In Florida, a Title Insurance Agent is specifically prohibited from engaging in casualty insurance (or any other kind). Casualty insurance covers future events (car wreck, death, hurricanes). Title Insurance is supposed to cover past events (omissions, boundary disputes, lost heirs).
When a Title Insurance Underwriter or Agent decides -
1. Most properties are claim-free - if we insure enough of them, we can afford to pay the occasional claim.
2. Why waste money on a good search - it will just turn up problems that have to be corrected in order for me to legally insure marketable title.
3. Besides, these independent seachers are insured for $500,000.00. Why not let them take the hit for their $50-100 fee?
I know this doesn't address the lending institution that decides to just get a search on a property and make their own decisions (actually a pretty good business choice there days), but the growing practice of sending title work overseas cannot result in anything but casualty-type insurance. You cannot look at a 1966 Tax Roll or examine the fine print on a 30 year old plat or generally determine access from India - you just can't do it. You can guess, but that is it and that is NOT what Title Insurance is supposed to be.
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