Spears Title Company

08/02/2026

What happens to real estate when a relative dies unexpectedly in Montgomery County or Macoupin County, Illinois?

Before estate property can be sold, it is important to determine who has legal authority:

• Executor: Named in the will and appointed by the probate court.
• Administrator: Appointed by the court, usually when there is no valid will or no executor able to serve.
• Independent Executor: An executor authorized to administer the estate with less ongoing court supervision.
• Independent Administrator: A court-appointed administrator given similar independent authority.

The word “independent” matters. Under the Illinois Probate Act, an independent representative generally has authority to sell estate real estate without obtaining a separate court order, subject to the will and other legal limitations.

Being an heir, being named in a will, or having previously held power of attorney does not automatically give someone authority to sign a deed. Spears Title will review the recorded ownership, will, Letters of Office, court orders, and probate documents to determine what is required for closing.

For estate real estate in Montgomery County, Macoupin County, Hillsboro, Litchfield, Carlinville, Gillespie, Staunton, Virden, or surrounding Illinois communities, contact a local attorney to go over whatever option is best for you. If you are unsure of ownership feel free to contact Spears Title Company.

Early title work can identify probate, ownership, lien, legal-description, and deed issues before they delay the sale.

General information only. This is not legal advice.

07/30/2026

Meet our fearless leader!

Since 2021, Spears Title Company has been proudly owned and operated by Jacob Fleming. While our name honors a long-standing local legacy, our focus is on the future by serving our communities with professionalism, respect, and integrity every day.

Thank you to everyone who has trusted our team with your real estate closings. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve you.

07/27/2026

🇩🇪 Our fearless leader has officially spent too much time in Bavaria…

He’s now proposing we replace our famous Spears Title coffee mugs with handcrafted Bavarian steins! 😂

Don’t worry… the title insurance is still the same. We’re just exploring “international improvements.”

Would you rather receive the classic Spears Title mug ☕ or the Bavarian edition? 🇩🇪

07/24/2026

Friendly Reminder! 1st Installment Macoupin County Property Taxes Due 07/24/26!

Nobody loves paying property taxes, but avoiding late penalties is always a win.

The 1st installment of 2025 Macoupin County Real Estate Property Taxes (payable in 2026) is due Friday, July 24, 2026.

Since the deadline is approaching, you may want to pay online or in person.

Pay online:
Macoupin County Property Tax Payment Portal
⁠https://www.macoupin-taxpayments.com/ #/WildfireSearch

Pay in person:
Macoupin County Treasurer’s Office
Macoupin County Courthouse
201 E. Main Street
Carlinville, IL 62626

Questions?
Call the Macoupin County Treasurer’s Office at (217) 854-4014.

Please share this with anyone who may need the reminder.

07/23/2026

☕🇮🇹 Greetings from Piazza dei Miracoli!

Our fearless leader has officially made it to the Leaning Tower of Pisa… and yes, the Spears Title Company coffee mug made the trip too!

The Leaning Tower may be famous for not standing perfectly straight, but thanks to a remarkably solid foundation and centuries of engineering, it’s still standing nearly 850 years later.

That’s a lot like real estate. A successful closing starts with a strong foundation. Careful title research, clear ownership, and attention to detail help keep everything standing tall long after closing day.

📍Fun fact: The Leaning Tower is located in Piazza dei Miracoli, which means “Square of Miracles.” With landmarks like this, it’s easy to see how it earned its name!

And just like in Rome, every client who closes with Spears Title Company receives one of our signature coffee mugs FREE at closing as a small thank you for trusting us with one of life’s biggest milestones.

So… where should our Spears Title mug travel next? 🌍☕🏡

07/21/2026

☕🇮🇹 Greetings from Rome!

Our fearless leader is currently exploring the Eternal City and couldn’t resist bringing along one of our favorite travel companions… a Spears Title Company coffee mug!

The Colosseum has stood for nearly 2,000 years. While we can’t promise our coffee mugs will last quite that long, we can promise they’re a great reminder of your closing day.

