Purchase Offer Addendum

[Lonnie Pickard]

I'm hoping someone can help me out with this. I have been told that when I put a property under contract, I need to fill out an addendum with it & file it with the courthouse. This would give me equitable interest in the property, so the seller or another buyer couldn't go behind my back & close on it because there would be a cloud on the title. If this is the case, could someone tell me the proper & legal way to do this? I would also like to know if there is a template or example of the addendum I need to use?

Thank you.