Page Numbers

I encountered an interesting problem: How do you verify if the Owner's Duplicate of Title surrendered to you is complete?

I faced this dilemma while working with a Transfer Certificate of Title that consisted of 10 pages. Typically, the Registry of Deeds adds extra pages for new annotations such as mortgages, mortgage cancellations, etc.

If a page is misplaced, the owner might need to have the entire title reissued—a process that involves court hearings and can take around two years.

So, how can you be sure?

There is one document that will indicate the total number of pages in the title: the Certified Copy of the Title. At the bottom, it states Page X of X. No other document has this.

Including this check in your due diligence checklist is essential.