Can a Title Order be submitted electronically?

Yes. Electronic submission is routine; eSignature and emailed or portal-delivered orders are accepted by most title companies. Ensure the recipient can open PDFs and that any consumer-facing disclosure complies with ESIGN and UETA requirements.

What if property information is incorrect?

Incorrect address, APN, or vesting can cause a misdirected search. Correct the order immediately and notify the title provider; late corrections may require a supplemental search and delay commitment issuance.

Is notarization required for the order form itself?

Typically no. The Title Order Document usually does not require notarization, but recorded instruments and some powers of attorney do; follow state-specific rules for deeds and closing documents.

How long until a title commitment arrives?

Turnaround varies by provider and complexity—common ranges are 1–10 business days. Rush services may be available for an additional fee; clarify deadlines when placing the order.

What supporting documents should be attached?

Attach the purchase contract, current deed, payoff authorization, and any recorded easements or surveys to minimize follow-up. Missing attachments are a frequent source of delay.

How do I cancel or revise an order?

Contact the title provider immediately with revised information. If work has already begun, the provider will advise on corrective steps; fees may apply for rework or expedited corrections.

Title Order Document

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TITLE ORDER DOCUMENT

Requesting Party and Title Company

Requesting Party (Ordering Party) Contact Name and Title Address

Phone

Email

Title Company / Escrow Agent

Title Company Name Escrow / Closing Officer

Title Company Phone

Title Company Email / Fax

Property Identification

Property Address:

County: APN / Parcel Number:

Legal Description

Transaction and Order Details

Order Date: Closing / Effective Date:

File / Reference Number: Transaction Type: Purchase Refinance Construction Other

Purchase Price

Loan Amount (if any)

Title Services Requested

Title Search / Chain of Title Preliminary Title Report / Commitment Owner's Title Policy

Lender's Title Policy Endorsements (specify)

Survey / ALTA / Plot Plan Tax Certificate Flood Determination / Certification

HOA Estoppel / Dues Payoff Closing / Escrow Services Additional Document Order

Coverage, Exceptions, and Special Instructions

Requested Owner's Coverage Amount: Requested Lender's Coverage Amount:

Known Exceptions, Encumbrances or Matters to be Raised Special Instructions to Title Company

Documents to be Delivered / Delivery Instructions

Return Recorded Documents To:

Delivery Method (select all that apply)

Email Fax

Overnight Carrier Regular Mail

Billing, Fees and Payment

Fees Payable By: Buyer Seller Lender Requesting Party

Billing Reference / Purchase Order

Disclosures and Known Matters

Are you aware of pending litigation, bankruptcy, tax delinquencies, or other matters affecting title? Yes No

If yes, describe

Authorization, Certification and Indemnity

Requesting Party hereby orders the title services identified above and authorizes the Title Company and its designees to perform searches, procure reports, certifications, endorsements, surveys, and other services necessary to prepare a title commitment and to issue title insurance policies as requested. Requesting Party certifies that the information provided herein is true and complete to the best of its knowledge and authorizes release of information to the Title Company for the purpose of providing the requested services.

Requesting Party agrees to pay Title Company customary fees and charges for services rendered and to indemnify and hold Title Company harmless from claims, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from Requesting Party's failure to disclose material facts or from reliance on documents or information provided by Requesting Party. Fees payable in advance are non-refundable except as required by applicable law.

Title Company shall rely upon public records, documents of record, and information furnished by public agencies and other third parties. Title Company does not warrant the accuracy of information supplied by third parties and shall have no liability for errors or omissions in public records, except as may be expressly provided in any issued title policy. Any liability of Title Company for negligence or breach of duty shall be limited to issuance of corrective title insurance measures or refund of paid fees, at Title Company's option, and in no event shall Title Company's liability exceed the amount of fees actually paid for the specific service giving rise to the claim.

This Title Order Document constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the requested title services. This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the state in which the property is located. Any dispute arising out of this order shall be resolved in the courts located in the county of the property's situs or by arbitration if mutually agreed in writing.

