Title Insurance West Palm Beach, FL

Why title insurance matters in West Palm Beach

Title insurance is the only protection a buyer has against ownership defects that exist on the day of closing but aren't discovered until later. Unlike most insurance (which protects against future events), title insurance protects against past events that haven't surfaced yet.

Florida has been a national hotspot for property fraud schemes, with fake deed transfers and forged satisfactions of mortgage showing up in counties throughout the state. We've covered the issue in our piece on how title insurance protects you from Florida's property fraud cases. Add to that the standard issues (unpaid HOA assessments, contractor liens, inheritance disputes) and the case for proper title work in Palm Beach County is straightforward.

For the full picture of what an owner's policy actually covers (and what it doesn't), see our breakdown of what title insurance covers in Florida.

Who pays for title insurance in West Palm Beach?

This is the question we get asked more than any other.

In Palm Beach County, the seller pays for the owner's title insurance policy by local custom. This is opposite to the convention in many northern states, where the buyer pays. The custom is negotiable. The contract can shift the cost, but the default in most Palm Beach County contracts is seller-pays.

The buyer typically pays for the lender's title insurance policy if there's a mortgage. Lenders almost always require it.

The full county-by-county breakdown for Florida is in our blog post on whether the buyer or seller pays for title insurance in Florida. It's our most-read piece on title insurance and explains why the answer changes depending on which Florida county you're closing in.

How much does title insurance cost in West Palm Beach?

Florida title insurance rates are regulated by the state and set on a sliding scale. The premium is a one-time payment at closing, with no renewals and no annual fees.

Rates per dollar of coverage decrease as price increases. A $1M property doesn't cost three times what a $300K property does. For higher-value properties, that matters. The simultaneous issue discount applies when the lender's policy is issued at the same time as the owner's, dropping the lender's premium dramatically. Reissue rates may apply if the property is being resold within a few years of the prior policy.

For the full closing cost picture in West Palm Beach (title premiums, doc stamps, recording fees, attorney fees, and lender charges), see our breakdown of what West Palm Beach buyers and sellers actually pay at closing.

Owner's policy vs. lender's policy: what's the difference?

What does a Palm Beach County title search cover?

A proper title examination pulls records from multiple county and state systems. We don't rely on a single search.

Our full walkthrough is in Florida's title search process and why it matters.

Is title insurance required in Florida?

Strictly speaking, no. But practically, yes for almost every transaction.

Florida law doesn't require title insurance. However, if you're financing the purchase, your lender will require a lender's policy as a condition of the loan. Cash buyers can technically skip an owner's policy, but that's almost always a mistake. The cost is modest and one-time, and the protection runs for as long as you own the property.

Our deeper look at the legal framework is in whether title insurance is required in Florida real estate transactions.

Common title issues we resolve in West Palm Beach

Probate cleanup. A property was inherited but never properly distributed, or the deceased owner's estate was opened in another state and never recorded in Florida. We handle the curative probate work or coordinate with our West Palm Beach probate practice when ancillary administration is required.

HOA and condo association liens. Unpaid assessments, special assessments, and transfer fees that need to be cleared at closing. Some condo associations also have approval rights that can delay or block the sale.

The condo "secret list" issue. A growing number of South Florida condo buildings have been added to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage non-warrantable lists since the Surfside collapse, dramatically affecting financing and resale. Our piece on South Florida's mortgage blacklist covers it. We check non-warrantable status on every condo transaction.

Old mortgages that were paid but never satisfied of record. Common in older Palm Beach County properties, particularly El Cid, Flamingo Park, and Northwood Hills, where many homes have changed hands multiple times. We chase down satisfaction documentation or post bonds when the original lender no longer exists.

Boundary and survey issues. Common in older Intracoastal and waterfront properties where seawalls, docks, and submerged land leases create overlapping claims. Standard owner's policies often exclude survey issues. Extended coverage may be appropriate.

Title insurance for specific West Palm Beach property types

Waterfront and Intracoastal homes. Properties along the Intracoastal Waterway, in the Flagler Drive corridor, El Cid, and SoSo (South of Southern) often have dock permits, seawall maintenance obligations, and submerged land leases that need careful review. Extended coverage and specific endorsements often make sense.

Downtown condos near Clematis Street. Condo transactions involve association approval, estoppel letters, special assessment disclosures, and post-Surfside verification of structural inspection compliance and warrantability status.

Historic homes. Properties in El Cid Historic District, Flamingo Park Historic District, Northwood Hills Historic District, and Grandview Heights have additional considerations: historic preservation overlay restrictions, prior un-permitted modifications, and longer chains of title.

Investment and rental properties. Title work for investment property is the same as for primary residences, but the closing also typically involves entity formation (LLCs, land trusts), assignment of leases, and security deposit transfers. Our firm's eviction practice works alongside title insurance for landlord clients.

Commercial transactions. Commercial closings involve different policies (ALTA forms), more extensive due diligence, environmental review, and frequently UCC and fixture filings.

Why work with Kelley, Grant & Tanis, P.A.

Jerron Kelley leads the firm's title insurance and closing practice. His work focuses on landlord-tenant, title insurance, closings, and general real estate representation. He's a member in good standing of the Florida Bar. Full attorney bios are on our attorneys page.

The firm is an agent for The Fund (Attorneys' Title Fund Services) and Westcor Land Title Insurance Company. That means we underwrite policies directly. There's no separate title company in the transaction, no handoff between the closing attorney and the title insurer, and no marked-up middleman fee.

The firm has two offices in South Florida:

• West Palm Beach Office: 1645 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd, Suite #1200-3, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
• Boca Raton Office: 370 Camino Gardens Blvd., Suite #301, Boca Raton, FL 33432

Title work integrates with the firm's broader real estate practice, including real estate transactions and litigation, association law for HOA and condo issues that surface during closings, and estate planning for owners thinking about how their property passes to the next generation.

Frequently Asked Questions