Ties That Bind

SSuccessful businesses know when to seize good opportunities for expansion — and that’s what Elite Title Solutions in Hammond did recently when they welcomed esteemed title attorney Scott Sledge to the team.

Legal partners Ashley Anderson Traylor and Chris Edwards, opened Elite Title in 2020, and not long after they were joined by Camp Sledge. Recently, the trio saw a chance to add the gravitas only experience and expertise can bring asking longtime Hammond attorney Scott Sledge to sign on.

As Chris stated, “Scott is second to none in title law. I’ve known him forever. He did closings for me and my family before I could do them. I knew I had to poach him!”

The timing was fortuitous, as Scott, who is also Camp’s father, was just disbanding his long-term partnership due to the natural course of events as some partners reach retirement age.

Camp is grateful to Chris and Ashley for the chance to work alongside his father. He acknowledges that he went to law school to one day work with his dad. Just as Ashley got the opportunity to be mentored by her father, Tom Anderson, at Anderson Traylor Edwards (ATE), bringing Scott in allows the father and son to work together at Elite Title.

Scott had been watching Elite expand and prosper and knew it was a well-respected title company in the community. It was a good fit for all!

Title Insurance Basics

Lending institutions unilaterally require title insurance to protect lenders and guarantee properties are merchantable in cases of repossession or default. Attorneys coordinate with banks and real estate agents, research titles and run abstracts, i.e., tracing a property’s often complex ownership history, before issuing clear title opinions.

As the Elite Title team notes, buyers should request owner’s title insurance, as this one-time payment protects property owners if any issues emerge. If they discover their property is burdened by undisclosed mortgages, rights-ofway, liens, or servitudes, their ownership stays protected.

Chris is quick to note that they are not trying to be the “Walmart of closings.” They’ve found their niche providing quality work to clients while adeptly managing new growth and always doing a good job.

Ashley commented, “We want people to know whom they’re talking to on the phone, and when they walk in, to always be greeted by a friendly face.” Closing manager Christy Guidry has 29 years of experience in the title industry, always keeping things running smoothly in the office and behind the scenes to get clients to the closing table.

Scott enjoys practicing real estate law as he stated, “I am fortunate to be able to see people who are happy to visit an attorney’s office because they’re here to buy, sell, or refinance property. We get chances to make connections with people who aren’t in a bad place and needing legal advice for a legal problem.”

He’d also like for all of his clients to know that he will maintain his own private law practice alongside ATE and the expanded Elite Title Solutions. For those in need of their services, the team can be found at 509 West Morris Avenue in Hammond.