A title search is the process of determining from the public record just what these rights are and who owns them.  A title search is a means of determining that the person who is selling the property really has the right to sell it, and that the buyer is getting all the rights to the property (title) that he or she is paying for.

The search process can be undertaken by North American in those jurisdictions where we maintain offices.  In some areas, however, searches are made only by practicing attorneys.  Regardless of how the search is performed, in most real estate transactions today, a title insurance policy is purchased to assure the buyer that he or she has purchased a valid title.
 
In those transactions where title insurance is involved, North American must determine insurability of the title as part of the search process.  This leads to the issuance of a title policy, which insures the existence or non-existence of rights to the property.