158 The Farmer's Business Handbook 



deed in the ojQfice of the county clerk; otherwise 

 subsequent instruments might be recorded ahead 

 of one's deed, and, by the law of most of the 

 states, would take precedence, as deeds and mort- 

 gages of real property must be recorded in the 

 office of the clerk of the county where the prop- 

 erty is located, or they will be void as against 

 any subsequent purchaser or encumbrancer of the 

 same property in good faith and for value. Rec- 

 ord, moreover, is a prime safeguard against in- 

 conveniences arising from the loss of the deed and 

 all of the accidents liable to occur in its possession. 



It is a fact that a deed of property may be 

 made upon the proper blanks by any person of 

 intelligence. When a considerable amount is 

 involved, however, it is unsafe to take a deed 

 which has not been passed upon by some attor- 

 ney in whom the purchaser has confidence. It 

 is not a question of fraud — even your best and 

 most loyal friend may ignorantly sell to you 

 real estate to which he may have no title. A 

 good lawyer can always detect these deficiencies 

 and save you perhaps no end of annoyance and 

 possible litigation by a careful investigation of 

 the title and a thorough examination of the deed 

 of conveyance. 



There is a provision in nearly all states requir- 

 ing sales of land to be by written instrument. 

 These requirements are generally about as fol- 



