Title defects can be common depending on the defect. Some are due to clerical errors that can be corrected before your closing or transferring ownership, but you can’t fix what you can’t find. Chains of title can go back hundreds of years, which sometimes means that documents can be lost, destroyed, or even never filed. If there is a break in the chain of title or other title issues come to light that were not revealed when the title search was conducted, others might have a right to challenge your ownership of the property. Purchasing title insurance is how you can protect your investment from the unexpected title defect.