Did you know? Every client who closes with Spears Title Company receives one of our signature coffee mugs FREE at closing. It’s our small way of saying thank you and welcoming you home.

Whether you’re buying your first home, your forever home, or your next investment property, we’d love to help you get to the closing table.

Now… where should our coffee mug travel next? 🌎☕🏡

07/15/2026

How cool is this!? Great job Beth & Mark Steiniger, Brokers at Century 21 Reid Baugher Realty! This most certainly is the first of many! Congrats and keep up the great work! 👏 👏 👏

Today's closing calls for some extra celebration because this is Beth & Mark Steiniger, Brokers at Century 21 Reid Baugher Realty first! Thank you to our seller for putting your trust in CENTURY 21 Reid Baugher Realty and Spears Title Company for helping us get it to the finish line. Congratulations to everyone involved!

07/13/2026

🔥 TITLE TIDBIT: Two Words on an 1852 Virden Plat Helped Decide Where a Firehouse Could Be Built More Than 100 Years Later

When the Town of Virden was originally platted in 1852, one block near the center of town was not divided into individual lots.

Instead, the original proprietors labeled it simply:

“Public Ground.”

More than a century later, those two words became the center of an Illinois Supreme Court case.

The City of Virden planned to allow the Virden Fire Protection District to construct a firehouse on part of the public square. A lawsuit argued that the property had been dedicated as a park and could not be used for that purpose.

In Schien v. City of Virden, the Illinois Supreme Court determined that “Public Ground” was a broad dedication for public use, not a restriction limiting the property only to park purposes.

Over the years, the property had been used for a city hall, jail, public offices, community gatherings, band concerts and even the storage of fire engines. The Court concluded that a firehouse was also a legitimate public use, provided the City retained control of the property for the public’s benefit.

🏛️ Why does this matter to title professionals?

Because two words written on a plat in 1852 still controlled how the property could be used in 1955.

Old plats are not merely historic drawings. Dedications, easements, restrictions, alleys, streets and other markings made generations ago can still affect property rights today.

That is why a thorough title examination looks beyond the current deed and follows the property’s history through the public land records.

📍 Spears Title Company proudly serves Virden and surrounding Macoupin County communities through our Carlinville office.

07/09/2026

Friendly Reminder! 1st Installment Montgomery County Property Taxes due 07/10/26!

Nobody loves paying property taxes, but avoiding late penalties is always a win.

The 1st installment of Montgomery County 2025 Real Estate Property Taxes is due tomorrow, Friday, July 10, 2026.

Since the deadline is tomorrow, you may want to pay online or in person.

Pay online:
https://montgomerycountyiltax.com/ #/WildfireSearch

Pay in person:
Montgomery County Treasurer’s Office
Montgomery County Historic Courthouse
1 Courthouse Square, Room 101
Hillsboro, IL 62049

Questions?
Call the Montgomery County Treasurer’s Office at (217) 532-9521.

Please share this with anyone who may need the reminder.

07/03/2026

Title Tidbit the 4th of July Edition: America’s First Big Title Transfer!

When we think about the 4th of July, we usually think fireworks, flags, cookouts, and the Declaration of Independence.

But here is a fun real estate angle:

The United States did not just declare independence. It eventually had to prove ownership.

The first major land “transfer” to the new United States came through the Treaty of Paris in 1783, when Great Britain formally recognized American independence and ceded land east of the Mississippi River, north of Florida, and south of Canada.

In title terms, you could say America’s first great “chain of title” started not with a courthouse deed, but with a treaty.

That is the real estate nerd version of freedom. 🇺🇸

At Spears Title Company, we may not be examining treaties from 1783, but we still believe every piece of property has a story. Our job is to help make sure that story is clear before you buy, sell, or close.

Happy 4th of July from all of us at Spears Title Company!

Celebrate freedom. Enjoy the fireworks. And remember, good title matters. 🇺🇸