Terms Used In Montana Code > Title 33 > Chapter 25 - Montana Title Insurance Act

• Abstract: means a written representation, provided pursuant to a contract and expected to be relied upon by the person who has contracted for the receipt of that representation, listing all recorded conveyances, instruments, or documents which, under the laws of this state, impart constructive notice regarding the chain of title to real property described in the abstract. See Montana Code 33-25-105
• Affidavit: means a sworn written declaration made before an officer authorized to administer oaths or an unsworn written declaration made under penalty of perjury as provided in 1-6-105. See Montana Code 1-1-203
• Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
• Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
• Applicant: means a person, whether or not a prospective insured, who applies to a title insurer or title insurance producer for a title insurance policy, but does not include a title insurance producer. See Montana Code 33-25-105
• Approved attorney: means an attorney authorized to practice law in this state, except an agent or employee of a title insurer, whose certification as to the status of the title to real property a title insurer is willing to accept as the basis for issuance of a title insurance policy. See Montana Code 33-25-105
• Associate: means a:

  (a)corporation, partnership, or other business entity organized for profit, of which a producer of title business is a director, officer, partner, employee, or owner of 5% or more of its equity or capital;

  (b)franchisor or franchisee of a producer of title business;

  (c)spouse, parent, or child of a producer of title business;

  (d)corporation, partnership, or other business entity that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with a producer of title business; or

  (e)person with whom a producer of title business or an associate has an agreement, arrangement, understanding, or course of conduct having the purpose or substantial effect of evading the provisions of this title. See Montana Code 33-25-105

• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
• Controlled business: means that portion of the business of title insurance in this state of a title insurer or title insurance producer that is referred to it by a producer or associate having a financial interest in the title insurer or title insurance producer. See Montana Code 33-25-105
• Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
• Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
• Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
• Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
• Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
• Financial interest: means a legal or beneficial interest that entitles the holder, directly or indirectly, to 1% or more of the net profits or net worth of the entity in which the interest is held. See Montana Code 33-25-105
• Indemnification: In general, a collateral contract or assurance under which one person agrees to secure another person against either anticipated financial losses or potential adverse legal consequences. ^{Source: FDIC}
• Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
• Judicial officers: means justices of the supreme court, judges of the district courts, justices of the peace, municipal judges, and city judges. See Montana Code 1-1-202
• Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
• Knowingly: means only a knowledge that the facts exist which bring the act or omission within the provisions of this code. See Montana Code 1-1-204
• Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). ^{Source: OCC}
• Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
• Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
• Mortgagee: The person to whom property is mortgaged and who has loaned the money.
• Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
• Preliminary report: means an offer to issue a title insurance policy subject to any exceptions stated in the report or other matters that may be incorporated by reference therein. See Montana Code 33-25-105
• Process: means a writ or summons issued in the course of judicial proceedings. See Montana Code 1-1-202
• producer: means a person, corporation, partnership, or other business entity, including an officer, director, or owner of 5% or more of the equity or capital thereof, engaged in this state in the trade, business, occupation, or profession of:

  (a)buying or selling interests in real property;

  (b)making loans secured by interests in real property; or

  (c)acting as broker, insurance producer, or representative of a person described in subsection (8)(a) or (8)(b). See Montana Code 33-25-105

• Rate: means fees for:

  (a)issuing a title insurance policy, including any service charge or fee for the issuance;

  (b)abstracting, searching, and examining title to real property when prepared or issued in contemplation of or in conjunction with the issuance of a title insurance policy; and

  (c)preparing or issuing preliminary reports, commitments, binders, or similar products prepared or issued in contemplation of or in conjunction with the issuance of a title insurance policy. See Montana Code 33-25-105

• Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
• Real property: means lands, tenements, hereditaments, and possessory title to public lands. See Montana Code 1-1-205
• Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
• Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
• Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
• Title guarantee: means a contract by which, subject to its stated terms and conditions, a title insurer guarantees the assured against loss sustained by reason of the incorrectness of assurances set forth in the title guarantee with respect to the stated property. See Montana Code 33-25-105
• Title insurance business: means :

  (a)issuing or offering to issue a title insurance policy as an insurer;

  (b)transacting or proposing to transact any of the following as a title insurer or title insurance producer, in contemplation of or in conjunction with the issuance of a title insurance policy:

  (i)soliciting or negotiating the issuance of a title insurance policy;

  (ii)guaranteeing, warranting, or otherwise insuring the correctness of title searches;

  (iii)handling escrows, settlements, or closings;

  (iv)executing title insurance policies, reports, commitments, binders, and endorsements;

  (v)effecting contracts of reinsurance; or

  (vi)abstracting, searching, or examining titles;

  (c)transacting, as a title insurer or insurance producer, matters subsequent to the issuance of a title insurance policy and arising out of the policy; or

  (d)doing or proposing to do business that, in substance, is equivalent to any of the activities described in subsections (12)(a) through (12)(c) in a manner designed to evade the provisions of this title. See Montana Code 33-25-105

• Title insurance policy: means a contract by which, subject to its stated terms and conditions, a title insurer insures or indemnifies the insured against loss or damage sustained by reason of:

  (a)defects in or liens or encumbrances on the title to the stated property;

  (b)unmarketability of the title to the stated property; or

  (c)invalidity or unenforceability of liens or encumbrances on the stated property. See Montana Code 33-25-105

• Title insurance producer: means a person who holds a valid title insurance producer's license and is authorized in writing by a title insurer to:

  (i)solicit title insurance business;

  (ii)collect rates;

  (iii)determine insurability in accordance with underwriting rules and standards of the insurer; or

  (iv)issue policies of the title insurer. See Montana Code 33-25-105

• Title insurer: means an insurer formed and authorized under the laws of this state to transact the business of title insurance in this state or a foreign or alien insurer so authorized. See Montana Code 33-25-105
• Title plant: means a set of privately maintained records in which entries have been made of documents imparting constructive notice, under the law, of matters affecting title to real property, an interest therein, or an encumbrance thereon, that have been filed or recorded in the jurisdiction for which the title plant is maintained and from which the ownership of real property within the jurisdiction can be ascertained and liens, encumbrances, defects, and clouds on title to the real property can be determined. See Montana Code 33-25-105
• Trust account: A general term that covers all types of accounts in a trust department, such as estates, guardianships, and agencies. ^{Source: OCC}
• Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
• Writing: includes printing. See Montana Code 1-1-203