Resources

Placing an order is as simple as submitting a request through our secure portal. Simply upload your internal order form, purchase agreement, or any document that contains your order information. Be sure to let us know who you are and any other pertinent information. Submit your request here.

You can also send your order via your own secure email service, fax, or mail, or you can drop it off at our office. We’d love you to come in and say hello! Our contact information is:

First Montana Title Co.
250 W. Main Street
Hamilton, Montana 59840
Phone: (406) 363-2661
Fax: (406) 363-6960
Email: [email protected]

A Listing Packet or Property Profile is simply a compilation of property information intended to assist the agent in completing their listing process. RESPA regulations preclude us from providing title searches, reports, or insurance for free to gain or guarantee future business. Therefore, we don’t formally package this free information into any specific “product” form.

However, we are happy to provide basic publicly available information to assist you in listing your property. Here’s what may be included:

1. A copy of the vesting deed.
2. Copies of individually recorded Covenants (Note: since a complete title search is not undertaken, any covenants, easements, or restrictions found on individual deeds would not be identified or included).
3. Copies of specific documents that you may have referenced or requested as part of the information packet.
4. A copy of the county property tax report.
5. A photocopy of the related survey, plat, or section map.

Title Companies Operate by instruction. This means that the disbursement of funds to specific parties, the payment of any invoices, or the transfer of any personal property (such as water rights or farm equipment) must be specifically requested prior to closing and appropriate information provided. Proper names, addresses, and legal descriptions are necessary for both buyers and sellers to complete all closing documents. Here’s what we might need:

1. A copy of the signed Buy-Sell Agreement, including:

• Complete address and contact information for both parties (phone numbers and emails if possible).
• Legal description of property (in Montana, an address is not always accurate or sufficient).
• Contact information for all agents involved.
• Commission amounts and splits (not included as part of standard Buy-Sells).
  

2. Information on Deceased Parties:

• Most deaths won’t show up in a public document search at our local courthouse unless we are specifically instructed to look in death certificate files for Ravalli County. If a person passed in another county or state, the death certificate will not be referenced anywhere in county records. Please notify us if a party to a sale is deceased. A death certificate may be required to close.

3. Water Rights information:

• While we may do a preliminary search for water rights through the DNRC website, verification of water rights, unfiled wells, or lake and ditch shares are the responsibility of the Seller and their agent. We’re happy to complete and file appropriate forms to transfer water rights based on the information you provide.

4. Trust, Partnership, or Corporation documents:

• We will need declaration and signature pages for all trusts, partnerships, or corporations (to verify vesting and who can sign). Even when we’ve done previous work for a particular client, legal documents change constantly and must be reviewed each time. First Montana Title Co. does not maintain a database of private legal documents for clients.

5. Loan/Creditor Account Numbers:

• If you represent a Seller who has underlying loans, liens, or creditors that must be paid off to close, please provide account numbers and the last four digits of the client’s social security number. Many creditors will require a signed authorization from a customer. You can download a copy here.

Although certain times of year are busier than others in Montana, we are generally able to produce a preliminary title commitment within five business days. First Montana Title Co. does the most comprehensive title research in Ravalli County. As the only company with a complete onsite title plant, we regularly identify and solve title issues impossible to find or correct through the online search process used by other companies.

Our examiners have decades of experience in research and real estate transaction analysis in the Bitterroot Valley and are relied on regularly to research and answer questions for County and State government, local banks, mortgage companies, real estate agents, and attorneys. Settlement statements are generally prepared three days prior to closing to allow for review by agents and the parties involved.

Statements produced earlier than this generally require correction for payoff and prorated amounts. Most lenders also dictate the pace of the settlement process, and we must rely heavily on their documents and timelines. All in all, 14 business days are usually necessary to close a transaction. First Montana Title Co. may charge an additional fee for rush requests.