People & Alias Best Practices

The People & Alias tool is one of the most important features in the Tracts software. It's main purpose is to remedy strangers to title. However, this is one of the tools that has the most misunderstanding of how to use it properly. This tool links parties together to accurately convey and calculate the ownership for the area you are working in.  To help further understand the usage of this tool keep reading below.

Trusts

If a document has the name of an executor of a trust, you should list that executor's name as an alias for the trust inside Tracts so that the trust can be calculated correctly.  If there are multiple executors, make each one an alias for the trust.

Ex. Scott Smith, executor of Smith Family Trust

Smith Family Trust

Scott Smith, executor of Smith Family Trust

Darla Smith, executor of Smith Family Trust

Husband and Wife

If a document names one entity as having multiple names, such as a husband and wife, the aliases entered should reflect each individual.  We typically separate husbands and wives into two separate parties, even if you believe that they own the property as community property. In this situation, If a conveyance is made to an individual, being “the wife of so and so,” convey it to that party only using the full description as their name. You might also wish to use the “Display As” Alias to use their given name only, absent the descriptor of “wife of so and so.” Some clients prefer that husbands and wives be combined into one party in Community Property states, and in cases where they are Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorship. Many of our mineral buying clients also prefer to have the husband and wife combined into one party when they are conveyed an interest together, so that they don't have to contact the husband and wife separately about an interest which they own jointly.

Ex. John and Jane Doe, husband and wife 

John Doe

John Doe, Husband

John A Doe, husband

Jane Doe

Jane Doe, wife

Jane B Doe, wife

The point is for all of the aliases to represent the same group or party.

Sheriff's Office

If you are running title and come across documents that specify one sheriff or another you treat these as if the each sheriff is the same person.

Ex. Joe Smith, Sheriff of Harris County 

Joe Smith, Sheriff of Harris County

Harris County Sheriff's Office

Clark Johnson, Sherriff