Helpful Information about title insurance from the Southern Title Web site.

A title insurance policy is an agreement between the insurance company and the insured which protects against monetary loss to the insured from defects in the title to real estate. Covered losses include those from unreleased mortgages/deeds of trust, tax liens, judgment liens, undisclosed easements, rights of way, covenants and restrictions, and attorney's fees and court costs incurred in defending against claims against the title to the property.

Any interest in real estate can be insured including the interest of an owner, a mortgage lender, a renter, a contract buyer, the holder of an easement and a life tenant. Mortgage lenders usually require a borrower to pay for a lender's policy of title insurance that only covers any loss the lender may suffer. A separate owner's policy is available to protect the owner against a loss. Both standard coverage and extended coverage owner's policies are available.