We are in the process of updating our search report forms and wanted to add a “scope of search” field on the top of the report. Currently, we have just a county effective date field but we do not have a date that specifies the date that the search starts from. I was hoping to get some feedback on this subject. Our thinking was it would limit our liability to have a field that included the beginning and end date of the search, something like, “ Scope of Search: begin date____________ through Effective date_____________”. Does anyone currently do this? I’ve heard that attorneys always have the beginning and end date but I’ve personally seen a huge variety of search reports from independents and can’t remember ever seeing a beginning date. Why aren’t more abstractors doing this?

Our thought was to list the recording date of the oldest deed in the chain as the beginning date since all mortgages will have to be ran from that date forward. On the other hand, often the judgments start at a date prior to the oldest deed so how can we have one beginning date?

Any feedback on the subject would be very helpful to us.

Thanks