Securing a contract
Cloud on Title
Also called: Title Defect · Title Encumbrance
Any recorded claim or document that raises a question about clear ownership of a property.
What is a cloud on title?
A cloud on title is anything in the public record — a lien, an old mortgage, a competing claim, or a recorded notice — that could impair a clear, marketable title. Title companies flag clouds as exceptions that must be resolved before they will insure a sale.
A recorded Memorandum of Contract creates a limited, intentional cloud: it signals a buyer’s interest so the property cannot be cleanly conveyed to someone else until the contract is resolved or released. Because it is powerful, it should only be used for a genuine, executed contract — never as leverage.
When the deal closes or ends, the notice should be promptly released to clear the record. Jurably handles both the filing and the release.
We handle the paperwork end-to-end — you never touch a courthouse.