now. I don't think the solution to the on line records debate is to "trash" them and go back to the long drives - but rather to provide some kind of answer to managing them in a proper and secure manner. The systems that are up and running now work, I do not wish to go back to that commute to each court house and expend countless hours driving to and from each place I need to provide title work for when I can sit down with a cup of coffee and do exactly the same thing from the comfort of my desk. I have plenty of time to review and make sure I have all the copies I need to do the job, and I have the luxury of being able to go back and look something over that I might have a question about.The counties I do work in are "complete' and provide me with everything I need to do a thorough title examination. There is nothing left out- some clerks seem to want to "tease us" with just partial records, what good does that do? They go through the expense of filming, just suggest they do the whole job, not a portion of it. After all, they do charge each and everyone of us to do that too- just look at the recording fees- somewhere on there is a "technology fee" I bet!!!
While some suggest that doing a title on line just is not the same as in the court house- or is lacking in some aspect- that is merely a reflection of how the respective clerk's have elected to provide the records on line- if they cut you short- then they did it- blame them for shortsightedness-others have seen the light and provided everything we would see as if we were standing in the record room. I commend the clerks in Northern Virginia for doing it right-
I also respect the rights of others to just continue to visit the court houses too, there is a certain amount of pleasure that is derived from seeing and chatting with fellow examiners- we have lost that here now- no more crowds, no more chatting and no more long lunches discussing title problems we all encounter each and every day. Those days are all gone.
Now, back to work for me- talk up more solutions and ideas, there are hundreds of us out there just waiting to jump in here I am sure!!
(this is not a gloom &doom post)
Steve Meinecke
IA/Titlefax
Franklin, Tn
(my location makes it hard to visit the court houses in VA now!)