Hi Loretta,

I would do their recordings and updates if requested. This is a common practice in many states. You are not liable for anything during the search period only the period you did the update for at the time of recording. I hate to see you lose the recording business as well to someone who is willing to do the update and recording. I have been in this business for 24 years and I have experience in many states. In MA. we very frequently did the update and recording on files that we did not do the search on. The recordings were more lucrative than the searches. You may be able to charge them a little more if you don't do the initial search. Explain to them that you had given them a discount on the recordings since you did the search but since you are no longer doing the search you need to charge them your standard recording fee. Of course if they are willing to keep using you and paying you the same amount to do their recordings with out an update then go for that. Then you assume no liability for the same price.