Forensic Audit & Investigation

Follow the Paper.
Find the Truth.

When the paper trail goes cold, we heat it back up. Forensic Pierce delivers investigative-grade forensic audits that trace every assignment, every endorsement, and every filing — from the county recorder's office to the SEC's EDGAR database.

Request a Forensic Audit See Our Methodology
15+
Years Combined Experience
500+
Documents Analyzed
3,100+
Counties Accessible
Audit Services

Three Audit Pillars

Each engagement draws on all three disciplines. We tailor the depth and scope to your case.

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Mortgage Trust Audit

Full-spectrum examination of residential and commercial mortgage-backed securitization trusts. We reconstruct the trust's structure, verify party roles, and identify breaks in the chain of assignment.

  • Pooling & Servicing Agreement (PSA) analysis
  • Trustee & master servicer role verification
  • Cut-off date compliance audit
  • Mortgage Loan Schedule reconciliation
  • Assignment chain gap identification
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Chain-of-Title Analysis

Every mortgage travels through multiple hands before — and after — securitization. We trace the full assignment path and flag every missing link, defective endorsement, and untimely recording.

  • Deed of Trust / Mortgage reconstruction
  • Assignment of Mortgage / Deed of Trust audit
  • MERS® Milestone tracking
  • Endorsement & allonge verification
  • Recording gap timeline
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Securitization Audit

We reconstruct the securitization transaction from origination through the trust, verifying compliance with the governing agreements and applicable securities law at every step.

  • SEC EDGAR filing retrieval & analysis (8-K, 10-K, 424B5)
  • Prospectus Supplement reconciliation
  • REMIC & grantor trust compliance review
  • True sale / legal isolation assessment
  • Trust receipt & conveyance verification
Methodology

How We Work

A disciplined, document-first approach — no shortcuts, no assumptions.

1

Intake & Scoping

We receive your case file — loan documents, assignments, notices, and correspondence. Together we define the precise scope: which trust, what time period, and the specific questions you need answered.

2

Document Retrieval

We pull records from county recorder offices (3,100+ counties nationwide), the SEC EDGAR database, MERS® system, and other public repositories. Every document is catalogued, timestamped, and cross-referenced.

3

Chain Reconstruction

We build a chronological timeline of every transfer, assignment, and endorsement. Each link is verified against the governing agreement. Gaps, contradictions, and irregularities are flagged and documented.

4

Gap Analysis

We compare what the governing agreements required against what actually happened. Missing assignments, unsigned endorsements, late recordings, and trust-closing-date violations are catalogued with supporting exhibits.

5

Findings Report

You receive a structured, exhibit-backed findings report — suitable for litigation support, settlement negotiation, or regulatory submission. Every finding is tied to a specific document, date, and governing provision.

Sample Findings

What an Audit Uncovers

Real patterns we've identified across hundreds of securitization trust examinations.

Forensic Audit Findings — Confidential
Finding F-001
Assignment Executed After Trust Closing Date CRITICAL
The Assignment of Mortgage purporting to transfer the Subject Loan into the Trust was executed on March 14, 2008 — 847 days after the Trust's Closing Date of November 1, 2005. The governing PSA §2.01 requires all mortgage loans to be transferred to the Trust on or before the Closing Date. A post-closing assignment is a nullity under New York trust law.
Exhibit A-3: Assignment of Mortgage, Book 12453 Page 892
Exhibit A-4: PSA §2.01 (Closing Date: Nov 1, 2005)
Finding F-002
Robo-Signer Identified Across Multiple Unrelated Transactions HIGH
The same individual — identified as "Vice President" of three different entities — executed assignments for 47 distinct trusts over a four-year period. Deposition testimony confirms the signer lacked personal knowledge of any individual loan file. This pattern indicates a systemic defect in the assignment process.
Exhibit B-7: Deposition Transcript, pp. 42–58
Finding F-003
Gap in Recorded Assignment Chain CRITICAL
The county land records show an assignment from Originator → Entity A and a later assignment from Entity B → Trust. No recorded instrument documents the transfer from Entity A → Entity B — a missing link in the chain of title spanning approximately 19 months. Without this intervening assignment, the Trust cannot demonstrate an unbroken chain of ownership.
Exhibit C-2: County Recorder Chain-of-Title Report
Finding F-004
PSA Mortgage Loan Schedule Does Not Include Subject Loan CRITICAL
A review of the Mortgage Loan Schedule filed as an exhibit to the PSA (8-K, filed with the SEC on November 15, 2005) does not reference the Subject Loan by loan number, property address, or borrower name. This raises a presumption that the Subject Loan was never properly conveyed into the Trust corpus.
Exhibit D-1: EDGAR Filing — 8-K, Nov 15, 2005, Exhibit 4.1
Finding F-005
Endorsement in Blank — No Identifiable Transfer Path MEDIUM
The original Note bears an undated endorsement in blank. No allonge or separate endorsement identifies the specific transferee or the date of negotiation. Under UCC §3-204, an endorsement in blank makes the instrument bearer paper — but standing to enforce requires possession coupled with the right to enforce, which the Trust cannot conclusively demonstrate without a traced delivery.
Exhibit E-1: Copy of Original Promissory Note (Endorsement Page)
Who We Serve

Industries & Clients

Our forensic audit services support a broad range of stakeholders.

⚖

Litigation Attorneys

Exhibit-backed findings for foreclosure defense, quiet title actions, and wrongful foreclosure claims.

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Homeowners & Borrowers

Independent verification that the party claiming the right to foreclose actually holds that right.

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Commercial Property Owners

Multi-million-dollar commercial mortgage trust audits and chain-of-title verification.

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Bankruptcy Trustees

Proof-of-claim verification: does the claimant hold a valid, enforceable secured interest?

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Investors & Funds

Due diligence on RMBS and CMBS portfolios — identify defective trusts before acquisition.

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Title Companies

Chain-of-title curative work, prior audit validation, and title defect resolution.

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Government Agencies

Regulatory compliance audits, pattern-and-practice investigations, and enforcement support.

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Mediators & Arbitrators

Neutral, document-based fact-finding to support informed settlement discussions.

Get Started

Request a Forensic Audit

Every case starts with a confidential consultation. Tell us what you need examined — we'll outline the scope, timeline, and deliverables.

1

Submit Inquiry

Fill out the form below with your case details.

2

Confidential Review

We assess your documents and define audit scope.

3

Engagement Letter

Clear scope, fixed fee or hourly, signed NDA.

4

Findings Delivered

Structured report with exhibits and citations.