Which type of claims are typically excluded from title insurance coverage?

Claims resulting from prior ownership are typically excluded from title insurance coverage due to the nature of title insurance, which primarily protects against defects or issues in the title that occurred during the time the insured owned the property. Title insurance covers risks such as unknown liens, forgery, or errors in public records that could affect the title. However, claims stemming from actions, issues, or encumbrances that arose during previous ownership fall outside the protections afforded by a standard title insurance policy.

In contrast, specific easements, encroachments shown on surveys, and claims related to zoning laws might still be part of the title insurance considerations in different contexts. Specific easements could affect property rights but may be listed in the policy as exceptions. Encroachments that appear on surveys are also significant for property boundaries, and claims related to zoning laws often relate to the permissible uses of land but may not strictly be covered depending on the policy terms. The focus of title insurance is to provide protection for risks that are not known at the time of issuance, with prior ownership issues typically already recorded before the current policy takes effect.