Courthouse Research Specialists has 23 years experience providing in-depth research of public records for ownership, easements, liens, encumbrances or other related searches. Additionally, the copy and retrieval service of the company obtains copies of documents and court cases statewide when needed. Courthouse Research Specialists is one of Texas leading provider of land record business information. Tracing the owner’s history to 1988, Courthouse Research Specialists is committed to providing the information resources your business needs to make timely and accurate decisions. Backed by integrity and experience, we deliver efficiency to support your business information needs. Projects range from “determining single ownership of a property” to “title research for pipelines, highways and specialized easements"

Courthouse Research Specialists provides fast, accurate, affordable research and document retrieval for:

• Abstracts of Judgment
• Environmental Studies
• Adjoiners
• Legal Descriptions
• Bankruptcy Court Filings
• Liens
• Easements
• City Planning & Permitting
• Ownerships
• County Civil Court Filings
• Probate Court Filings
• UCC Filings
• Deed Restrictions
• Road Right of Ways

Our Clients include:

Planners

Engineers

Surveyors

Appraisers

Attorneys

Government Entities

Developers

Primary Utility Companies

Lending Institutions and Telecommunication Companies

Courthouse Research Specialists
Team Description:

Richard Ortiz is owner of the company. North Texas Chapter Area Representative at State Level for TSPS. 2 year Director for TSPS Chapter 5. 21 years experience in title research. Diverse professional experience in all aspects of Real Estate Title. Acts as lead on all projects. Oversees all function of customer service and client satisfaction.

Terry Pratt is a Professional Petroleum Land man. He provides research services including examining title from present ownership back to patent records. Abstract mineral reservations and provide detailed property reports, including; Deed records, liens, judgments, probate and Civil and District Court records. He is a Licensed Right of Way Acquisition Agent.

Colleen Hanchey provides research services including examining title from present ownership back to patent records. Abstract mineral reservations and provide detailed property reports, including; Deed records, liens, judgments, probate and Civil and District Court records.

Jerry Darden has 35 years Utility Research experience. He is the leading authority on records contained in the City of Dallas Surveyor’s Vault.  He acts as our liaison with Planning Development Departments and other municipal entities related to real estate. Jerry functions as Project Lead on all Tax Certificate Research and retrieval.

Greg Tait offers over 20 years experience in drafting, land surveying and deed research. Professional experience with the LCRA and SAM inc. Performed all aspects of land surveying and drafting while working closely with real estate departments in deed research for land acquisitions, various utility easements, temporary construction easements, right of entries, etc. Able to complete every task involved in all land issues in the field and in the office.

Courthouse Research Specialists is currently managing several time sensitive projects in the North Texas Region, below is a small list of projects:

 1. Webb Chapel ROW Project, City of Dallas, Dallas County, Texas, contracted through ARS Engineers, Inc., Dallas Office, contact: Ayub Sandhu, P.E., R.P.L.S. Providing current deed ownership research, plat research and abstract maps along with Appraisal District ownership information for the (1/4) mile project.

2. University of Texas Dallas Phase 13 Project, City of Dallas, Dallas County and Collin County, Texas, contracted through ARS Engineers, Inc., Dallas Office, contact: Ayub Sandhu, P.E., R.P.L.S. Providing current deed ownership research, plat research and abstract maps along with Appraisal District ownership information for the Platting project.

3. 12 Million dollar City of Fort Worth G.I.S. Watershed Storm Drainage Project , City of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas, contracted through Jacobs f/n/a Carter Burgess, Fort Worth Office, contact: Jim Kasson, R.P.L.S and Doug Smith, P.E., Project Manager. Providing easement research and plat research that consist of searching the chain of title looking for any and all but not subject to, storm drainage easements for the purpose of creating a G.I.S. mapping system for all 779 Watersheds in the City of Fort Worth.

