It seems ever since that nut job shot up the courthouse in Atlanta several years ago going to the deeds and records room is quite the ordeal. I had to go to a neighboring county today and pull a couple of plats and I have already learned that I have to take all sharp object out of my pockets, no knives, toe nail clippers, etc. I have to remove my keys from my huge military issued safety pin that was used I the service to hold the laundry bags together.
I usually remove all loose coins and take my hearing aids off.
Anyway they had two new Barney's at the door today. Big Fat Barney and Squirrelly Looking Barney and when they saw me coming they must have thought I was really dangerous looking dude because they proceeded to exert their "AUTHORITI" and show me who is boss.
He tells me to place everything I am carrying I the tray, remove my belt, wallet and my boots. Of and your glasses don't forgot those dangerous glasses, they are bifocals after all.
So through the metal detector and BZZZZZZZZ. Oh they pop too looking awful suspicious at me. I'm standing there in my socked feet, holding my britches up and Barney 1 and Barney 2 jump at me with the wand. Turn left, turn right go back through BZZZZZZZ. More wanding and more questions, did you empty your pockets.
They finally realize I am not much of a threat and tell me to effectively move along at which point I sat down in Squirrelly Looking Barney's seat to get dressed at which point he tells me to get up out of his chair and I promptly told him that since he and his partner had me disrobe he can wait for me to get myself ready. Oh that made him quite terse. He said that "we didn't ask you to disrobe just remove your belt and boots". And I again told him I need a place to sit and put my boots back on and that he can just give me a minute.
Once I am properly composed Fat Barney asks me if I was going to Probate Court and I answered NO. And he gave me that inquisitive questioning look expecting me to volunteer my destination. It infuriated him that I would not tell him where I was going and he said, So you're not gonna tell me?
I replied, Well you didn't ask, and besides I was too focused on getting dressed again so I don't get a ticket for indecent exposure. At which point I turned and walked into the deeds and records room.
Hopefully one day soon all the counties you work in will have their plats on line....
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I don't know how many times I've hidden my pocket knife in the bushes around a courthouse because I forgot to take it out in the truck.?ÿ I was going in with a?ÿclient who?ÿwas an attorney one day when I stopped and told him I had to go back because I had my knife in my pocket.?ÿ He said, "Just give it to me".?ÿ I did and he walked around the metal detectors and handed it back to me.?ÿ I was in and out of the Cobb County courthouse so often that I got to know most of the deputies.?ÿ I told?ÿa deputy?ÿone day that I could do a lot more harm with my lead holder than with a pocketknife.?ÿ He shrugged and said "Probably, but you can take the pencil in".
Andy
Steve,
We must be branch kin or somethin. That's pretty much my courthouse run every time!
I was at the Courthouse on day waiting in line to go thru the metal detector, they only have one basket left to put your items in, and of course the guy behind me reach out and grab it before I could, I was waiting on the person in front on me to go thru the line.?ÿ I just turned to him and say yea that will get you thru faster, then he had to stand there and wait till the deputy added more baskets.?ÿ
Once I am properly composed Fat Barney asks me if I was going to Probate Court and I answered NO. And he gave me that inquisitive questioning look expecting me to volunteer my destination. It infuriated him that I would not tell him where I was going and he said, So you're not gonna tell me?
I replied, Well you didn't ask, and besides I was too focused on getting dressed again so I don't get a ticket for indecent exposure. At which point I turned and walked into the deeds and records room.
The less you say the better, there is a Lawyer with some youtube videos, saying never answer any law enforcement questions unless you have your lawyer with you.
Then again straight honest answers?ÿ to a Cop does go a long way, but I would not have told that deputy what I was in the Courthouse for.
About ten years ago I was pulled over by a City police officer. He walked up and asked for my license and proof of insurance. He examined both quite briefly and said "Do you know why I stopped you." I replied "Are you allowed to ask me that before I'm Mirandized?" He gave me a very strange look, handed my license and insurance card back, and said "Have a good afternoon sir." I never knew exactly what to think of it...
