Deed Abstracter

Arlington County VA • Arlington, VA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Arlington County's Department of Management and Finance (DMF) is seeking a Title/Deed Abstracter to provide specialized and highly responsible paraprofessional support in the Department of Real Estate Assessments (DREA ). The Deed Abstractor is responsible for researching, reviewing, and interpreting real property transfer documents to ensure accurate and timely updates to Arlington County real estate assessment and ownership records. This position analyzes deeds, plats, wills, court orders, surveys, and related legal documents to determine property ownership, verify property descriptions, identify changes in title, and maintain the integrity of the County's land records database. The role requires high attention to detail, strong understanding of land record terminology, and the ability to apply statutory and administrative requirements governing property transfers.

Requirements

• High accuracy and attention to detail
• Ability to analyze complex legal descriptions
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency with document management systems, GIS mapping tools, and Microsoft Office
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines
• Professional customer service skills
• Ability to interpret and apply state/local property laws and office procedures
• Bachelor’s degree in Real Estate, Public Administration, Business Administration, or related field; plus Some experience working with property records, real estate transactions, land surveying, title research, or assessment work.

Nice To Haves

• Reviewing legal instruments or a background in title research
• Collecting and analyzing real estate related data
• Local government land records or assessment software systems
• Working with Tyler Assessment software

Responsibilities

• Review and abstract property transfers by examining deeds, deeds of trust, plats, easements, wills, estate settlements, and court records to identify grantor/grantee information, legal descriptions, parcel boundaries, and transfer conditions affecting ownership
• Update property ownership records by accurately applying ownership changes within the assessment system; verifying parcel numbers, acreage, subdivision data, condominium identifiers, and tax map references
• Analyze legal descriptions by interpreting metes and bounds descriptions, lot/block references, right-of-way reservations, and boundary adjustments to ensure records align with official plats and mapping
• Coordinate with other offices by communicating with the Clerk of the Circuit Court, land surveyors, attorneys, title companies, and GIS/mapping staff to clarify document discrepancies or incomplete information
• Identify and resolve errors by investigating inconsistencies in ownership history, incomplete transfer documents, name variations, or erroneous legal descriptions and recommend corrections as appropriate
• Support assessment processes by providing accurate transfer information to appraisers for valuation work, land splits/merges, new construction assessments, and taxpayer inquiries
• Inputting, monitoring, and verifying deed data to ensure records comply with state code requirements, local ordinances, and internal standards
• Assist taxpayers, attorneys, real estate professionals, and the public by explaining ownership records, transfer requirements, and general property information, without offering legal advice
• Maintain confidentiality and compliance by adhering to state statutes governing land records (e.g., state real property codes), FOIA requirements, and privacy standards

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level