What is title insurance?
A Word About Real Estate Real estate has traditionally been a family’s most valuable asset. It is a form of wealth that is protected by many laws. These laws have been enacted to protect one’s ownership of real estate and the improvements located on the land. The owner, the owner’s family, and the owner’s heirs have rights or claims in and to the property that you are buying. Those who may have an interest in or lien upon the property could be governmental bodies, contractors, lenders, judgment creditors, the Internal Revenue Service, or various other individuals or corporations. The real estate may be sold to you without the knowledge of the party having a right or claim in and to the property. In addition, you may purchase the real estate without having any knowledge of these rights or claims. In either event, these rights or claims remain attached to the title to the property that you are buying until they are extinguished. The Past Can Determine Your Future Generally, a person thin
Title insurance is an exclusively American invention. Its purpose was well stated in the first advertisement for title insurance back in the late 1800s: “This company insures the purchaser’s of real estate and mortgages against loss from defective titles, liens, and encumbrances. Through these facilities [the] transfer of real estate and real estate securities can be made more speedily and with greater security than heretobefore.” [circa 1876] Protecting purchasers against loss is accomplished by the issuance of a title insurance policy, which states that if the status of the title to a parcel of real property is other than as represented, and if the insured suffers a loss as a result of title defect, the insurer will reimburse the insured for that loss and any related legal expenses, up to the face amount of the policy. Title insurance differs significantly from other forms of insurance. While the functions of most other forms of insurance is risk assumption through the pooling of ris
Title insurance is protection against loss arising from problems connected to the title to your property. Before you purchased your home, it may have gone through several ownership changes, and the land on which it stands went through many more. There may be a weak link at any point in that chain that could emerge to cause trouble. For example, someone along the way may have forged a signature in transferring title. Or there may be unpaid real estate taxes or other liens. Title insurance covers the insured party for any claims and legal fees that arise out of such problems.
ti tle n. (1) A combination of all the elements that constitute the highest legal right to own, possess, use, control, enjoy, and dispose of real estate or an inheritable right or interest therein. (2) The rights of ownership recognized and protected by the law. in sur ance n. the practice by which an individual secures financial compensation for a specified loss or damage.When you buy a home, you receive a title to the property, meaning you are now the full legal owner of that property. Title insurance for real estate provides protection against loss if a covered defect is found in the title to real property. You can purchase it for a one-time premium, paid in most cases at closing. Title insurance usually covers four types of “hidden” risks: errors, liens, ownership claims, and invalid deeds. If a claim is made against your property, the title insurance company will negotiate with the other party to settle the claim, defend you in court if necessary, pay any incurred legal costs, and
Title insurance protects you from losses that occur from various matters affecting title to land. There are two basic types of policies: Owners’ policies to protect the owner, and Loan policies to protect the bank’s mortgage. The policy is issued by a title agent representing a title insurance company. Connecticut is one of the few states that require licensed attorneys to serve as title agents.
