What is a title?
A title is the foundation of property ownership. It is the owner's right to possess and use the property.

What is a title search? A title search is a detailed examination of the historical records concerning a property. These records include deeds, court records, property and name indexes and many other documents. The purpose of the search is to verify the seller's right to transfer ownership, and to discover any claims, defects and other rights or burdens on the property.

Are there any problems that a title search cannot reveal? Yes. There are some "hidden hazards" that even the most diligent title search may never reveal. For instance, the previous owner could have incorrectly stated his marital status, resulting in a possible claim by his legal spouse. Other "hidden hazards" include fraud and forgery, defective deeds, mental incompetence, confusion due to similar or identical names and clerical errors in the records. These defects can arise after you've purchased your home and can jeopardize your right to ownership.

What is title insurance? Title insurance is your policy of protection against losses if any of these problems - even a "hidden hazard" - results in a claim against your ownership.