Job title: u.s. Title & genealogy research specialist (fluent english is required (written and spoken)
type of employment: full-time
shift schedule: monday–friday, 10:00am – 7:00pm us central time
a specialized research role focused on identifying heirs, confirming ownership, and resolving title complexity for texas property deals. You will conduct hands-on genealogy research, deep recorder-of-deeds investigations, and public records work to produce a complete, caller-ready research packet—so the sales and calling team can move cases forward without back-and-forth.
this role operates across two parallel research tracks:
track a (tax list method): screen high-volume delinquent tax lists, confirm deceased ownership, identify heirs, and skip trace contact information for caller handoff.
track b (title intelligence profile method): conduct deep recorder-of-deeds investigations on individual properties—reading every recorded instrument in the chain, tracing ownership, and identifying hidden defects invisible to anyone working from a list alone. This is the harder and more valuable track, and it is a core requirement of this role.
about the company
a real estate acquisition business that helps property owners and heirs solve complex, often stressful property problems (family ownership, liens, taxes, title issues) before the situation worsens, creating a win-win outcome by taking on problems sellers don't know how to solve.
objectives of this role
* produce accurate heirship identification and contact pathways through professional genealogy research
* deliver clean, complete title chain findings with defects clearly identified and actionable next steps for the caller and closing team
* execute deep recorder-of-deeds investigations (track b) that surface hidden opportunities and defects no list-based approach will find
* reduce bottlenecks by handling hard cases—deep-dive skip tracing and complex public records investigations—that basic tools cannot solve
* improve speed-to-close by documenting findings in crm in a structured format the caller can use immediately without follow-up questions
responsibilities
death confirmation & identity
* confirm property owner identity and verify deceased status using obituaries, public records, ssdi (as applicable), and ancestry.com
* when obituaries are unavailable (common pre-2000s), rely on alternative indicators such as deed dates, payment history, and court records.
genealogy & heir identification
* build family trees and identify all legal heirs using birth, death, marriage, divorce, and probate records
* use ancestry.com birth record searches by parent name to quickly surface children without requiring a full family tree build—a high-value technique for fast heir identification
* read funeral home condolence comments, obituary mentions, and similar sources to identify family members not captured in formal records
title chain research — track a (standard)
* search county recorder of deeds portals by owner name and parcel number
* read and interpret recorded documents: deeds, mortgages, liens, releases, affidavits of heirship, judgment liens
* trace ownership history and flag defects for caller handoff
title chain research — track b (deep investigation, core requirement)
* conduct full title intelligence profile (tip) investigations:
* search by grantor/grantee name (all variations) and legal description—not just parcel number
* review all recorded instruments chronologically (deeds, mortgages, liens, trusts, quitclaims, etc.)
* verify signatories, roles, and consistency across documents
* identify and flag defects (unreleased liens, breaks in chain, missing signatures, trust issues, misfiled documents, suspicious transfers, etc.)
* validate findings directly against recorder data, recognizing common database inaccuracies (~30%)
* review secretary of state records for entity status and ownership; flag inactive/dissolved entities
* search pacer for bankruptcy filings, tax liens, and federal records
public records investigation
* conduct research across probate, tax, divorce, criminal, bankruptcy, and civil records. Check both county and state databases for all individuals connected to a property.
skip tracing
* perform deep-dive skip tracing for hard-to-find heirs using social media (facebook, linkedin, instagram) and non-standard methods.
* focus on difficult cases—avoid bulk tracing and verify all data against the heir profile.
crm documentation
* document findings in crm (podio preferred) in a structured, complete format usable by callers without follow-up. Each research summary must include:
* confirmed heirs with supporting evidence
* contact information and best outreach path
* title issues and deal impact
* deal classification (e.g., probate, tax-driven, trust issue, etc.)
* recommended next steps
title defect identification & flagging
* identify required curative instruments (e.g., affidavits of heirship, corrective deeds), explain each defect, its impact, and resolution path. Drafting of basic curative instruments is included.
required skills and qualifications
* proficiency in written and oral english is required.
* hands-on genealogy research experience (professional or directly relevant)—building family trees, identifying heirs, working with birth, death, marriage, and divorce records
* proficiency in ancestry.com, including birth record searches by parent name
* hands-on title chain research experience: reading recorded documents, tracing full ownership history, identifying defects across the complete range of instrument types
* deep recorder-of-deeds investigation capability: ability to search by name and legal description, sort chronologically, read every instrument type, and identify hidden defects—not just standard deed and mortgage pulls
* strong public records investigation capability across probate, tax, divorce, bankruptcy, entity, and federal court records
* strong skip tracing capability beyond basic report pulls: social investigation and creative non-standard methods
* exceptional documentation discipline: structured crm notes that require no clarification from the caller before they can act
* strong written english and ability to summarize complex findings clearly and concisely
* high attention to detail and comfort working with sensitive, high-stakes information
* ability to work independently, manage multiple files simultaneously, and prioritize without daily direction
preferred skills and qualifications
* prior curative title experience for a us-based title company (highly preferred)
* experience with texas counties' recorder and tax systems (will train on specific county portals)
* experience using podio or similar crms
* experience with skip trace tools: tlo, batchskiptracing, idi core, or similar
* experience in estate, probate, or heirship research roles
* familiarity with pacer and federal court record searches