Appointees who work in the five boroughs of New York City or in Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, or WestchesterCounties will receive an additional $1,302 annual downstate adjustment. Appointees who work in Dutchess, Orange, or PutnamCounties will receive an additional $651 annual mid-Hudson adjustment.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: On or before May 12, 2007, you must have a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma issued by an appropriate educational authority and two years of experience in which your primary responsibility was the searching of title to real property in New York State. To qualify as acceptable experience, at least 50% of your time must have been spent searching title to real property in New York State. If such title searching was combined with other activities, your application MUST show the approximate percentage of time actually spent title searching.
NOTES:
- This position requires travel. At the time of appointment, the applicant must possess a valid driver's license to operate a motor vehicle in New York State or otherwise demonstrate his or her capacity to meet the transportation needs of the job. Certain travel expenses will be reimbursed on a fixed schedule.
- Appropriate part-time and volunteer experience, which can be verified, will be accepted on a prorated basis.
- New York State residence is not required.
THE POSITIONS: These positions exist in the Real Property Bureau of the NYS Office of the Attorney General and are located statewide.
DUTIES: As a Title Searcher, your primary responsibilities would include preparing title searches and continuations thereof by searching land records in County Clerks' Offices, determining which instruments affect the title to specified parcels, and abstracting the material portions of those instruments. You would examine and abstract records in Surrogates' Courts for descent of title to a decedent's property and to determine the disposition of estate taxes. You would review the records in County, City, or Village Treasurers' Offices to ascertain the status of taxes, tax liens, or tax sales concerning the subject parcels. You would search court records and abstract any actions and proceedings affecting the title to a subject parcel. You would file appropriation maps in the County Clerks' Offices and record deeds to the State of New York. When necessary, you would make field investigations outside of the County Clerks' Offices to obtain facts which are not of record, but which may affect the title to a subject parcel. You would communicate with Bureau attorneys and personnel of various New York State agencies to resolve technical problems, assess priorities, and/or obtain information concerning subject parcels. You would also assist in the instruction of new Bureau attorneys, Title Searchers, and interns in the basics of searching titles.
SUBJECT OF EXAMINATION: There will be a written test which you must pass in order to be considered for appointment. The written test is designed to test for knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in such areas as:
- Understanding and interpreting abstracts, deeds, and other documents related to real property – These questions test for the ability to understand and apply information contained in documents related to real property and include examples, illustrations and applications of laws and procedures in relation to the reading and interpretation of title abstracts, deeds and other related documents.
- Real property terminology, documents and forms – These questions test for a knowledge of terminology, documents, and forms pertaining to real property. While some questions ask for only straight definitions, others are situational questions which require the use of real property terms to determine the answer to the questions.
- Interpretation of real property descriptions and locations of real property as described – These questions test for the ability to plot and interpret deeds, to read and interpret maps, to calculate land areas, and to perform other calculations pertaining to land surveying. These questions also test for a knowledge of the definitions of terms often used when performing these tasks.
Your final score must be 70 or higher in order to pass. Rank on the eligible list will be determined after adding any wartime veterans' and Civil Service Law Section 85-a credits to your final passing score.
open-competitive apply information
This is an Archived Announcement.
The application filing date has passed. |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ADMISSION TO EXAMINATION: Notice to appear for the test may be conditional as review of applications may not be made until after the test. If you have not received your notice to appear for the written test three days before the date of the test, call (518)474‑6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 1].
NEW YORK STATE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: It is the policy of the State of New York to provide for and promote equal opportunity in employment, compensation and other terms and conditions of employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or arrest and/or criminal conviction record unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.
Appointment to many positions in State government require candidates to undergo an investigative screening. This may include a thorough character investigation, a Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Record History Check, a Child Abuse Registry clearance, or other similar procedures. Candidates may be fingerprinted and may be required to pay any necessary fees for that procedure. Depending on the nature of the job, the criminal convictions discovered, or any falsified or omitted information revealed, the investigative findings may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment.
RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION: Most written tests are held on Saturdays. If you cannot take the test on the announced test date, due to a conflict with a religious observance or practice, check the box under "Religious Accommodation." We will make arrangements for you to take the test on a different date (usually the following day).
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS IN TESTING: In addition, it is the policy of the Department of Civil Service, in accordance with the New York State Human Rights Law and the Americans with Disabilities Act, to provide qualified persons with disabilities equal employment opportunity and equal opportunity to participate in and receive the benefits, services, programs, and activities of the Department. It is the policy of the Department to provide such persons reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications as are necessary to enjoy equal opportunity. Persons with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in an examination must note this on their applications. Further information is available from the Special Arrangements Unit of the Department of Civil Service at (518) 457-2487 [press 2, then press 2] in the Albany area, toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 2], or via TDD (telecommunications device for the deaf) at (518) 457-8480.
MULTIPLE EXAMINATIONS SCHEDULED FOR THE SAME DAY: With the exception of written tests announced by New York City, if you have applied to take a written test announced by a local jurisdiction (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this written test, you must call (518) 474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 1], no later than two weeks before the test date, to make arrangements for taking all tests at one test site. All tests will be held at the state examination center.
S5/TC2 DJD-tmc
Issued: 2/23/07 |
