The Buck Stops Here: Toxic Titles and Title Insurance

42 Real Est. L. J. 5 (2013)

47 Pages Posted: 2 Jul 2013 Last revised: 15 Aug 2013

Date Written: July 1, 2013

Abstract

By failing to properly transfer ownership of loans and mortgages, recording fraudulent documents, and performing unlawful foreclosures, financial institutions and law firms have generated property titles that range from defective to toxic. Those actions evince a systemic failure to comply with longstanding principles of real property law and regulations governing financial transactions. Title companies participated in title services and issued title insurance policies throughout the housing boom and although they did not directly cause toxic titles, many title insurers have ultimately assumed the risk for the bad practices that became the industry norms in the last decade. In this article, I will discuss how title insurers have exposed themselves to liability for toxic titles.

Suggested Citation

Goodman, Molly Rose, The Buck Stops Here: Toxic Titles and Title Insurance (July 1, 2013). 42 Real Est. L. J. 5 (2013), Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2288280

Molly Rose Goodman (Contact Author)

Suffolk University Law School ( email )

120 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02108-4977
United States

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