TitleDesk Agentby The Harness Lab
By The Harness Lab, maker of TitleDesk Agent. Updated October 26, 2026. The tools below serve different parts of the workflow; inclusion is not an endorsement by the named providers or an independent ranking.
The toolkit, in assignment order
| Stage | Tool or resource | Output to keep | Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Records access | County clerk resources and a provider with coverage for your county. | Original instrument images, recording references and a search log. | County, record series, date range, missing references and access charges. |
| Document reading | OCR and a viewer; selected AI examination when appropriate. | Searchable text and proposed facts linked to pages. | Compare the scan with the reading, especially handwriting, fractions and legal descriptions. |
| Runsheet and chain | A title workspace such as TitleDesk. | A chronological runsheet, source links and open research questions. | Every row resolves to an instrument; unresolved gaps remain visible. |
| Ownership | Exact-fraction calculations and a tract schedule. | Interests, acreage calculations and supporting citations. | Reconcile fractions and acreage; review reservations and conveyance meaning. |
| Map context | Official GIS sources and any client-required mapping software. | Identified wells, surveys and map references. | Match identifiers and source dates to the subject tract. |
| Curative and obligations | An issue log; a land administration system when the scope requires it. | Exceptions, evidence, owners, next steps and deadlines. | Assign responsibility and keep unresolved items with the handoff. |
| Client delivery | The approved workbook template and package builder. | Reports, cited sources and the required folder structure. | Open the exported files and review completeness before release. |
1. Start with the records coverage
Use the county clerk's resources to identify the relevant indexes and record series. The TexasFile county directory provides contacts and links to Texas public-record resources. Compare the required period with the provider's actual coverage before starting.
TexasFile offers county clerk documents including deeds, leases, liens and assignments; its published coverage dates vary by county. CourthouseDirect publishes available county indexes and FileViewer coverage. An index entry helps locate a document; retain and examine the instrument itself. See our guide to reading a Texas county index.
2. Keep the scan beside the OCR and proposed reading
OCR makes a packet searchable, but a legible text layer does not establish the meaning of a conveyance. Check the original page when a name, fraction or legal description matters. Keep page counts and unreadable pages in the review queue.
TitleDesk's local OCR works on held PDF and multi-page TIFF scans without a per-page cloud OCR charge. Automated examination is separate: selected page images go to the AI provider you chose after consent, and its proposed reading needs review.
3. Connect the runsheet, ownership and curative list
A useful runsheet lets you move from a row back to the supporting page. The ownership schedule should preserve the calculation as well as the result. Keep uncertain readings and missing instruments attached to the assignment rather than silently converting them into accepted facts.
TitleDesk brings these steps into one desktop workspace. Start with the runsheet workflow, then inspect the mineral title workflow and curative checklist. If your work includes ongoing lease administration, compare the dedicated platforms in our landman software buyer's guide.
4. Use maps for context and preserve the source
The Texas Railroad Commission Public GIS Viewer displays oil, gas and pipeline data with survey, lease and well-search tools. Record the identifiers and retrieval date you use. Map context is one part of the research file; the recorded instruments still need examination.
5. Test the client's workbook before you finish
Start from a blank approved client template. Check required columns, tract labels, recording references, source links and exception schedules. Open the actual exported workbook rather than relying on the application preview. Check any separately delivered source folder against the report.
A small example for testing your tools
This is a synthetic arithmetic fixture, not a title conclusion or a customer assignment. Assume a stipulated 120-acre tract with three accepted owners, each holding 1/3, and no other adjustments.
- Enter the three fractions as 1/3, 1/3 and 1/3. The exact total is 1.
- Compute each owner's net mineral acres: 120 × 1/3 = 40. The total is 120.
- Give each row a synthetic instrument citation and a page reference. Check that the link opens that page.
- Remove one supporting page. The affected interest should remain unresolved for review, with the missing source identified.
- Export the schedule into your test workbook and compare the file with the fixture.
The arithmetic can pass while the evidence check fails. Evaluate those outcomes separately. Then use a permitted representative packet for the full demonstration, including difficult scans and an interrupted session.
Keep professional resources in the toolkit
The American Association of Professional Landmen provides education, certification resources and professional information. Training and qualified review belong alongside the software in your workflow.
Build a connected title desk
For a landman whose main work is researching records and delivering a title package, TitleDesk combines document reading, runsheets, exact ownership calculations, curative and client-format reports. Check your coverage, installed release and provider costs in a demonstration of your own workflow.