Crystal Title & Escrow Company, Inc. (“Crystal Title”) is a full service title insurance and escrow company dedicated to providing prompt, courteous service at competitive rates throughout Florida . From the single family transaction to the multi-parcel commercial development, Crystal Title stands ready to assist you in your transaction. We offer our services to lenders, Realtors, builders, developers, and private individuals.

WHY DO I NEED TITLE INSURANCE?

Before you go into a closing, it's critical to know that your title to the property will be free and clear. This means that, after the closing, it will be free of prior indebtedness or other defects or encumbrances. It is then what is called a "marketable title."

Normally at the closing the seller gives the buyer a deed, which transfers the title to you and warrants your title against claims of other persons. However, you should not accept a deed without having an experienced individual conduct a thorough title examination of the property.

This involves researching public records for previous owners of record, prior deeds, mortgages, court judgments, probate proceedings and divorces, foreclosures, tax and construction liens, and other matters that could affect title - in other words, the legal history of the property. In some cases, this process will uncover title defects that could jeopardize a buyer's ability to take clear title.

If research reveals title defects, the seller may be asked to undertake legal proceedings to clear the defects.

There are also hidden defects, which may not surface even in the course of a thorough title examination. One of these could put your ownership in question, even after you've closed. Some examples of defects, both obvious and hidden, include:

• Lost or forged deeds
• A married signer who represents himself/herself as single
• Claims of undisclosed heirs
• Impersonation of another
• Clerical error at the courthouse when earlier documents were recorded
• Incorrect legal description
• Instruments signed by minors or mentally incompetent persons
• Title taken as a result of an improperly probated Will
• Confusion of title resulting from similar names

The point of title insurance is to secure your claim to property and protect you from a hidden defect. If you're forced to defend your title in court, the insurer agrees to pay the costs.

Your lender will insist on title insurance in the amount of the mortgage loan, but a lender's policy or mortgagee policy doesn't protect your ownership interest. You need an owner's policy for that.

The owner's title insurance policy is an agreement that the insurer will pay all losses involved in any claim covered by the policy terms. The policy provides two types of coverage:

1. If someone contests your insured title in a legal action, the insurer will defend the title at no expense to you;
2. If there is a defect in your title which cannot be eliminated, title insurance protects you from financial loss. That is, you'll be reimbursed up to the amount of the policy - generally, the full amount of your loss.

You pay a modest, one-time premium for title insurance, and the protection continues in effect forever, even after you sell your home. The policy is issued in an amount equal to the purchase price of the property or its market value.

ABOUT US

Our Closing Teams are experienced to provide you with professional, convenient and confidential closings at competitive pricing for you, our client.

We are locally owned and operated and ready to handle your real estate closings professionally.

We write for two top quality underwriters, Attorneys Title Insurance Fund and First American Title Company, who both have expertise in underwriting your title insurance needs. They also provide us with technical assistance to conduct your complex closing transactions.

We offer closings during or after regular office hours; performed to meet your scheduled time requirements.

MANAGEMENT

Thomas F. Carney, Jr. Esq., President. Over twenty years legal experience in the banking/finance industry. Admitted in the State of Florida , State of Massachusetts , United States District Court (Southern District, Florida ) and the United States Supreme Court. Founder and Chairman of Carney Bank and Director and member of Executive/Loan Committee of County National Bank of South Florida (both now part of Wachovia Bank). Georgetown University Law Center , Masters of Laws in Taxation; Boston College Law School , J.D.

Peter H. Carney, Esq., Vice-President. Over fifteen years of legal experience in the real estate/banking/finance industry. In 2006, the Governor of Florida appointed Peter as Tax Collector of Palm Beach County to serve out the term created by his predecessor’s vacancy. Admitted in the State of Florida, State of Massachusetts, State of New Hampshire. Past Director and member of Executive/Loan Committee of County National Bank of South Florida (now part of Wachovia Bank). Boston University School of Law, Masters of Laws in Banking; Boston College Law School, J.D.; Princeton University, A.B. Economics.