Why does your real estate need to be insured by
Chicago Title?
When you buy an ordinary article like a coat, a television or a watch, you
do not need to know whether the former owner is married, single or divorced.
You may buy a share of stock or a bond without being concerned whether the
seller has a tax bill due. You may buy another person's car without worrying
about whether there are any suits or judgments against the person.
But when you buy a condominium, a house, any other type of building or even
vacant land, it is vital to know all of these things-and many others, too.
You must have a complete investigation made on every point or you may discover
that the property you bought and paid for is not actually yours at all!
And even after the investigation, you will need protection in the event that some point
has been missed in the public records or someone makes a claim on the title to your
property. That protection is a title insurance policy from Chicago Title Insurance
Company. This page has been designed to answer your questions about real estate and the
protection provided by an insurance policy from Chicago Title.
What are the risks that call for such protection?
Real estate has such great value and is so basic a form of wealth that many special laws
have been enacted for its protection-laws so strict and far-reaching that real estate is
more strongly safeguarded than any other form of property.
As a result, the owner of land has exceedingly strong rights.. and so do the family and
heirs of the owner.
But others may have "rights" in the property as well, There are mortgages and
leasehold rights ...liens due to unpaid taxes... lien claims to those whom the owner owes
money... mining, oil or air rights... and many others. Anyone who has such a claim is, in
a limited way a part-owner. He or she cannot ordinarily be deprived of their interest
except by having the claim settled or released. The property maybe sold-even without their
knowledge-but the claim is still good until satisfied. As a new owner you may know nothing
about the risks, but you are still vulnerable to such claims on your property. That's why
you need an insurance policy from Chicago Title.
Doesn't your deed take care of giving you clear title?
Not at all. A "deed" is merely an instrument whereby a seller transfers his or
her right of ownership, what ever it may be, to you. It is no proof that the person
described as the seller is actually the owner It does not do away with claims or rights
others may have in the property Front the deed, you cannot determine what rights, liens or
claims maybe outstanding against your title.
The following questions most be answered before your title can be secure
by an insurance policy from Chicago Title.
Is the record of ownership of the land complete from the first owner down to date?
You will probably buy property that has had a number of different owners over the years.
The continuous record of all those transactions is called the "Chain of Title,"
and like any other chain, it is no stronger than its weakest link. Anything wrong with the
title of the previous owner may very well affect your title, too.
Are there any lawsuits or claims recorded against the property itself?
If the former owner had a new sink installed and failed to pay the bill,
the plumber may file a Mechanic's Lien claim. This stands as a claim on
the property for which you, as the new owner, may have to pay in order to
clear your title. Similarly, there may be suits pending affecting the property
or judgments rendered against the former owner, foreclosures or bankruptcy
actions, or any number of claims or legal involvement's which may definitely
cloud the title until they are properly settled or removed.
Are
there any suits or judgments filed against the owner of the property?
If a person is sued and a judgment is rendered against that person, any
real estate he or she owns may become security for the debt. This means
that he or she cannot sell that real estate and deliver a clear title
until the judgment is paid, released or otherwise satisfactorily disposed
of. Further, other suits filed against the owner of real estate-even though
not yet decided-may result in a cloud on the title and prevent the sale
of the property.
Are all taxes and special assessments paid?
Unpaid real estate taxes are a first lien on any real property. If there has been a tax
sale or forfeiture or any other objection or protest, it means that there are
complications standing in the way of a clear title.
Does anyone have special fights to the property that would limit
ownership?
A good many such things are possible - the right-of-way for a road or
power line, an easement for a driveway, air rights, subsurface rights
and various others - any of which may have been sold or granted to someone
else by a former owner. If so, there may be restrictions on your use of
the land.
If the seller is a corporation, is It fully in a position to sell
the property?
You may buy a piece of property in good faith from a corporation, only to have the
validity of the sale challenged by a stockholder who claims it was not properly authorized
by the Board of directors - or that the company was not empowered under its charter or
by-laws to sell the land at all. There are further complications possible if the company
is in receivership, bankruptcy, or if the firm is being dissolved.
What is an abstract? Doesn't it tell about the property?
An abstract, which is used in some parts of the country is a history of the title to
property as revealed by the public records. Deeds, mortgages, other instruments and legal
proceedings which have affected property through the years are all included in the
abstract.
If something is revealed in the abstract which might stand in the way
of a clear title, it is up to the owner and the owner's attorney to clear
it away. If they cannot do this, it must be accepted as a limitation on
your right of ownership. Also, it is not infrequent for matters which
seriously affect the title to be omitted in a abstract - because they
are not shown in the public records.