4. TxDot project I.H. 35E, City of Dallas, City of Farmers Branch and City of Carrollton Dallas County from 1-635 North to the Denton County line, contracted through Douphrate & Associates, Inc. Rockwall Office, contact: Hugh Knight, R.P.L.S. Providing deed ownership research, plat research and Abstract Maps along with Appraisal District ownership information for the (12) mile project.

5. Chesapeake TMGS Johnson County project, contracted through Lamb-Star Engineering, L.P. Plano Office, contact: Robert Cummings, R.P.L.S. Providing a 30 year deed chain of title deed and plats, picking up any out-sales and easements with-in the 30 year scoop. This 15 year project may require these services outside of Johnson County, Texas to take in the surrounding Counties.

Here is a small list of completed time sensitive projects:

 1. City of Dallas and CBS Outdoors Advertising Kiosk project, contracted through Brockette, Davis, & Drake Dallas Office, contact: Tom Mauk, R.P.L.S. Providing copies of all City Utility easement information, paving plans, R.O.W. information, private licensing agreements and subject and adjoiner information. This project has a projected 150 site project locations through out the City of Dallas.

2. City of Dallas Southwest Pipeline Project West , contracted through Con Real, L.P., Arlington Office, contact: JoAnn Parsley, Project Manager. Provided chain of title deed ownership title report research back to 1940 for 60 parcels along the (10) mile project.

3. City of Dallas/County of Dallas Road project Industrial Blvd. City of Dallas, Dallas County from the Old M.K. & T Rail Road south of Continental Blvd. 400 feet south of I.H. 30 east to the Tarrant County line, contracted through LTRA Dallas Office, contact: Dennis Qualls, R.P.L.S. Provided deed ownership research and plat research, along with providing the Auto CAD deed sketch service which consist of drawing in all existing R.O.W. acquisitions deeds or plats and drawing in all the ownership deeds and plat the directly adjoining the (1) mile project.

4. 2002 1.3 billion dollar Bond Package-Dallas Independent School District Project City of Dallas, Dallas County, contracted through Pacheco Koch Consultant Engineers Dallas Office, contact: Michael Clover, R.P.L.S. Provided deed ownership research, adjoiner research and R.O.W. research for several DISD Schools that where part of the Bond Package.

5. 2009 Dallas Independent School District Platting Project, City of Dallas, Dallas County, Texas, contracted through ARS Engineers, Inc., Dallas Office, contact: Ayub Sandhu, P.E., R.P.L.S. Provided deed ownership research, easement research, adjoiner research, public utility research and R.O.W. research for several DISD Schools.

6. 2009 Dallas Independent School District Platting Project, City of Dallas, Dallas County, Texas, contracted through Jaster-Quintanilla Dallas, Dallas Office, contact: Chris Mamann R.P.L.S. Provided deed ownership research, easement research, adjoiner research, public utility research and R.O.W. research for several DISD Schools.

7. 2009 Dallas Independent School District Platting Project, City of Dallas, Dallas County, Texas, contracted through Garcia Land Data, Dallas Office, contact: Kevin Buchanan, R.P.L.S. Provided deed ownership research, easement research, adjoiner research, public utility research and R.O.W. research for several DISD Schools.

8. 2008 Ft. Worth Independent School District Platting Project, City of Ft. Worth, Dallas County, Texas, contracted through Jaster-Quintanilla Dallas, Dallas Office, contact: Chris Mamann R.P.L.S. Provided deed ownership research, easement research, adjoiner research, public utility research and R.O.W. research for several Ft. Worth Schools.

9. Rodeo Plaza Drive, City of Fort Worth, Tarrant County Texas, contracted through Huitt-Zollar, Inc. Fort Worth Office, contact: John Cordle, R.P.L.S. Provided deed and plat research at the City of Fort Worth Engineering Department will be needed along with a visit to the Survey Department for the City of Fort Worth. A visit with maintenance personnel at each building along the road right-of-way was done to learn more of the history of the utilities. This project ran from Stockyard Blvd. South to E. Exchange Ave.

