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Property OwnershipDeed_types_and_conveyancing_blanksHARD

A property in Carver County, Minnesota is being sold in a transaction where the buyer, Omar, discovers after closing that the grantor's ex-spouse had an undisclosed interest in the property due to an unrecorded divorce decree that awarded the ex-spouse a partial ownership interest. Omar purchased an owner's title insurance policy at closing. The grantor used a general warranty deed. Which of the following most accurately describes Omar's legal position?

Correct Answer

B) Omar may pursue a claim under the owner's title insurance policy and may also have a breach of warranty claim against the grantor

Omar has two potential avenues of recovery. First, owner's title insurance policies in Minnesota typically cover losses from title defects including unrecorded interests and claims by third parties — this is precisely the type of risk title insurance is designed to address. Second, because the grantor used a general warranty deed, the grantor warranted title against all defects including those arising before their ownership. The undisclosed ex-spouse's interest constitutes a breach of the warranty covenants, giving Omar a breach of warranty claim against the grantor. Both remedies may be available simultaneously, and the title insurer may pursue subrogation against the grantor after paying the claim.

Answer Options
A
Omar may only pursue the title insurer because the general warranty deed is void due to the undisclosed interest
B
Omar may pursue a claim under the owner's title insurance policy and may also have a breach of warranty claim against the grantor
C
Omar has no recourse because unrecorded interests are not covered by owner's title insurance policies
D
Omar must first exhaust all remedies against the grantor before the title insurer is obligated to pay any claim

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

title_insurancegeneral_warranty_deedunrecorded_interestbreach_of_warrantysubrogationtitle_defects

Related Concepts

Community property is a system where property acquired during a marriage is owned equally by both spouses.

A freehold estate represents ownership of real property with an indefinite duration.

Joint tenancy is a form of co-ownership in which two or more persons hold equal, undivided interests in property with the right of survivorship. When one joint tenant dies, their interest automatically passes to the surviving joint tenants.

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