Title Insurance

Title Insurance Partners

Hird, Chu, Lawji & Manji, Attorney’s at Law is happy to coordinate all of your related services. Some of these service providers are owned wholly or partially by the attorney's of Hird, Chu, Lawji & Manji, Attorney’s at Law. We can place the order for you as well as assist with any arrangements needed.

Why Title Insurance?

Buying a PROPERTY can be the wisest and most rewarding investment you'll ever make. Title insurance plays a major role in making certain that home ownership is safe and secure. Title insurance protects you from a number of title defects that could jeopardize your interest in the property you have just purchased, such as an unsatisfied mortgage lien, unpaid taxes, judgments or other recorded claims against the property. Claims could arise through easements, use restrictions or other existing covenants, or it could be a hidden risk. To name only a few of these:

• Fraud or forgery in previous documents
• Improperly executed deeds
• Improperly filed liens and mortgages
• Undisclosed heirs or others having a claim to the title

The list could go on and on. Owners' title insurance eliminates the risk of loss to you through claims against the title as insured in your policy. The underwriter assumes all legal expenses involved in adjudicating claims and protects you against any loss that can arise from claims that affect your title, even though they may occur through errors made in the public records.

Title insurance is your policy of protection against foreseeable or unforeseeable claims against your home. Title Insurance plays a major role in making certain home ownership is safe and secure.

Title Procedure

The Title Department is the main ingredient needed to determine all facets of a real estate transaction. The property named in the offer and acceptance must be free of all defects, except those understood by all parties. If title does have a cloud, it could be in the form of an outstanding claim or encumbrance, which could impair the owner's title.

To find out what is against the property, a title search must be done on the real estate. The search is a condensed history of all instruments that affect a particular parcel of land. These records include:

• Deeds
• Court records
• Property and name indexes

The purpose of the search is to verify the seller's right to transfer ownership and to discover any claims, defects, and other rights or burdens on the property.

The broker/agent orders the title. The searcher is given the property description, type of search (subdivision or metes and bounds) and title policy desired. The necessary description is entered on the order, an index number is assigned, the manifold is typed, taxes are requested and bonds and title are forwarded to the respective departments.

The title searcher assembles the "Chain of Title" from the records in the title plant and court-house. The searcher writes up his findings in form, dates it and signs his work. The report is then forwarded to the title officer for examination and reporting to the customer. The title report is a complete history of things affecting said property minus those items that could be eliminated.

The title examination determines which of the documents or records disclosed in the title search actually affect the property in question. It also determines whether the documents are properly prepared, executed and notarized.

Residential Services

Whether you are a consumer purchasing, selling or refinancing a home, a REALTOR®, a builder, a commercial investor, a mortgage broker or a lender, with our skilled underwriters and a dedicated staff, we are able to cater to your needs.

We work with Realtors, Loan Officers and Lenders very closely to ensure a smooth closing. We keep you informed about your closing every step of the way. Come close with us and experience our service.

Commercial Services

Our commercial division brings over 15 years of legal and closing experience to your transaction. We serve your needs by providing a wide range of services throughout the country. Truly bringing you “closings without borders”, we offer a wide range of specialized services:

• Coordinating and closing multi-county and multi-site transactions
• Providing escrow and title services for trustees involved in bankruptcy reorganizations
• Informational services on environmental issues
• City Planning information
• Issuance of Proforma polices on commercial properties valued at $500,000 or more
• Innovative underwriting capabilities
• 1031 Exchange facilitation
• Title Informational Services as requested

We take pride in bringing you a boutique approach, tailoring our services to meet your needs and requirements. Our state of the art technology allows us to deliver faster and better.