10. Midwestern Parkway Lighting City project Wichita Falls, Texas, contracted through AZ & B, LLC, contact: E. David Utzman, R.P.L.S. Proving copies of all City Utility easement information, paving plans, R.O.W.information and subject deeds and plat that adjoin the (4) mile project.

11. Dallas Baptist University Plat Project, contracted through The Wallace Group Dallas Office, contact: Sean Flaherty, R.P.L.S. Survey Manager. Provided deed ownership title report and easement report for several tracks for the purpose of Platting.

12. TxDot project FM 2331 City of Godley, Johnson County from FM 171 north to the Tarrant County line, contracted through SAM., Inc. Dallas Office, contact: Mickey Nowell, R.P.L.S. Providing Abstract Maps along with Appraisal District ownership deed, mailing address information for notification purposes. We provided an Auto CAD drawing showing all the ownership information and tract number for the (8'/2) mile project.

13. TxDot project FM 917 City of Godley, Johnson County from FM 171 east to FM 2280, contracted through SAM, Inc. Dallas Office, contact: Mickey Nowell, R.P.L.S. Providing Abstract Maps along with Appraisal District ownership deed, mailing address information for notification purposes. We will be providing an Auto CAD drawing showing all the ownership information and tract number for the (19) mile project.

14. TxDot project FM 120 City of Pottsboro, Grayson County from FM 996 north to end of State of Texas Maintenance line, contracted through ARS Engineers, Inc. Dallas Office, contact: Ayub Sandhu, P.E., R.P.L.S. Providing deed ownership research, plat research and Abstract Maps along with Appraisal District ownership information for the (7) mile project.

15. TxDot project FM 380 City of Denton, Denton County from I.H. 35W west to the Decatur County line, contracted through NTB Engineers, Inc. Dallas Office, contact: Brian Wright, R.P.L.S. Provided deed ownership research, plat research and Abstract Maps along with Appraisal District ownership information for the (21) mile project.

16. TxDot project US 80 City of Mesquite, Dallas County from I.H. 30 east to the City of Kaufman, Kaufman County, contracted through Douphrate & Associates, Inc. Rockwall Office, contact: Hugh Knight, R.P.L.S. Provided deed ownership research, plat research and Abstract Maps along with Appraisal District ownership information for the (21) mile project.

17. TxDot project IH 20, City of Dallas, City of Duncanville and City of Grand Prairie, Dallas County from IH 35 west to the Tarrant County line, contracted through Survcon Fort Worth Office, contact: Scott Posey, R.P.L.S. Providing deed ownership research and plat research, along with all existing R.O.W. acquisitions deeds for the (17) mile project.

18. TxDot project I.H. 35E, City of Dallas, City of Farmers Branch and City of Carrollton Dallas County from 1-635 North to the Denton County line, contracted through Douphrate & Associates, Inc. Rockwall Office, contact: Hugh Knight, R.P.L.S. Providing deed ownership research, plat research and Abstract Maps along with Appraisal District ownership information for the (12) mile project.

19. Midwestern Parkway Lighting project Wichita Falls, Texas, contracted through AZ & B, LLC, contact: E. David Utzman, R.P.L.S. Proving copies of all City Utility easement information, paving plans, R.O.W.information and subject deeds and plat that adjoin the (4) mile project.

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Accompanying Resumes:

Richard Ortiz

 

Work Related Experience and Skills:
North Texas Chapter Area Representative at State Level for TSPS.

2 year Director for TSPS Chapter 5.

20 years experience in Real Estate Title Research. Efficiently Examine and Cure Title Assignment issues, etc., Run Title Reports using the GRS Indexing System and contracting work to various title vendors. Familiar with Lien Positions, Mineral Rights, Lease Hold Property, Life Estates, Bankruptcy, Foreclosures, Property Settlement Agreements in a Divorce Decree, Probates, and gathering Tax information from the different Taxing entities (County, City and School). Experienced reading metes and bounds legal descriptions and I am able to understand what a Surveyor and Civil Engineer needs to complete a project. Gathered easement and restriction information, researched out of the Dallas County Map Room, researched recorded plats and adjoiners, Tx.Dot Right-Of- Way information and City Utility Information.

