Lost Deed

[Homer2big]

What is the name of your state? PA

Sold primary residence in Sep 06. Received call in Sep 07 from attorney for Title company stating the Deed has been lost. They sent me a generic one to endorse via notary. Sound status quo / legit?

[FlyingRon]

I guess it isn't impossible of, but it's extremely sloppy by whoever handled the close to lose it. If you've received your funds from the settlement, I don't see any problem in you executing the deed again. You should make sure THEY pay for the cost of the notary, etc.. in preparing the extraneous duplicate. Frankly, I'd tell them to bring the deed and a notary to a place and time of your convenience so you don't have to put yourself out too much.

[nextwife]

Originally Posted by FlyingRon

I guess it isn't impossible of, but it's extremely sloppy by whoever handled the close to lose it. If you've received your funds from the settlement, I don't see any problem in you executing the deed again. You should make sure THEY pay for the cost of the notary, etc.. in preparing the extraneous duplicate. Frankly, I'd tell them to bring the deed and a notary to a place and time of your convenience so you don't have to put yourself out too much.

I sounds as though they sent a prepared deed, ready to be executed. If you are satisfied that the deed is to the same parties and the request is legit, there is no reason not to comply of you have received your proceeds.

There should not be a cost to have the signature notarized.

Not sure about PA, but here in WI, one can have a doc notarized at their own bank branch, they can ask the title office if they have someone who could stop out, or if they have a branch anywhere near them where they could stop, of they live in a different city than the property is in. If, say, a FirstAmerican title office on Scranton did the work, and the seller is in Fort Lauderdale FL, they could have a FirstAm office in Ft Lauderdale notarize. I know that a courtesy notarization can usually be arranged anywhere in the country through an agent of an underwriter doing the title.

[FlyingRon]

Originally Posted by nextwife

There should not be a cost to have the signature notarized.

In many areas of the country notaries are hard to come by. While I have sufficiently good relations with my bank that they would waive such fees, I've bee stuck using other notaries and they do charge.

[nextwife]

Originally Posted by FlyingRon

In many areas of the country notaries are hard to come by. While I have sufficiently good relations with my bank that they would waive such fees, I've bee stuck using other notaries and they do charge.

Wow! Around here, many RE brokers are notaries, title reps are notaries, most banks/ S&Ls have at least one or two "personal bankers" on-site who are notaries, attorneys are notaries. I've never needed to go further than my closest bank branch for a notary (obviously I can't notarize myself). And the title company should be able to arrange for a sister office in the seller's area to notarize. I've NEVER been charged - if I use someone I do business with, they notarize as a courtesy.

[Homer2big]

Thank you. They did send a check with the Deed to cover notary charges. I also checked with my employer's free legal representative and he said exactly what you all said so I will be signing the "new" deed.