In condemnation proceedings the necessary evidence of title is made available to the Department by the acquiring agency. Since title insurance is the most commonly used form of title evidence, it is likely that the initial or preliminary title evidence will be in the form of a title commitment or binder, and the final title evidence (see JM 5-15.533) will be in the form of a title insurance policy. However, other forms of title evidence, such as abstracts or Certificates of Title (see ENRD Resource Manual at 48), are also acceptable. Copies of recorded documents reported may accompany the commitment, or if not, may be requested. Detailed guidelines for the preparation of title evidence in land acquisitions by the United States of America are found in the Regulations of the Attorney General Governing the Review and Approval of Title for Federal Land Acquisitions (2016), a copy of which is available at: /media/1027231/dl?inline . Attention is directed to Part 9. Acquiring Title by Condemnation.

[updated April 2018]