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SO WHY DO I NEED TITLE INSURANCE?

Unlike the forms of insurance mentioned on our home page, that protect against future calamities which cannot be foreseen, title insurance protects against claims that happened in the past but are not yet apparent at the time the property changes hands.  Title Insurance assures homeowners and mortgage lenders that property has a marketable (valid) title. If, for example, someone makes a claim that threatens your ownership of the home, the title insurance company protects you and the lender against loss or damage.

Who's Who at PLM Don't know who to ask for? Just click here to find our helpful list of departments Directions to PLM Offices Attending a closing, and you need help with directions?  Click here to view a helpful map to one of our offices. Why PLM? We know there's hundreds of other title companies to choose from.  Click here to find out why PLM is different.

WHO REALLY OWNS YOUR HOUSE??

Fast forward to a point several months after you've closed escrow on the purchase of your dream home.  Suppose we ask you to prove to us that you actually own the home.  "No problem", you say.  You go to the safe deposit box where you keep all of your important documents and pull out the fancy deed that the Recorder's Office mailed to you a couple of weeks after your purchase was completed. "Sorry," we say, "That deed isn't proof positive!!" For example, a man and his "wife" signed a deed that transferred title in their house over to you.  A few weeks later, you are shocked to find that their deed wasn't valid because the real wife's signature had been forged.  In fact, the real wife didn't even know that her husband had sold the property.

OTHER FORMS OF HIDDEN TITLE RISKS... Secret Spouses Undisclosed Heirs Questionable Competency Mechanics' Lien Foreclosure HOW DOES TITLE INSURANCE HELP??? Click Here

TITLE RISKS

Title defects aren't common, but when they occur, the consequences can be disastrous!!  In theory, you can go to the local County Recorder's Office and find out who owns any piece of property in the county.  In fact, all sorts of irregularities in the history of the various people who have owned the property since it was originally constructed can affect a property's title -- irregularities that are difficult or impossible to find, no matter how diligently you comb the public records.  Click here to view some causes of these hidden risks to title:

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