Buyer guide
What is a title preference sheet?
The one page form that tells your closing attorney which title insurance provider you choose.
What a title preference sheet is
A title preference sheet is a short form, usually from your closing attorney's office, where the buyer or borrower states which title insurance provider they want, and often whether they want an owner's policy and whether it should be standard or enhanced. It puts your choice in writing so the attorney can place the policy accordingly.
There is no single state form. Each law firm, and sometimes each lender or title agent, uses its own version, and the names vary: title insurance preference form, buyer's preference form, title insurance election. What they share is the purpose. Because North Carolina title insurance is placed through the closing attorney, and because you have the right to choose your title insurance company, a written statement of your preference is the clearest way to make that choice stick. NC Department of Insurance, Title Insurance
What is usually on the form
| Section | What it asks | What to think about |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer and property | Names of buyers or borrowers, property address, date | Use names exactly as they will appear on the deed and loan. |
| Title insurance provider | Which title insurer or agent you choose | Write the agent's full name and order email, for example Ironwood Title Group, orders@ironwoodtitlegroup.com. |
| Owner's policy | Whether you want an owner's policy | Optional in NC, and the only title policy protecting you. See our owner's policy guide. |
| Coverage level | Standard owner's policy or enhanced homeowner's policy | The filed rate manual prices the ALTA Homeowner's Policy at the regular rate plus an additional 20% of the regular rate. |
| Acknowledgments | That you were told you are not required to use a specific provider, and any affiliated business disclosure | Read it. If an affiliated company referred you, you should have a separate written disclosure. |
| Signatures | All buyers or borrowers | Keep a copy with your closing papers. |
The 20% figure comes from rule PR-3 of the current rate manual. NCTIRB rate manual, effective Feb 1, 2026 The CFPB notes that some title companies offer an enhanced owner's product that adds coverage and may increase the coverage amount as the property appreciates. CFPB TRID title insurance factsheet
Standard or enhanced: how to decide
The standard owner's policy covers title problems that existed before the policy date. The enhanced ALTA Homeowner's Policy adds coverage for certain matters that can arise after the policy date and other additional risks; the exact list is in the policy form, and your closing attorney can walk you through it. Because the enhanced option is available only for qualifying improved one to four family residences, it is not offered on every property. NCTIRB rate manual, effective Feb 1, 2026
A practical approach: ask your attorney for the difference in premium, which you can also see in our calculator by ticking the enhanced box, and ask which additional risks matter for your home. If a form asks you to pick a policy type and you leave it blank, check what the form says will happen; some forms default to standard coverage.
Mistakes that cause delays
- Leaving the provider line blank. The attorney may then place the policy with their usual provider. If you have a preference, write it down.
- Naming a company the attorney cannot use. Ask before you sign if you are unsure whether the attorney works with your preferred agent's underwriter. Ironwood's underwriter is First American Title Insurance Company.
- Different names on different forms. Use the same spelling as your loan application and contract.
- Forgetting the co-buyer. Every buyer who will be on the deed should sign.
- Signing late. The title search starts soon after the contract. Returning the form in the first days keeps the commitment on schedule.
A sample line you can use
If your attorney's form has a free text line, or you prefer to email the attorney's office, this wording works:
"I/we choose Ironwood Title Group to issue my/our title insurance for [property address]. Title orders and questions: orders@ironwoodtitlegroup.com. I/we would like a [standard / enhanced] owner's policy."
Then copy your loan officer, and if anything is unclear, email us. We can explain what the form says, but we cannot give legal advice about your contract; that belongs with your attorney.
If you change your mind
A preference is easiest to honor early. If you already signed a form that names a different provider and want to change it, tell the closing attorney in writing as soon as possible and ask whether the change affects the closing date. If you want Ironwood, ask the attorney's office to email orders@ironwoodtitlegroup.com; we will confirm receipt to the attorney. A preference is your choice, not a requirement from your lender, your agent or the seller. NC Department of Insurance, Title Insurance
What the sheet does not decide
The preference sheet tells the attorney which title insurance provider you want and what owner's coverage you want. It does not choose your lender, your closing attorney or your homeowner's insurance, and it does not change what your purchase contract says about who pays. It also does not waive coverage you did not read about. If the sheet offers an option to decline an owner's policy, read our guide on whether you need owner's title insurance before you check that box.
Questions people ask
Do I have to sign a title preference sheet?
No law requires it, but if your attorney uses one, it is the clearest way to put your choice of title insurance provider in writing.
Can I change my title preference after signing?
Usually yes, as long as the title order has not been placed. Tell your closing attorney's office in writing as soon as possible.