Can You Get Title Insurance After a Tax Sale?

Buying property through a Louisiana tax sale can be an attractive investment strategy—but also a legal minefield. One of the biggest questions investors ask is:

Can I get title insurance on a tax sale property?

The answer? Eventually—but not immediately.

Here’s why, and what you need to do to make the property insurable.

Why Title Insurance Isn’t Automatic After a Tax Sale

Tax sale titles are considered imperfect because the original owner didn’t voluntarily transfer the property. Even after the redemption period expires, there could be legal challenges from:

• Heirs or co-owners

  
  

• Mortgage lenders

  
  

• Government entities

  
  

• Prior owners claiming improper notice

Because of these risks, title insurers won’t issue a policy without a legal process to clear title.

How to Make Tax Title Property Insurable

There are two main options:

1. Quiet Title Action

A formal lawsuit asking a court to confirm your ownership and extinguish competing claims.

• Takes several months

  
  

• Requires proper notice to all interested parties

  
  

• Court judgment can be used to secure title insurance

2. Monition Proceeding (specific to Louisiana)

A faster, less expensive legal process available for adjudicated properties or CivicSource sales.

• Initiated by filing a petition with proper documentation

  
  

• Streamlined notification and publication process

  
  

• Ends with a judgment confirming ownership and marketable title

When Can You Get Title Insurance?

• Before quiet title/monition: Usually not possible

  
  

• After final judgment: Yes, in most cases

  
  

• Without legal action: Only if you obtain a limited policy or a cash buyer is willing to take on risk (not recommended)

The Risk of Skipping Title Clearance

Buying or selling a tax title property without clearing title can:

• Delay or kill future sales

  
  

• Prevent financing

  
  

• Result in legal disputes or loss of ownership

  
  

You may save time upfront—but pay heavily later.

How We Help

At Title Stream, we work with investors, CivicSource buyers, and local governments to guide them through the title clearance process. Whether you need a monition proceeding, quiet title action, or legal review of a tax sale, we’ll help you move from tax title to insurable ownership the right way.