🏡 What is the difference?
Buying a home is more than a financial transaction — it’s a major life milestone. Whether it’s your first home or your forever home, you deserve to feel confident and protected when you sign on the dotted line.
✅ Why Title Protection Matters
When you purchase a home, you must ensure you’re receiving clear title — meaning you are the full legal owner, free of old liens, ownership disputes, or hidden claims. If you aren’t careful, you could unknowingly inherit a prior owner’s debt or fall victim to title fraud.
To verify that a title is clear, you generally have two options:
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Title Insurance
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Attorney’s Opinion Letter
At first glance, both may seem to offer similar peace of mind. But only title insurance offers long-term financial protection and legal coverage against hidden title problems — even years after closing. While both may uncover title issues at closing, only one continues to protect you after the sale — when the real risks begin.
Title insurance doesn’t just say your title looks clear — it backs it up with financial protection.
If fraud, forgery, filing mistakes, or hidden claims surface years down the road, your title insurance policy steps in to defend your ownership and cover your losses. An attorney opinion? It gives you no financial protection and no coverage after closing.
When you’re investing hundreds of thousands of dollars into your future, why take the risk?
🔍 What’s the Difference?
| Feature | Title Insurance | Attorney Opinion |
|---|---|---|
| Protection Against Title Defects | ✔️ Covers undiscovered defects like fraud, forgery, liens, or errors in public records | ⚠️ Only covers issues found during attorney’s review |
| Financial Coverage | ✔️ Pays legal fees and losses due to title issues | ❌ No financial protection unless paired with separate litigation at your own expense. |
| One-Time Cost | ✔️ One-time premium at closing | ✔️ One-time fee, but may require future legal fees |
| Lender Acceptance | ✔️ Widely accepted and often required by lenders | ⚠️ Most lender’s will not accept |
| Post-Closing Coverage | ✔️ Protects you as long as you own the property | ❌ Opinion is limited to date of the report |
| Risk Transfer | ✔️ Transfers risk to insurance company | ❌ You bear the risk of any missed defect |
| Peace of Mind | ✔️ Backed by national underwriters and industry standards | ⚠️ Limited to the accuracy and diligence of one attorney |
| Duty to Defend | ✔️ Will cover the cost for any court case and attorney fees incurred for a lawsuit brought against the title of the property whether valid or not. | ❌ You will be responsible for any legal defense brought against ownership rights or prior debts against the property. |
🚨 Why an Attorney Opinion Falls Short
While an attorney opinion letter may seem like a cost-effective option, it has serious limitations — especially when it comes to long-term protection.
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❌ No Protection Against Fraud
If a forged deed or fraudulent transaction is discovered after closing, you’re left to deal with the consequences — including legal costs — on your own. -
❌ No Protection Against Forgery
Fraudulent signatures or impersonations can void ownership rights. An attorney opinion won’t help you if these are uncovered after purchase. -
❌ No Protection Against Errors in Public Records
Even the most diligent attorney can miss problems caused by incorrect filings or missing documents. You bear the risk — not the attorney. -
❌ No Financial Backing
If a title defect causes financial loss, there is no insurance policy to cover it. You’d have to file a lawsuit — and success is not guaranteed. -
❌ Only Valid at Time of Issue
An attorney’s opinion reflects the title condition only at the time it’s written — usually at closing. If a hidden issue arises years later, it’s no longer valid. -
⚠️ Limited Legal Recourse in Ohio
In Ohio, if your attorney missed a title issue, you generally have only one year from the time you discover (or reasonably should have discovered) the problem to sue the attorney (at your expense) for a malpractice claim. After that, you lose the right to pursue compensation — even if the mistake causes a major financial loss.
✅ Advantages of Title Insurance
1. Full Protection, Not Just an Opinion
Title insurance offers comprehensive coverage — including hidden issues like forgery, undisclosed heirs, and filing errors — even if they’re discovered after you close.
2. Financial Security
If a covered issue arises, your title insurer pays legal fees, settlements, or losses up to the policy limit. An attorney opinion doesn’t provide this financial safety net.
3. Lifelong Peace of Mind
Your owner’s policy remains in effect for as long as you or your heirs own the property — not just at the time of sale.
🛡️ Your Investment Deserves Real Protection
A title opinion might tell you what appears to be true. Title insurance protects you when things go wrong. And in real estate, they sometimes do.
Don’t risk your home, your finances, or your future.
Choose title insurance and close with confidence.
💡 Real Protection for Real Property
An attorney’s opinion may be cheaper up front, but it leaves you exposed to risks you may not discover until it’s too late. With title insurance, you’re not just buying a policy — you’re buying confidence, security, and peace of mind.
Ready to Protect Your Investment?
Our experienced team makes the title process smooth, secure, and stress-free. Contact us today to get started or to learn more about how title insurance works in your state.