Title Insurance Definition and Legal Meaning

On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of Title Insurance, written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used.

What is Title Insurance?

History and Meaning of Title Insurance

Title insurance protects homeowners and mortgage lenders against potential losses from disputes over the property's ownership. It's a form of indemnity insurance that helps mitigate risks that might arise from defects in the title. Unlike traditional forms of insurance, which protect the policyholder from future events, title insurance is retroactive in its coverage, protecting you against issues that occurred prior to the policy being issued.

Title insurance dates back to the late 1800s, when a group of attorneys in Pennsylvania started issuing policies for title search services. Eventually, they expanded their services to include insurance guarantees against financial losses associated with liens, encumbrances, and other title-related issues. In the decades that followed, title insurance grew in popularity as American real estate markets boomed, and today, it's a standard component of almost every residential property transaction.

Examples of Title Insurance

Here are some hypothetical examples of how title insurance might be used in various situations:

• Case 1: You're buying a new home, and during the title search, the title company discovers that there is a lien on the property from a previous owner's unpaid debts. Title insurance would cover you against any financial losses associated with that lien.

• Case 2: You inherit a property from a family member and decide to sell it. After the new owner buys the property, a previous owner comes forward and claims that they were never properly compensated for their share of the property. Title insurance would protect you against any financial losses associated with that claim.

• Case 3: You're refinancing your home, but during the title search, the title company discovers that there's another mortgage on the property that you weren't aware of. Title insurance would cover you against any financial losses associated with that mortgage.

Legal Terms Similar to Title Insurance

Here are a few related terms that you might come across in discussions of title insurance:

• Indemnity insurance: Title insurance falls under the larger category of indemnity insurance, which provides financial compensation for losses incurred by the policyholder.

• Title search: Prior to issuing a title insurance policy, a title company will conduct a title search to determine whether there are any liens, encumbrances, or other title issues that might affect the property.

• Lien: A legal claim against a property that serves as collateral for a debt.

• Encumbrance: A legal obligation that limits the use or transfer of a property, such as an easement or zoning restriction.