Employment History:

Courthouse Research Specialists  (Real Property Research, Commercial and Residential)

4/1/2010 to Present

Owner/Operator

Lone Star Record & Abstract Services, Inc. (Real Property Research, Commercial and Residential)

10-2-04 to 4/1/2010

Owner/Operator

 

Precise Land Records (Real Property Research, Commercial and Residential)

8-2-03  to 10-1-04

Co-Owner of the company; dealt with everyday activities from problems solving to answering the telephone and research title through out the North Texas area, Louisiana and Oklahoma

 

First American Title Company (Lenders Advantage Division)

1-2-02 to 8-1-03

Supervised the Lewisville Texas Post Closing Department for the Refinance Department and REO Department.

Examined and cured Title for the Curative Department as a Senior Curative Officer. Read Title Commitments and resolved various Title issues from vesting to delinquent property taxes prior to closing nation wide. In June 2002 I excepted a Supervisors position in the Post Closing Department resolving post vesting issues, unrecorded mortgages, lost documents and document procurement. Researching and requesting shortage errors on the HUD 1 and Settlement Statements. Resolved escalated issues between borrowers and New Lenders to complete new closings, (Letters of Indemnity) and heavy customer service relations.

 

Courthouse Research Specialist “CRS”: (Real Property Research, Commercial and Residential)

04/1994 to 01/2002

Owner of the company; dealt with everyday activities from problems solving to answering the telephone and research title through out the North Texas area.

 

Dallas Record & Abstract Service: (Real Property Research)

06/1988 to 04/1994

Real Property Abstractor/ Examiner Four Years Supervisor Experience

Ran Title Reports out of the Dallas County Records Building, Examined Title and Supervised the Engineering and Surveying Department for the Dallas County Branch

 

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Accompanying Resumes:

 Terry W. Pratt

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
As a right-of-way agent, I obtained fee acquisitions and easements for right-of-ways for roadways, water lines, pipelines, sewer lines, data transmission towers, high-voltage towers and fiber optics regeneration sites with few parcels having to go to condemnation.
As a professional Independent Petroleum Landman, I have successfully negotiated hundreds of oil, gas and mineral leases, performed lease checks, compiled many drill-site runsheets, executed extensive curative title work, performed in-house lease analysis which included reviewing JOAs, Lease and Unit Assignments, Unit Declarations, Buy and Sale Agreements, Farmouts, and conducted Leasehold Deep Rights research for horizontal drilling operations. As Crew Chief supervising ten sandmen, I was responsible for overseeing and coordinating their Title Runsheet Reports with three title attorneys.

CLIENTS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES, CITIES AND COMPANIES:
Right-of-Way Work Performed for:
Dallas County—Polk Street widening
Collin County—Parker Road widening
City of Cedar Hill—Joe Wilson Road widening City of DeSoto—Realignment of Water Line
City of Irving—Lake Chapman Water Line Right-of-Way
City of Red Oak—Alley Easement for Water and Sewer Lines
City of Rowlett—Sewer Line Right-of-Way
PathNet, Inc.—Secured sites for fiber optics regeneration sites in New Mexico Houston Lighting and Power Company--High-voltage Tower Right of Way
Oil and Gas Clients
CDX Gas, LLC—Palo Pinto County, Erath County and Eastland County
XTO Energy, Inc.--Johnson County, Tarrant County and Parker County
XTO Energy, Inc.--Fort Worth, In-house! Lease Analysis Devon Energy Corporation—Parker County and Wise County Chesapeake Energy Company—Washington and Medina Counties Chesapeake Energy Company—Rapides Parish (LA) NationsGas Partners, LLC—Denton County
Marathon Oil Company—Grimes and Colorado Counties Perryman Operating Company, Inc.--Henderson County
Turner Oil & Gas Properties, Inc.—Anderson and Henderson Counties Amoco Production Company—Gregg, Upshur and Collin Counties
Sun Exploration & Production Company±Old Ranger Field (Eastland County)

