Chesnut - Backstop Title Company

A Chesnut Company · Athens & Huntsville, Alabama

Title Searches You Can Count On

Chesnut - Backstop Title Company delivers thorough, attorney-owned title work for real estate professionals across North Alabama. From title searches to closing support, we've got your back.

Attorney-OwnedReal legal judgment
E&O InsuredErrors & omissions coverage
North AlabamaAthens & Huntsville
24–48 hrTypical turnaround

Our Services

Comprehensive title services tailored for attorneys, lenders, and real estate professionals in North Alabama.

Curative Work

Owned and operated by real estate lawyers with over 75 years of combined experience in curing, resolving, and litigating property issues.

Title Searches

Full-chain title searches across North Alabama. We dig deep to uncover liens, encumbrances, and defects before they become problems.

Title Examinations

Detailed examination of title history identifying issues that need resolution. Clear, actionable reports you can rely on.

Legal Description Plotting

Metes and bounds descriptions plotted on satellite maps with our Backstop Plotter tool. Visualize property lines instantly.

For illustration only — not a survey or a substitute for a licensed land surveyor.

Document Preparation

Deeds, mortgages, and conveyance documents prepared with precision. Alabama-compliant formatting and language for clean recordings.

Closing Support

End-to-end support for real estate closings. We coordinate with all parties to ensure an on-time closing experience.

How It Works

A straightforward process designed to save you time and eliminate surprises.

Submit Your Order

Send us the property details, county, and any reference information you have. Email, phone, or our contact form works.

We Search the Records

We pull the chain of title from courthouse records, examining deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, and taxes.

Review & Report

You receive a clear, detailed title report with our findings, including any issues that need attention before closing.

Close with Confidence

Move forward knowing the title is clean — or with a clear roadmap to resolve any defects we've identified.

Where We Work

From offices in Athens and Huntsville, we serve the courthouses and closing tables of North Alabama — and we know them well.

Working on a deal in the region? Reach out with the property address and we'll confirm we can help — North Alabama real estate rarely stops at a county line.

Backstop Legal Description Plotter

Upload a deed PDF and watch the legal description come to life on a satellite map. Our proprietary tool reads metes and bounds descriptions, plots them with geodesic precision, and overlays PLSS section lines — all in your browser.

Plot calls, check closure, verify acreage, and drag descriptions to fine-tune placement. Built for Alabama title professionals.

Launch the Plotter
23 N 62° E • 300.0' POB 200 ft

Plot metes & bounds on satellite imagery

Why Backstop

What sets us apart from other title service providers.

Fast Turnaround

Most title searches completed within 24–48 hours. Rush orders available when your deal can't wait.

Local Expertise

We know North Alabama courthouses inside and out — the records rooms, the clerks, and the local quirks that trip up out-of-town title work.

Modern Technology

Our proprietary plotter tool maps legal descriptions instantly. No more guessing where property lines fall.

Attorney-Owned

Run by practicing Alabama real estate attorneys who understand the legal nuances of title work and real property law.

Competitive Pricing

Quality title work at fair prices. No hidden fees, no surprise charges. You'll know the cost upfront.

Personal Service

You talk to a real person, every time. No call centers, no runaround. Direct communication from start to finish.

About Chesnut - Backstop Title Company

Chesnut - Backstop Title Company is the title and closing arm of the Chesnut family's North Alabama real estate practice. It's led by attorneys R. Patrick Chesnut and Richard Chesnut, who together bring over 75 years of combined experience in real property law, title examination, and real estate closings.

After years in the trenches of Alabama real estate — searching courthouse records, examining chains of title, and preparing closing documents — the Chesnuts launched Backstop to deliver the kind of thorough, reliable title work that attorneys, lenders, and realtors deserve.

Because Backstop is attorney-owned and works alongside Chesnut Law Office, clients get title work backed by real legal judgment — not just a data pull. With offices in Athens and Huntsville, we serve the broader North Alabama region.

Real Property Litigation Experience

That legal judgment has been tested at the highest level. In 2016, R. Patrick Chesnut represented his parents, Richard and Betty Chesnut, in a zoning dispute that reached the Alabama Supreme Court — and won. The Court agreed that a city zoning board had misapplied its own ordinance in approving a neighboring construction permit, reversing the board's decision.

Chesnut v. Board of Zoning Adjustment, City of Huntsville, No. 1140731 (Ala. Jan. 22, 2016).
Work With Us

Frequently Asked Questions

Straight answers about how Backstop works.

What areas do you cover?
We're based in Athens and serve the broader North Alabama region. Tell us the property address and we'll confirm we can help — deals here rarely stop at a county line.
How fast can I get a title search back?
Most title searches are completed within 24–48 hours of receiving the property details. Have a deal that can't wait? Ask about rush service when you place your order.
Do you issue title insurance?
Our core work is the title search, examination, and curative side — the groundwork a clean policy depends on. Talk to us about your transaction and we'll walk you through the title insurance options and coordinate coverage for your closing.
What's the difference between a title search and title insurance?
A title search is the investigation — pulling the chain of title and identifying liens, encumbrances, and defects in the public record. Title insurance is a policy that protects the buyer or lender against covered problems that surface later. A careful search is what makes a clean, defensible policy possible.
Why does attorney-owned matter?
Title problems are legal problems. Because Backstop is owned and run by practicing Alabama real estate attorneys — and works alongside Chesnut Law Office — we can spot, explain, and often cure defects that a records service would simply flag and hand back to you.
How do I place an order?
Send the property address and county through the contact form below, call (256) 716-8529, or email contact@backstop.law. Include any reference documents you have and we'll take it from there.

Get in Touch

Ready to order a title search or have questions about our services? We'd love to hear from you.

Contact Information

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Offices

Athens
304 North Marion Street
Athens, Alabama 35611

Huntsville
102 Clinton Avenue West, Suite 201
Huntsville, Alabama 35801

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Hours

By appointment only
Call or email to schedule