Padgett Law Group (PLG) is an elite, full-service creditors' rights law firm with practices in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Alabama, New Jersey, Kentucky, and Illinois. Additionally, PLG offers national bankruptcy, replevin, and loss mitigation services. The firm’s practice provides exclusive representation to institutional clients such as lenders, mortgage servicers, credit unions, banks, hedge funds, investors and other financial services industry stakeholders. Leveraging technology in our partnerships with forward-thinking clients gives PLG the ability to focus on the aggressive management and processing of delinquent or under performing loans, providing our clients with an edge when curing or resolving these complex legal matters. In 2019, PLG was recognized by The M Report, a leading default services industry publication, as a Top 25 Company to Work For.
At Padgett Law Group, our mission is simple: to attract and retain the most talented individuals within our industry while delivering high-quality legal services to our clients. We understand our crucial role as our clients strive to provide an ethical and empathetic experience. We contribute to that through our long-standing and recognizable firm culture that is visible during every interaction with PLG—and amongst ourselves. At PLG, we stand on our decades-long tradition of merit, respect, hard work, and excellent results, and we use that foundation for every service we provide. As a firm, we believe that our mission can only be truly realized through investment in our core values of People, Precision, and Performance.
At Padgett Law Group, we're not just looking for talented employees to join our growing team. We're looking for leaders who cultivate those around them and contribute to our path forward; we're looking for individuals who appreciate our culture and commit to our shared goals; we're looking for people who want to be more than employees, processors, or paper pushers.
Our vision is to build the most compelling law firm that is home to the industry’s best talent, as we are today and as we grow in the future.
What’s in it for you? Padgett Law Group believes in investing in our employees and ensuring that they have all the resources necessary to succeed - including a competitive, comprehensive, and valuable benefits package. As a full-time PLG employee, you will receive:
- 4 weeks of PTO from day one (which increases with tenure)
- Paid Parental and Grandparent Leave
- 7 Paid Company Holidays and your birthday off every year
- Full suite of healthcare insurance options including health, dental, vision, STD, LTD, Accident, Critical Illness, Voluntary Life and AD&D coverage, and more
- Company-covered Term Life Insurance, AD&D Insurance, and Employee Assistance Program
- 401k (with company match)
- Extensive Training and Development Opportunities
- Flexible work schedules including in-office, hybrid, and remote working capabilities and more!
Position Summary
The Title Examiner is responsible for reviewing and analyzing title searches, public records,
and legal documents associated with residential mortgage foreclosure matters. This
position identifies property ownership, lien priority, title defects, and parties necessary to
foreclosure actions while ensuring compliance with client, investor, state, and federal
requirements.
The Title Examiner serves as a critical resource to attorneys and foreclosure staff by
providing accurate title analysis, identifying issues that may impact foreclosure
proceedings, recommending appropriate curative actions, and ensuring title reviews are
completed timely and accurately. This role supports the firm's commitment to quality,
efficiency, and exceptional client service.
The essential functions include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Title Examination: Review title searches, commitments, ownership and encumbrance reports, and related documents for residential mortgage foreclosure matters.
- Chain of Title Analysis: Examine deeds, mortgages, assignments, probate records, court filings, and other recorded instruments to verify vesting and establish chain of title.
- Lien Analysis: Identify and analyze senior and subordinate liens, judgments, HOA/COA liens, tax liens, municipal liens, code enforcement liens, and other encumbrances affecting title.
- Party Identification: Determine all parties necessary to foreclosure actions, including owners, heirs, lienholders, tenants, estates, and unknown parties.
- Title Reporting: Prepare clear and accurate title review reports and litigation summaries identifying title concerns, required parties, and potential foreclosure obstacles.
- Public Records Research: Conduct detailed research of county, court, probate, tax, and other public records to verify ownership and resolve title discrepancies.
- Issue Resolution: Identify title defects, unreleased liens, probate concerns, bankruptcy filings, errors in legal descriptions, and other matters requiring additional review or corrective action.
- Title Updates: Review title updates and supplemental searches to identify any changes that may impact foreclosure proceedings.
- Compliance and Quality Control: Ensure all title reviews are completed in accordance with client requirements, investor guidelines, firm procedures, and applicable laws.
- Case Documentation: Maintain accurate records and update firm and client case management systems with title findings and recommendations.
- Internal Communication: Collaborate with attorneys, legal assistants, paralegals, supervisors, and management regarding title-related matters and recommended next steps.
- Productivity Management: Meet established production, quality, and turnaround-time standards while managing a high-volume workload.
- Training Support: Assist with onboarding and training team members by sharing title examination knowledge and best practices as requested.
Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)
Education
- High school diploma or equivalent required.
- Associate's degree, Bachelor's degree, or paralegal certification preferred.
Experience
- Minimum of two (2) years of title examination experience preferred.
- Experience in foreclosure, mortgage servicing, real estate law, title insurance, or default servicing strongly preferred.
Knowledge
- Knowledge of Florida real property records and title examination practices.
- Understanding of foreclosure processes and litigation requirements.
- Familiarity with deeds, mortgages, assignments, judgments, probate matters, bankruptcy filings, and lien priority.
- Working knowledge of HOA/COA liens, tax liens, municipal liens, and other title-related issues preferred.
Skills
- Strong analytical and critical-thinking abilities.
- Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, and Excel.
- Experience with title production software and case management systems preferred.
Abilities
- Ability to manage a high-volume caseload in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to interpret legal documents and public records.
- Ability to identify issues and recommend appropriate action.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information.
- Ability to work independently while contributing to team objectives.
- Ability to prioritize competing deadlines and meet service-level expectations.
Physical Demands and Work Environment
- The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an
- employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable
- accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these
- functions.
- Prolonged periods of sitting while working at a computer.
- Frequent use of a computer, keyboard, telephone, and other office equipment.
- Frequent viewing of electronic documents and public records.
- Ability to communicate effectively with internal staff and clients.