You need Title Insurance to protect possibly the most important investment you’ll ever make—the investment in your home.

Title Insurance protects you against loss due to unknown title defects. This means you have the peace of mind in knowing that the investment you’ve made in your home is a safe one.

Lenders go to great lengths to minimize the risk of lending you money for your home. Your credit is checked as an indication of your ability to pay back your loan, then your lender makes sure that the quality of the title to the property you are about to buy is satisfactory. The lender does this by obtaining a Mortgagee’s Title Insurance Policy. However, this policy DOES NOT PROTECT YOU the buyer. If a matter arises affecting the past ownership of the property, Abstract & Title Company would only defend and protect the lender. As a buyer you would have to assume the financial burden of your own legal defense. If the defense is not successful, the result could be a total loss of title. Which means YOU COULD LOSE OWNERSHIP OF YOUR HOME. As a buyer your need to purchase an Owners Policy of Title Insurance. With an Owner’s Policy Abstract & Title Company will pay for defending any lawsuit attacking your title as insured, and will either clear up the title problem or pay your losses.

Here are a few of the most common hidden risks that can cause a loss of title or create an encumbrance on the property:

• False impersonation of the true owner of the property
• Forged deed, releases, or wills
• Undisclosed or missing heirs
• Instruments executed under invalid or expired
   power of attorney
• Mistakes in recording legal documents
• Misinterpretations of wills
• Deeds by persons of unsound mind
• Deeds by minors
• Liens for unpaid estate, inheritance, income or gift tax