How to Find Who Owns a Piece of Land

There are many reasons someone may have for finding out who owns a particular piece of property. It may be for an investment, or to report a problem to the owner. Real estate ownership is a matter of public record. However, you may have to navigate a maze of public and private entities to find the information.

Instructions

1. Find the legal address of the property. This is normally the street address of the house, the lot or the business. You will have to know the address of the property to find out who owns it.

2. Go to the local county courthouse. All property ownership documents are recorded at either the County Clerk's office or the County Recorder's office. They have detailed records of property ownership and mailing addresses. By talking to the Clerk or the Recorder, you can find the procedures required to access the information. Many counties across the nation provide you with the information for a small fee. Some counties do have restrictions and may not be able to help you.

3. Go to the local abstract or title company. An alternative to the courthouse is to go to the local abstract or title company for the area where the property is located. There are usually several businesses who handle abstracts and titles for the area, and any of them can provide you with the information. As these are private companies, each has their own policies and fees for doing the search. The abstract company will be able to provide you with the name of the owner and their address.

References

• "State and Local Government: County Government Locator by State"
• "G. Rodges & Associates: Example of Abstract/Title Company Services"

Resources

• "First American Title: Local Search"