Expert Analysis

Why U.S. title insurance and escrow matter to the Canadian real estate lawyer

By Danijel Augustinovic and Zachary Dewey ( June 10, 2026, 1:37 PM EDT) -- Canadian real estate lawyers are accustomed to handling closings end to end. Under Canada’s Torrens-style land titles systems, the government register provides statutory assurance of title, and closings largely involve inter-law-firm fund exchanges. When your client purchases real property in the United States, however, the process is fundamentally different. There is no government guarantee of title. Instead, title evidence and settlement are private-market functions performed by title insurers and escrow/settlement agents. Understanding these differences is essential to properly advising your client on a U.S. real estate acquisition....