Title Insurance in United States

Practical Information

Note: Some of this information was last updated in 1982

A contract (in U.S. law) by a title insurance company guaranteeing to make good to the beneficiary any loss, up to a fixed amount, sustained through defects in title to real property. Title insurance is also known in some localities as “title insurance policy”. “title guaranty policy”, and “guaranty title policy”. A title company issuing its policy of insurance agrees to indemnify the beneficiary against any loss he or she nay sustain by reason of any defects in title not enumerated as “exceptions” in the policy. These defects may be 1 discoverable defects that are disclosed by the public records, or (2) hidden defects, such as forgery of a deed (in U.S. law) in the chain of title. Some title insurance also guarantees that the title is marketable, and the title insurance company agrees to defend, at its own expense. any action attacking the title based on a defect in the title insured.

(Revised by Ann De Vries)

What is Title Insurance?

For a meaning of it, read Title Insurance in the Legal Dictionary here. Browse and search more U.S. and international free legal definitions and legal terms related to Title Insurance.

Title Insurance in State Statute Topics

Introduction to Title Insurance (State statute topic)

The purpose of Title Insurance is to provide a broad appreciation of the Title Insurance legal topic. Select from the list of U.S. legal topics for information (other than Title Insurance).

Law of Title Insurance Database

This is a database related to interests in and transfers of real estate, in the following material: General Treatises, Forms, and Practice Guides. A description of this real estate database is provided below:

Full text of Law of Title Insurance, Third Edition, which provides clause-by-clause analysis of the standard title insurance policy (based on American Land Title Association model policies) along with detailed discussion of all significant case law.

Further information on United States legal research databases, including real property databases, are provided following the former link.

Texas Title Insurance 2d Database

This is a database related to interests in and transfers of real estate, in the following material: State Treatises, Forms, and Practice Guides. A description of this real estate database is provided below:

Full text of Texas Title Insurance 2d, which analyzes regulatory issues, title insurance risk allocation, title policies, endorsements, and special coverages.

Further information on United States legal research databases, including real property databases, are provided following the former link.

Resources

Further Reading

• Information about Title Insurance in the Gale Encyclopedia of American Law.