About

South Ridge Abstract and Title Co. is the oldest title company in Highlands County, Florida, with a long and proud history of serving the community. Before the company was incorporated on February 17th, 1958, J. Berch Haviland and DeBlois Milledge started building one of the first computerized title plants in the United States of America. A complete title plant had to be built with the help of an experimental IBM computer at the University of Miami.

John Haviland, son of J. Berch Haviland, ran the company from the 1980s until recently when the company was sold to Nathan Gray and Kate Haviland Gray. At South Ridge Abstract and Title Co., we are proud of our past and have kept up with the changing title industry. We were one of the first title companies in Florida to offer computerized real estate closings, and this ability to change with new technology has given our customers the service they deserve.

With two locations in Sebring and Lake Placid, we offer real estate closings with title insurance underwritten by Chicago Title Insurance Co., Old Republic Title Insurance Co., and Stewart Title Insurance Co. These title companies represent three of the major title companies in the nation.

The fact that the company is not owned by a bank, realtor, attorney, or title insurance company ensures that we have no other interests than yours, and that may be one reason why we have so many repeat customers. Every business day since 1958, South Ridge has been open for your title needs, providing the service that a 64-year-old company can give. Our customers know that our company will be here for their title needs in the future, just as in the past.