THAT's the kicker: "....you should be able to identify based on relevant state law which liens have a position ...." I'M not going to research the law. I'm not a title company, a lawyer, or a paralegal [any longer]. I'm an abstractor. I don't attempt to perfect title. When we -- as abstractors -- are asked to come to a conclusion about ANYTHING we're reporting, we're out of the realm of information providers into the realm of title examiners -- something I am definitely not insured for.
Do I have the ability and knowledge to do what they're asking? Absolutely. Am I willing to take that responsibility when I am not insured for it? Absolutely not. Why should any of us set this precedent? And anytime a request starts off with "we just need...", I know it's trouble. We cannot search a person's name for mortgages and do a laundry list from that. We first have to find the vesting deed for the particular property they're asking about and THEN find the mortgages.
I also do not understand why you'd assume an hourly rate. Not something that's done in any of the states I cover unless it is a particularly nasty commercial search, and even then, there has to be a meeting of minds between the client and myself. 99% of our work is per job -- never per hour. (This might be a Rhode Island thing?)
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