What is Title Insurance?

Title insurance protects you if there is a problem or defect with the title to your property during your ownership.  You purchase an owner’s title insurance policy by paying a one-time premium when you acquire ownership of the property at your settlement.  During your ownership, the title insurance policy provides you with a legal defense against certain claims.  It may also provide compensation in the event that the defect causes a loss of title.

Common defects include:

  • Prior owner liens
  • Forged deeds, releases of mortgages, and wills
  • Undisclosed or missing heirs
  • Deeds by persons of unsound mind or deeds by minors
  • Deeds executed under invalid or expired powers of attorney
  • Liens for unpaid taxes, municipal assessments, HOA dues, or construction costs
  • Fraudulent transfers of title
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