Hopefully one day soon all the counties you work in will have their plats on line....
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No chance that will ever happen, none whatsoever as there are many thousands of plats on microfilm and they did not retain the originals and some of the microfilms are in very poor shape. It started getting a lot better about 10 years ago but everything before that is not possible.
I feel sorry for you fellows. ?ÿOf all the courthouses I use on a regular basis there is only one with a guard and a metal detector. ?ÿMight slow me down by about 10 seconds. ?ÿThe threat of adding such foolishness comes up from time to time but absolutely no one wants to cough up the funding. ?ÿMost buildings still have multiple entry points. ?ÿReducing those to a single entry will be the first step.
The only office in our county I can't just walk into is the attorney.?ÿ They need to unlock the door for you to enter.?ÿ I hope it doesn't change.?ÿ No security or metal detectors, small rural county.
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I have got full service at the airport a couple times.
no problems around here- A few times there have been some trials going on where they've have the access to the courtroom controlled- but that's about it.
as if on cue----
https://www.lawenforcementtoday.com/cops-neutralize-gunman-pennsylvania-courthouse/
In 23 years practicing in the Portland/Vancouver area I have had to go to a courthouse 3 or 4 times.?ÿ And I have been there more than any surveyor I know. The title company will send me all the deeds I want for no charge. Plus, all the surveys and plats are on line for all the local counties.
Oklahoma was another story, of course. I went to courthouses 3 or 4 times a month there. As I recall most if not all had security screening. Cleveland County, in Norman, was probably the most uptight. Oklahoma County, in OKC, was just too busy to have time for an attitude.?ÿ The rest were pretty quiet. One place wanded me and the thing screeched. I reached for my belt but the guy said, "never mind, it's just your belt buckle".?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ?ÿ
Waiting on line one time for my turn thru the metal detector, a fellow about 2 ahead of me empties his pockets into the tray, the deputy picks up?ÿ the tray to run it thru the gizmo, looks in it and does a double take.?ÿ Holding up a little glass crack pipe, says, "you ought to have left this in your pocket, Einstein.?ÿ Step right this way....."
On another occasion, I was going thru with a client.?ÿ Client gets to the front of the line, reaches into his jacket and hauls out a .357 revolver.?ÿ That got everyone's attention quick.?ÿ Of course it delayed us about 15 minutes while they settled the permit question and made out a receipt for the pistol.?ÿ Dumbass couldn't have left it in the car, right?
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I can't remember the last time I had to set foot in the courthouse for research.?ÿ Everything is online and free to download.?ÿ ?ÿI don't think you can actually even put your hands on real record book anyway.?ÿ They would think you were an alien if you asked.?ÿ?ÿ
of the 9 counties I work in- 6.5 have their surveys on line. 4.5 have some of their title documents on line (not much earlier than 1984 in some cases 2003), the rest are all stuck somewhere between 1945-1970- (the .5s are for the practically useless user interface at one county)
the rest are all stuck somewhere between 1945-1970
Just pulled this up online in 30 seconds.
Dated: "Thirteenth day of January in the fourth year of the dominion of the right honorable Charles, absolute Lord & Proprietor of the Province of Maryland".?ÿ I believe that's 1662
Most of the courthouses I go to don't really seem to care, and have no security checks in place.?ÿ But the once closest to me, which has the least amount of records online (go figure), has the full security detail for when you walk through the door.?ÿ I do my best to empty my pockets, remove my handgun from it's holster, also spare magazine, but I make sure to leave the holster on my belt.?ÿ More often than not, showing the empty holster gets me waved through quicker than anything else I have tried.
1662 is pretty good, but here's one from 1648 (Massachusetts South Middlesex County online Registry of Deeds, Book 1 Page1).
The county I am in claims to go back to 1983 but it is sketchy. Most of them are 1990 and up. No way in gods green earth will you be ale to pull anything from 1950 much less pre Civil War.
Plats are online generally from 20 years ago to current but that is not a hard and fast date.?ÿ
Cobb County is much better.?ÿ
Needless to say there is still considerable time spent in the deeds and records room.
