Municipal
Lien Search.
The obligations a title search can’t see.
A standard title search turns up recorded encumbrances: mortgages, judgments, and liens tied to the chain of title. Plenty of municipal obligations never make it into the public land records, though. They sit in the systems of cities, counties, utility providers, and code-enforcement offices, out of view.
Those items run with the land. Once the deal closes they become the new owner’s problem, and often the title agent’s liability. A municipal lien search goes to those sources directly and reports what the title commitment can’t, so nothing trails your buyer past the closing table.
For each parcel, ProLien contacts the municipal and utility authorities that matter, confirms the balances and statuses against that specific property, and returns one standardized report. It reads the same way every time.
WHY IT MATTERS
The cost of “good enough.”
A missed municipal obligation doesn’t disappear. It transfers to whoever closes next. Here’s what a thorough search keeps off your file:
- Unexpected payoffs at closing from unpaid utilities or special assessments.
- Post-closing claims against the title agent for obligations that ran with the land.
- Open or expired permits that block resale or trigger fines on the new owner.
- Code-enforcement fines accruing daily until a violation is cured.
Every source that can follow the property.
Property Taxes
Utility Balances
Special Assessments
Open & Expired Permits
Code Violations
One standardized report,
every detail verified.
specific parcel and easy to read every time.
Real Estate & Property Taxes
Current tax status, outstanding balances, and any delinquent or certificate-sold amounts tied to the parcel.
Water, Sewer & Solid Waste
Outstanding utility account balances and final-billing exposure from the providers serving the property.
Special Assessments & Municipal Liens
Recorded and unrecorded assessments for paving, lighting, fire, and similar municipal charges, confirmed against the parcel.
Open & Expired Permits
Permit history flagged for open, expired, or un-finaled items that could block resale or transfer liability.
Code Enforcement & Violations
Open violations and accruing fines surfaced from the local code-enforcement department, with status notes.
Clear, Actionable Summary
A consistent cover summary that flags anything you need to resolve before closing, so there’s no hunting through a different format on every order.
From order to report in three steps.
Order
Submit the property from your title software or our portal. No re-keying and no chasing; just the address and parcel.
We Search
Our technology pulls from the municipal and utility sources while our team verifies every balance and status against the parcel.
You Close
You get a standardized, easy-to-read report, backed by our 100% accuracy guarantee and a support team that actually responds.
Want to see exactly what you’ll receive?
Download a real, anonymized municipal lien search and see the ProLien standard for yourself before you order.
Close your next transaction like a Pro.
Order your first search and see the speed, accuracy, and support difference — built exclusively for title agents and attorneys.