Protect Against “Dirty” Title On Your Home © Cynthia Crofoot Rignanese

A “clean” title is necessary for any real estate transaction, particularly when you buy a home in Florida. Lawyers must do a search on every home purchase to check for claims or liens of any kind against them before they can be issued.

A title search is an examination of public records to determine and confirm a property’s legal ownership plus determine whether there are any claims on the property.

Erroneous surveys and unresolved building code violations are two examples of blemishes that can make the title “dirty.”

A title search is used by the lawyer to issue a title insurance policy.

Title insurance protects both lenders and homebuyers against loss or damage occurring from liens, encumbrances, or defects in a property’s title or actual ownership. Common claims filed against a title are back taxes, liens (from mortgage loans, home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), easements), and conflicting wills. Unlike traditional insurance, which protects against future events, title insurance protects against claims for past occurrences.

An owner’s title insurance policy typically covers the following hazards:

Ownership by another party;

Incorrect signatures on documents, in addition to forgery and fraud;

Flawed records;

Restrictive covenants (terms that reduce use, value or enjoyment), such as unrecorded easements; and

Encumbrances or judgments against property, such as outstanding lawsuits and liens.

Please reach out to us at 141 5th Street NW, Suite 300, Winter Haven, Florida 33881 at 863.294.1114.

Established in 1991, Rignanese & Associates is available to work with clients on their legal needs.

© Cynthia Crofoot Rignanese