EDUCATION:
B.B.A. Degree from The University of Texas at Austin
Additional postgraduate courses at UCLA, SMU and Richland College
Computer skills include Word, Excel and Access

RIGHT-OF-WAY LICENSE:
Registered Right-of-Way Agent with the Texas Real Estate Commission

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:
Fort Worth Association of Professional Landmen
Previous member of American Association of Professional Landman

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Accompanying Resumes:

Kevin Buchanan
214-826-7725
kevinbob@flash.net

Registered Professional Land Surveyor

November 2009 – July 2010
Garcia Land Data, Inc.
6210 Campbell Road, Suite 110
Dallas, Texas, 75248

March 1979 – September 2009
City of Dallas, Public Works and Transportation
320 East Jefferson Boulevard,
Room 318
Dallas, Texas, 75203

Having over thirty years in the land surveying profession, Mr. Buchanan has performed duties in all facets of an engineering project’s life: from the initial idea into planning and design, through public forums, litigation and construction, and finally into destruction. This has been accomplished by providing supervision of personnel and management of information on projects in order to meet expenditures, resources, and project schedules while delivering quality customer service.

Two way communication is a key to quality customer service. One of Mr. Buchanan’s skills is the ability to communicate between surveying clients and/or members of the general public during inquiries or neighborhood meetings concerning projects affecting them. This included being the manager of the Public Works Records Vault and its 26 million documents. Started implementation of succession planning in bringing this information into an electronic Geographical Information System.

Over the last thirty years, Mr. Buchanan has performed surveying and data acquisition on Capital Improvement projects for the City of Dallas covering roads, alleys, creeks, water and waste water lines. Some of these projects include:

Last surveyor for the City of Dallas directly responsible for Love Field before this service was privatized. This included measuring the perimeter for FAA security reasons, and designating various leaseholds.

Dallas Cargo Airport study, a ten square mile area in conjunction with the Cities of Dallas, Lancaster, Wilmer and Hutchins featuring two 10,000 foot long runways; the Dallas Logistics Hub is currently located within this area

Trinity River Corridor Project: researched over four hundred parcels that comprise the Trinity River floodway through Dallas including establishing the boundary in various sections along the east levee.

7700 feet of 48” fresh water line over Flag Pole Hill at White Rock Lake, including joint staking.

18 miles of 18” sludge line for White Rock Lake dredging.

120” water line for Dallas Water Utilities through southern Dallas County.

Downtown Dallas Arts District, including the Dallas Museum of Art, Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, Nasher Sculpture Center, Woodall Rodgers deck park and the Woodall Rodgers off ramp at Pearl Expressway.

Trinity River Audubon Center: from initial investigation into an illegal landfill, through litigation and opening.

US 75 – Central Expressway: study for double decking, assisted in utility relocation and land acquisition for current configuration.

Central Business District - Fair Park Link, Canton Main Connection; initial conception through its second remodeling.

Maple-Routh-Good Latimer Connection: design, acquisition, City Council presentations.

Haskell Avenue, Turtle Creek to IH 30: design studies, neighborhood meetings.

Royal Lane, US 75 to Greenville Avenue.

Greenville Avenue from Meadow Road north to city limit.

Rock Island Railroad acquisition for SurTran, now Dallas Area Rapid Transit and the Trinity Railway Express.

Federal Emergency Management Agency flood study for various areas of Dallas.

Established over five hundred monuments in a four hundred square mile area for the City of Dallas Geographic Information System. Dealt with surrounding municipalities for annexations and disannexations.

