The Work Behind a Clear Title



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When you’re buying or refinancing a home, you deserve confidence that your ownership is protected.

Title work isn’t a single search or a quick database check. It’s a careful process of research, verification, and “curative” problem‑solving to help ensure a clear title and a smooth closing.

Why “clear title” takes real work

Curative work has grown more demanding compared with five years ago, with more companies reporting increases in:

  • Complexity (54%)
  • Compliance burden (54%)
  • Number of curative actions per transaction (47%)

Nearly all companies perform curative actions often; with 62% addressing at least four curative issues per transaction on average.

Key insights at a glance

36% of closing transactions require substantial curative work to clear title.

On average, closing a file can take about:

  • 22 work hours for standard files
  • 45 work hours for difficult files (those requiring substantial non‑routine clearance efforts)

What is curative work?

Curative work is the behind‑the‑scenes effort to resolve issues that could affect ownership.

Many issues can be discovered and fixed prior to closing, and title teams invest heavily in this upfront work to protect property rights.

Examples of curative work

  • Confirming ownership history and legal descriptions
  • Resolving record discrepancies (names, dates, signatures)
  • Addressing liens, judgments, or releases
  • Clearing gaps or conflicts in public records
  • Coordinating documentation with lenders and parties involved

The 10 primary steps that move a closing forward

  1. Opening process
  2. Title production
  3. Clearing to close
  4. Lender coordination
  5. Non-curative closing requirements
  6. Preparation of closing package
  7. Signing process
  8. Processing signed closing documents
  9. Funding and disbursement
  10. Final title policy issuance

What this means to you

If your closing takes extra time, it’s often because someone is protecting you. When issues arise, our team works through them with care; communicating clearly, documenting thoroughly, and partnering with lenders and agents to keep things moving. The goal is simple: help you close with confidence.

Learn more from ALTA here: https://www.alta.org/business-operations/research-initiatives-and-resources/critical-issue-studies/title-insurance-curative-work-study or check out our explainer at our website here: https://bluestonetitle.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/240506-ALTA-Curative-Study-Infographic.pdf.

At Bluestone Title, we stay ahead of the curve so you don’t have to. Our team is here to support your success.