During a title search, what can the title examiner typically discover?

The title examiner typically discovers recorded documents during a title search. Recorded documents include deeds, mortgages, liens, and other legal instruments that have been filed with the appropriate governmental authority, usually the county clerk or registry of deeds. These recordings create a public record of ownership and any encumbrances related to the property, which are essential for establishing the chain of title and ensuring that the property can be legally transferred without issues.

In contrast, missing liens refers to liens that may not have been recorded properly or are not found in public records, thus they cannot be discovered in a title search. Previous property owners can be identified through recorded documents, but the question specifically highlights the ability to discover those documents directly, which is crucial for assessing any claims or interests associated with the property. Unrecorded documents, while they can exist, would not typically be uncovered during a title search as they have not been filed in the public record, thereby making them inaccessible in this context.