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Accompanying Resumes:

Jerry Darden

Experience:
Survey Crew Supervisor/ Survey Vault Supervisor
05/1996-04/2003 City of Dallas, Dallas, Texas
Day to Day Operation of Survey Vault
Research for Various City Departments
Assisting the Public with Research Requests

Survey Crew Supervisor
05/1991-05/1996 City of Dallas, Dallas, Texas
Check on Field Crews
Various Office Duties
Reviewing Plats, Checking Closures on Field Notes
Party Chief

05/1986-05/1991 City of Dallas, Dallas, Texas
Staking Jobs for Paving, Storm Sewer and Water Construction
Staking Preliminary Surveys
Taking Field Notes
Chain Survey Helper, Rod Survey Helper, Instrument Survey Asst.

05/1968-05/1986 City of Dallas, Dallas, Texas
Stocking Truck with Equipment, Holding End of Chain, Using Sledge Hammer
Assisting Instrument Survey Assistant
Operating Survey Equipment, Filling in for Party Chief

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Accompanying Resumes:

Colleen M. Hanchey

Hillwood Investment Partners, Ft. Worth, Texas                          2007-2009

Landman/ Researcher

Provide research services including examining title from present ownership back to patent records. Abstract mineral reservations and provide detailed property reports, including; Deed records, liens, judgments, probate and Civil and District Court records.  Other services included buying and selling leases from mineral holders of property.

Northtown Abstracting & Land Records, Dallas Texas              2006-Present

Owner/Abstractor              

Provide professional research services ranging from current ownership to mineral ownership of a parcel of land. Other services include examining and providing Civil and District Court records, commercial and residential title searches, foreclosure, pipeline and subject & adjoiner research and all related easements, road right of way, GIS mapping, taxes and Appraisal District information. Objective is to perform detailed property research, examine title and to abstract and report all requested information in a detailed property report.  Other duties include marketing, customer service and managing the day to day operations of the business.

Lonestar Record & Abstract Services, Inc., Dallas Texas          2005-Present

Abstractor/Contractor

Conduct property research examining title ranging from current ownership to patent records.  Services consist of foreclosure and ownership research, subject & adjoiner research, including road right of way, easements, GIS mapping, tax maps and Appraisal District information.  Research also consists of examining city and Tex-Dot records as well as District and Civil Court records including probate, divorce, judgments, and ordinances. 

Suntown Enterprises, Dallas, Texas                2002-2006

Abstractor/Title Searcher

Perform property, mortgage, tax, lien, judgment, and UCC searches through Central Appraisal District, Tax Office, and County Courthouse records.  Provide document retrieval, recording services and detailed property reports.

 

EDUCATION

 

Cedar Valley Community College, Lancaster, Texas 1994-1996

Mountain View Community College, Dallas, Texas Fall-1993

 

REFERENCE COMPANIES

 

American Title, Inc., First American Title, Land America, Residential Services, Inc.,

Chesapeake Oil/ Midstream Gas,

Doyle Land Services, Hillwood Investments Partners

 

SUMMARY OF CURRENT POSITION

Services range from determining current ownership of properties to determining mineral reservations through thorough title examination and resources while maintaining a strong professional relationship with clients and providing quality service.

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Accompanying Resumes:

Greg Tait

Experience:
2008-2009 Survey Technician
Survey and Mapping, Inc.
Position Responsibilities
• Create transmission line easement drawings
• Process GPS information
• Field work

2001-2007 Senior Survey Technician
Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA)
Position Responsibilities
• GPS processing and adjustments
• Deed research
• Plat production
• Field note writing
• Topography
• Field work

1993-2001 Survey Technician
Terra Firma Land Surveying and Planning
Position Responsibilities
• Subdivision development
• New home construction surveys
• ALTA surveys
• Commercial and residential surveys

1993-1999 Survey Crew Chief
Terra Firma Land Surveying and Planning
Position Responsibilities
• Commercial and residential surveys
• ALTA surveys

Versatile Computer Programs
AutoCAD-Civil 3D, Map 3D, LLD, Raster Design, PLS CAD, GPS-OPUS, Starnet,

Education:
1988-1991 Technical Drafting Specialist (honor graduate)
United States Army
Education/Training
• Civil Engineering
• Mechanical Drafting
• Architectural Design and Drafting

1984-1988 Victoria High School
General Studies
• High School Diploma