Resolving a Complex Chain of Title Issue in Pennsylvania
The Situation
Percheron was engaged to assist with a title issue involving a document that had not previously been encountered in a specific Pennsylvania county. The document could not be located within the county’s standard recording system. After the document remained elusive, the client contacted the landowner, who confirmed that the document had been re-recorded in 2012 due to a similar issue.
The document related to an early 1900s tax sale. However, the only version available in the Recorder’s Office was the 2012 re-recording. This created a significant challenge within the chain of title, as the document was out of chronological order and the parties associated with the original transaction were not initially accounted for in the ownership analysis.
The Strategy
Percheron coordinated with experienced local title agents to conduct a return trip to the courthouse for further investigation. In addition to reviewing available records, the title agents worked directly with the county clerk and contacted other offices within the courthouse to determine whether additional sources of information existed.
The county clerk was not familiar with the document and was unaware of its location, requiring the team to expand the scope of research beyond the customary recording offices. Percheron’s approach relied on persistence, local knowledge, and collaboration with courthouse personnel to uncover nontraditional record storage areas.
The Success
Through continued coordination with multiple courthouse offices, the title agent ultimately discovered that a record book containing the original document was stored in a closed office within the courthouse. The team was able to access the book, locate the original record, and close the gap in the chain of title, allowing ownership to be properly brought forward without issue.
This effort also increased awareness among courthouse staff regarding the existence and location of these historical records. As a result, the client requested copies of the documents contained within the book to mitigate future risk and ensure improved accessibility of these records moving forward.