Does an examination of the abstract reveal all defects in the
title?
It may not... simply because the public records, from which an abstract
is made, may not show everything which affects the title. For example:
Statements in the record maybe incorrect or may fail to give important
facts, There may be fraudulent or improperly executed documents on the
record. And there may even be ordinary clerical mistakes which could seriously
endanger the title.
In fact, a title would appear to be clear, after the examination of the
abstract, only:
· If the search made in preparing the abstract has been through;
· If the facts revealed in the abstract have
been correctly interpreted;
· If no clerical errors have been made in public records;
· If claims or rights of others have been disposed of.
Even after all these possible hazards are eliminated, there still remain some of the most
serious sources of risk... hazards which by their very nature simply cannot be Uncovered.
What are some of these hidden risks?
Some of the most serious risks which are not revealed by the records or by an examination
of the abstract but covered by a Chicago Title insurance policy.
· Marital Status of Owner Incorrectly Given
Under the law, one spouse may have an interest in property owned individually
by an other spouse. An owner may say that he or she is single, although
secretly married or perhaps divorced in another state-resulting in a claim
by a spouse or former spouse whose existence was not suspected.
· Undisclosed Heirs
When an owner dies and there is no will, the court must decide who the
rightful heirs are. But even then, such a decision by the court may not
be final or binding on any heir who was not notified of the proceeding.
Even under a will, the court may have to settle questions of interpretation
of the will. Cases of this kind include children born after the date of
the will and heirs overlooked due to incorrect probate proceedings.
· Mental Incompetence or Minors
A transfer of property by a minor or a person judged to be mentally incompetent
raises special problems. To be valid and binding on a minor or incompetent,
the transaction must be made by guardians or conservators appointed by
the court. If a deed or release was executed by a person who was a minor
or under mental disability at the time, the transaction may be voidable
or invalid.
· Fraud and Forgery
The owner may have been fraudulently impersonated. Deeds, releases, mortgages
or other documents may be forgeries.
· Defective Deeds
A deed may have been delivered without consent of the owner or after his
or her death. A document may have been executed under an expired power
of attorney. The name of the grantee may have been inserted in the deed
after its delivery. The officer of a corporation may not have been properly
empowered to act. In any such case, the action may result in loss of title.
· Confusion Due to Similar or Identical Names
Despite a careful investigation to prevent it, some confusion of identity
is possible. For example, a person's title to his or her land, established
thirty years ago, may be under the name Jonassen and the taxes may still
be paid under that name - but the lawsuits, marriages, divorces, wills
and other actions may be under a simplified family name, such as Johnson,
Johnston, Jonson, or even Jensen. Or two members of the same family might
have the same name, as in the case of father and son - and the title maybe
in one while the deed is executed by the other having no title.
· Error's in Records or Clerical work
A document maybe missed in searching. Entries or indexing in records maybe
in error. Clerical mistakes are infrequent but they do happen.
Is there any way to be protected against these risks?
Yes, with a Chicago Title insurance policy. Under the terms
of a Chicago Title insurance policy, you are protected against risks and
insured against loss. If your title as insured is ever attacked, Chicago
Title Insurance Company stands ready to defend it in two ways:
1. If it is necessary to enter a legal defense of your rights under the policy in any suit
or proceeding adversely affecting the title as insured, Chicago Title Insurance Company
employs legal counsel to take such action for you... completely at our own expense.
2. If a loss is sustained, you are protected up to the full amount of
your policy, which usually is equal to the full purchase price you paid
for the property. And Chicago Title Insurance Company pays promptly.
My lender has a mortgage title insurance policy on my property. Isn't that enough?
Unfortunately, it isn't. Any person or financial institution
that lends money on Real Estate wants that investment protected. Chicago
Title provides mortgage title insurance policies to assure the lender
that the mortgage is a valid first lien protected against hidden as well
as known defects in the title as insured. Such a policy affords the only
way a lender can be certain about the title which may be acquired in the
event of a foreclosure.
Unfortunately, all of this does not benefit the owner in the event of
a claim, for a mortgage title insurance policy protects only the lender's
interest in the property not the current owner. That's why Chicago Title
provides owner's title insurance policies to protect the owner's
interest in a piece of property. Purchasing your owner's title insurance
policy at the same time that the lender orders the mortgage title insurance
policy can result in cost savings to you.
Is title insurance expensive?
The cost of title insurance on any piece of property you may decide to
buy is very small when compared with the benefit and security it gives.
And, unlike other forms of insurance, there are no annual payments to
keep the policy in force. The original premium is your only cost as long
as you or your heirs own the property!
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