Acknowledgment and Acceptance

By signing below, Requesting Party certifies that it is authorized to order the services identified herein and acknowledges responsibility for payment of fees as selected above. Title Company acknowledges receipt of this order and acceptance to proceed subject to the terms, conditions and limitations set forth in this document and applicable underwriting rules and state law.

Requesting Party:

By:

Date:

Title Company:

By:

Date:

What the Title Order Document Is and when it's used

The Title Order Document is a standardized instruction form used to request a title search, title commitment, or title insurance quote for a specific parcel or property transaction. It records property identifiers, vesting or vesting changes, the parties of interest, the requested search depth, and delivery preferences so a title company or abstractor can produce ownership, lien, tax, and encumbrance reports. The form helps reduce ambiguity in scope, directs payoff and lien demand preparation, and creates a written record of the ordering instructions for escrow, lender, or settlement workflows.

Why a clear Title Order Document matters

A precise Title Order Document shortens turnaround, reduces rework from incomplete instructions, and clarifies responsibility for deliverables. It establishes the search scope, required endorsements, and any lender or buyer conditions that affect closing readiness.

Who prepares and relies on this form

Multiple parties use the recorded order to confirm scope, manage fees, and document who requested specific reports or actions.

Real estate agents and brokers — prepare orders to meet purchase contract timing and ensure required endorsements are requested.
Lenders and mortgage processors — submit orders to obtain payoffs, title exceptions, and lender-required endorsements for underwriting.
Title officers and escrow agents — use the order to perform searches, prepare commitments, and schedule closings.

Core elements of a professional Title Order Document

A professional order balances clear property identification with transaction context, signatory authority, and delivery instructions so title providers can act without clarification delays.

Property ID

Street address plus parcel/APN and legal description so the search locates the exact record chain without ambiguity.

Parties

Buyer, seller, borrower, and lender names and contact details; include entity type and authorized signing representative where applicable.

Order Type

Specify search, commitment, closing protection letter, or title insurance quote and note required endorsements or extended coverage details.

Scope & Exceptions

Define search depth, timeframe, exceptions to report, and whether judgments, tax liens, or other special matters should be prioritized.

Delivery

Preferred return method, recipient emails, and deadline for the commitment or report; indicate courier or digital delivery preferences.

Fees & Payments

Who will pay title, recording, and search fees; include PO number or fee authorization for commercial workflows.

Required data fields at a glance

Property address: Full street address

Parcel/APN: Assessor parcel number

Legal description: Short or full legal description

Ordering party: Name and company

Contact email: Delivery email address

Order date: MM/DD/YYYY

Step-by-step: complete and submit a Title Order Document

Follow these steps to prepare a usable order and get a timely title commitment or report back from the provider.

01

Gather records: Collect property address, APN, current deed, loan numbers, and party contact information.
02

Choose order type: Select search, commitment, or insurance quote and indicate required endorsements.
03

Confirm payer: Specify who will pay search, recording, and policy fees and attach PO if needed.
04

Submit and track: Send the completed order to the title provider and note the date for turnaround expectations.

How to configure an online Title Order workflow

Configure fields and routing to automate title orders and reduce manual handoffs in your closing workflow.

Field	Configuration
Property identifier	Make APN required and auto-validate length
Order type dropdown	Include commitments, searches, and policy quotes
Delivery routing	Auto-send to title officer email on completion
Payment info	Require payer selection and PO number when applicable

Where to send the completed order and what happens next

Submitting the order starts a predictable sequence: intake, search, documentation, and delivery of a commitment or report.

Submit to title company: Email or upload the order to the provider's intake portal with attachments.
Title search: Title officer runs recorded document, tax, and lien searches.
Commitment issued: Provider prepares title commitment and exception schedule.
Delivery and follow-up: Commitment is returned to requester and lender for review or affidavits.

Digital submission and signing requirements

Verify your provider supports the required format and signer authentication level before submission to avoid rejections or delays.

