Have you ever noticed the aristocratic-sounding way attorneys speak of the title to a property being questioned? For one, just the fact that a question has been raised through legal channels puts a "cloud" on the title. That means we're no longer 100% positive that the property is truly yours and yours alone.

If there is indeed a cloud−if, for example, your second cousin twice-removed believes he has a right to partial ownership−a legal action is taken to decide who is right... or to "quiet the title," as if it had suddenly developed a case of the screaming meemies.

Now, if this happens to you, you'll be extremely glad if you made sure that the title was recorded in your name as soon as the property became, so far as anyone then knew, yours. And you will be doubly or triply glad that you hold a policy of title insurance on the property because it will almost certainly be up to your title company to quiet title and make it 100% yours again. They have lawyers who know how to do that, and they pay them accordingly.

Take full, recorded title to any property you purchase or receive as a gift or in any transaction, and always insure your title to make certain you don't have to pay further to prove in the future that you are the owner.