Title Searching in Oregon

Search/Exam • There is no marketable record title act in Oregon, no minimum required period of time for a title search, and no other applicable title examination standards.

• The only requirements are that, before a title insurer or its agent can insure a transaction, it must operate a title plant in the county where the real property is located or purchase title insurance from a company that does, ORS 731.438(1), and such title plant must cover a period of at least the immediately-preceding 50 years, except for the years before 1960. ORS 731.438(1).

• The Oregon Rating Manual (“Rating Manual”), published by the Oregon Title Insurance Rating Organization (“OTIRO”), provides in Section 2.003 that an additional chain charge of $100 must be added to the applicable insurance rate when the examination of title covers two different series of successive transfers (chains) of the parcels comprising the subject property. When the examination covers more than two different chains, a charge of $50.00 must be added for each additional chain exceeding the two chains, up to a maximum of $500.00 for all additional chains.