File formats: PDF and DOCX accepted
Authentication: Email, SMS, or two-factor
Integrations: CRM and closing platforms supported

Typical timelines and processing expectations

Turnaround times differ by provider, backlog, and order complexity; set expectations with the recipient when submitting the order.

Title search turnaround:

1–5 business days for routine searches

Commitment issuance:

3–10 business days depending on complexity

Rush requests:

Same-day or 24-hour service may be available for a fee

Recording after closing:

County recording typically posts within 1–10 business days

Remote notarization:

RON sessions available in many states; session fees vary

Key milestones in a Title Order lifecycle

A typical lifecycle moves from order submission through search, commitment, and closing; each milestone affects readiness and scheduling.

01

Order placed

Requester submits the form and supporting documents to the title provider.

02

Search performed

Title officer performs lien, mortgage, judgment, and tax searches on public records.

03

Commitment prepared

Provider prepares commitment, exceptions, and estimated payoffs.

04

Closing scheduled

Commitment review completed and closing date confirmed with parties.

Common errors that delay title orders

Incomplete property identifiers such as missing APN or inaccurate legal description that lead to incorrect record pulls and follow-up requests.
Incorrect or mismatched party names or vesting information that require corrected documents and can delay issuance of commitments or policies.
Missing authorization or payer information causing payment holds or the provider refusing to proceed until fee responsibility is confirmed.
Unclear delivery instructions or absent recipient contact details that cause commitments to be emailed to the wrong party or delayed courier delivery.

Risks of an incorrect or incomplete Title Order Document

Recording delay: Closing hold

Coverage gaps: Policy exceptions

Lien exposure: Undisclosed encumbrance

Fee disputes: Unpaid charges

Compliance risk: Improper authorization

Rework: Additional costs

Real-world examples of Title Order Document use

These short examples show how organizations use Title Order Documents to improve closing reliability and speed.

Tim Martin — Martin Properties

Tim standardized his order form to include APN and lender contacts to prevent rework when titles were ambiguous.

He reduced follow-up requests by centralizing required fields.
The consistent orders allowed quicker commitments and fewer closing delays, improving throughput without increasing staffing.

John Butler — Fertility Centers of Illinois

John implemented structured delivery and payment fields to automate commitment routing to counsel.

The form included endorsement requests and deadline fields.
This ensured commitments and payoff figures reached the right parties quickly, reducing last-minute corrections and enabling smoother closings.

Comparing eSignature options for processing Title Order Documents

Basic pricing and capabilities for common eSignature providers; signNow appears first and pricing is shown per-user monthly where applicable.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan
Bulk Send	Yes (Business Premium)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Limited
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Envelope Cap	No cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan

Frequently asked questions about Title Order Documents

Answers to common questions about electronic orders, notarization, turnaround, and correcting mistakes.

Need help? Contact support

Can a Title Order be submitted electronically?
Yes. Electronic submission is routine; eSignature and emailed or portal-delivered orders are accepted by most title companies. Ensure the recipient can open PDFs and that any consumer-facing disclosure complies with ESIGN and UETA requirements.
What if property information is incorrect?
Incorrect address, APN, or vesting can cause a misdirected search. Correct the order immediately and notify the title provider; late corrections may require a supplemental search and delay commitment issuance.
Is notarization required for the order form itself?
Typically no. The Title Order Document usually does not require notarization, but recorded instruments and some powers of attorney do; follow state-specific rules for deeds and closing documents.
How long until a title commitment arrives?
Turnaround varies by provider and complexity—common ranges are 1–10 business days. Rush services may be available for an additional fee; clarify deadlines when placing the order.
What supporting documents should be attached?
Attach the purchase contract, current deed, payoff authorization, and any recorded easements or surveys to minimize follow-up. Missing attachments are a frequent source of delay.
How do I cancel or revise an order?
Contact the title provider immediately with revised information. If work has already begun, the provider will advise on corrective steps; fees may apply for rework or expedited corrections.

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