Title Insurance In Mandan: Why It Matters

Buying a home in Mandan comes with a lot of paperwork, and title insurance can feel like one more line item. But a title policy can be the difference between a smooth closing and a costly surprise later. If you want to protect your ownership, your equity, and your peace of mind, understanding title insurance is worth a few minutes.

In this guide, you’ll learn what title insurance covers, how the process works in Morton County, common local risks like mineral rights and easements, what impacts cost, and how to read your title commitment. Let’s dive in.

What title insurance covers

The basics

Title insurance protects you from losses tied to defects in the property’s title that existed before you closed. These can include unpaid liens, ownership claims from undisclosed heirs, recording errors, or even forged documents. You pay a one-time premium at closing, and the policy can include coverage for your legal defense if a covered claim arises.

For a consumer-friendly overview, the American Land Title Association offers clear guidance on what a policy can cover and how it works. You can review their resources in the ALTA consumer guide.

Owner vs lender policies

There are two main types of policies. A lender’s policy protects the lender’s interest in the property and is usually required when you take out a mortgage. An owner’s policy is optional, but it protects your equity and your ownership. The lender’s policy protects the lender, not you, so consider adding an owner’s policy for your own protection.

What it does not cover

Title insurance does not cover issues that happen after you buy the home, and it does not cover property condition problems like roof or foundation defects. Flood or hazard insurance is separate. Coverage is defined by the policy, including any exceptions listed in your title commitment.

How it works in Mandan

The local process

• Contract accepted. Your purchase agreement is signed. If you finance the home, the lender typically requires a lender’s policy.
• Title search and exam. A title agent searches Morton County records for deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, easements, and probate matters.
• Title commitment. You receive a preliminary report showing the conditions to issue a policy, plus exceptions and any curative items that must be cleared.
• Curative work. The title team coordinates payoffs, releases, corrective deeds, or affidavits to resolve issues.
• Closing and recording. The deed and mortgage are recorded with the county, then the final policy is issued.

You can explore official county records and recording information through the Morton County Recorder.

Who does what

In North Dakota, licensed title insurers and agents provide title insurance, and they are regulated by the state. Depending on the deal, a title agent, escrow officer, or attorney may coordinate closing. For state-level guidance and regulation details, visit the North Dakota Insurance Department.

Timing and who pays

Simple files can wrap up in a few days. If curative work is needed, expect one to several weeks. The lender’s policy is commonly paid by the buyer as required by the lender. An owner’s policy is negotiable, so review your purchase agreement and local custom.

Local risks in Morton County

Mineral rights and oil and gas

In North Dakota, mineral rights are often severed from surface rights. Oil and gas leases, royalty interests, and pipeline easements can affect your property. Confirm whether mineral rights convey and review any recorded leases or easements shown in the commitment. For statewide oil and gas records and context, visit the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources.

Easements and rights-of-way

Rural and suburban properties around Mandan frequently include easements for utilities, pipelines, or railroad corridors. These may limit use of parts of the land. Make sure any easements listed in the commitment align with your plans, and consider a current survey if boundaries matter to you.

Taxes and special assessments

Unpaid property taxes, special assessments, or IRS and state tax liens take priority and must be paid at or before closing. You can verify tax status with the Morton County Treasurer, and your title company will confirm payoff requirements.

Probate and heirs

If a property changed hands within a family, older transfers may leave gaps in the record. Undocumented heirs or incomplete probate can lead to claims. Title agents often resolve this with affidavits of heirship, probate documentation, or, in tougher cases, a quiet title action.

Boundaries and surveys

Some older or rural parcels have limited survey documentation. Fences, sheds, or driveways can encroach over lines. Standard policies typically include exceptions for matters a survey would show. If boundaries are important, consider an updated ALTA/NSPS survey and talk with your title agent about survey-related endorsements. ALTA offers plain-language resources about endorsements in its consumer guide.

Floodplain and environment

Floodplain status can affect lending and insurance requirements. Title insurance is separate from flood insurance. To check a specific address, use the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.

Read your title commitment

Schedules and exceptions

Your commitment typically includes the basics of the deal, requirements the title company needs to insure, and exceptions that will not be covered unless resolved. Focus on requirements you must satisfy before closing and on exceptions that might limit coverage. Ask how each item will be handled, removed, or insured around.

Smart questions to ask

• Which liens, judgments, or mortgages must be paid off?
• Are there easements that affect future plans for the property?
• Do we need a corrective deed or affidavit to fix a name or signature issue?
• Should we order a survey or seek survey-related endorsements?
• Are mineral interests severed, and are there recorded leases or pipeline easements?

For plain-English context on policies and endorsements, see ALTA’s consumer resources.

Common curative steps

Title teams commonly resolve issues by paying off and releasing old mortgages or tax liens, recording corrective deeds, obtaining affidavits of heirship, or gathering subordination agreements. Boundary or heir disputes that cannot be solved by agreement may require a quiet title action, which takes longer and adds cost. Some issues cannot be fully cured before closing, so a policy may be issued with specific exceptions.

Costs and savings

Title insurance is a one-time premium paid at closing. Cost depends on the purchase price, policy type, endorsements, and the complexity of the search. When you buy both an owner’s and a lender’s policy at the same time, insurers often offer reduced pricing for the second policy. Title insurance in North Dakota is regulated by the state, and you can learn more from the North Dakota Insurance Department.

Protect your purchase

• Choose an owner’s policy to protect your equity.
• Review the title commitment early and ask about every requirement and exception.
• Confirm whether mineral rights convey and review any oil and gas or pipeline records.
• Verify easements and consider a current survey if boundaries matter.
• Check tax status with the county and make sure all payoffs are coordinated.
• Keep copies of recorded documents after closing.

If you want clear, step-by-step guidance tailored to your property and goals, reach out. As a locally rooted agent, I help you coordinate the title process and keep your closing on track. Let’s make sure you are protected from contract to keys. Contact Travis Huber to get started.

FAQs

Is title insurance required in North Dakota?

• There is no statewide requirement to buy an owner’s policy, but lenders typically require a lender’s policy when there is a mortgage.

Who usually pays for title insurance in Mandan?

• The lender’s policy is commonly paid by the buyer, and the owner’s policy is negotiable based on the purchase agreement and local custom.

Do mineral rights transfer with a Mandan home?

• Not always; mineral rights can be severed, so confirm what conveys and review recorded oil and gas or pipeline interests in the title commitment.

How long does the title process take in Morton County?

• Clean files can finish in a few days, while files with liens, probate, or boundary issues can take weeks depending on curative needs.

Will title insurance cover a neighbor’s encroachment?

• Standard policies often exclude certain survey matters, but coverage and endorsements vary, so discuss survey options with your title agent.

How can I check for liens on a Mandan property?

• Start with public records at the Morton County Recorder and Treasurer, and rely on a professional title search for a complete review.

What if a past deed was signed incorrectly?

• Title agents commonly fix errors with corrective deeds, and title insurance may cover losses from certain defects if they fall within policy coverage.