Spears Title Company provides title insurance, escrow, and real estate closing services for buyers, sellers, lenders, real estate agents, attorneys, and investors across South Central Illinois. Since 1978, we have helped clients successfully close residential, commercial, agricultural, and refinance real estate transactions with accuracy, efficiency, and local expertise.
We are proud to be a non-affiliated, independently operated authorized title agent of Fidelity National Title, allowing us to combine national underwriting strength with true local independence.
Serving South Central Illinois
We proudly serve Bond, Christian, Fayette, Macoupin, Madison, Montgomery, Sangamon, and Shelby Counties, with physical closing offices conveniently located in Carlinville, Litchfield, and Hillsboro, Illinois.
Historically, much of our work has been concentrated in Macoupin County and Montgomery County, where we regularly handle closings in all major population centers and surrounding communities, including Staunton, Gillespie, Benld, Mount Olive, Girard, Virden, Nilwood, Bunker Hill, Farmersville, Nokomis, Witt, Coffeen, Butler, Shipman, and Raymond, as well as nearby villages and rural areas. Over time—and due to growing demand—we have expanded our service area to cover the entire South Central Illinois region, while maintaining the same personalized, customer-first approach that built our reputation.
(Don’t just take our word for it—see what our Hillsboro, Litchfield, and Carlinville clients have to say.)
Small-Town Service. Modern Closing Solutions.
Clients often find us when searching for a local title company near them, and we are happy to coordinate closings in person, remotely, or through hybrid eSign closings. Our offices are rooted in small-town values—personal service, accountability, and relationships that last—while embracing modern technology to make the closing process more convenient and efficient.
Experience Across Every Type of Closing
We handle a wide range of real estate transactions, including:
• Agricultural & farm closings
• Commercial real estate closings
• Residential purchases & refinances
• 1031 exchange transactions
• FSBO (For-Sale-By-Owner) closings
Simply put—we’ve seen it all. Our team regularly works with local lenders, regional banks, and national mortgage companies, ensuring smooth closings regardless of transaction size or complexity.
Local Knowledge That Saves You Time and Money
Our pricing is competitive, transparent, and fair. More importantly, no one brings more South Central Illinois–specific title and closing experience to the table than Spears Title Company.
We work daily with the area’s best local banks, realtors, attorneys, surveyors, auctioneers, 1031 intermediaries, and city and county offices. Because we are independent and non-affiliated, our recommendations are based on experience and performance—not referral arrangements.
Ask for Spears Title
When buying, selling, or refinancing real estate, ask for Spears Title Company—a trusted local title company serving South Central Illinois since 1978.
Use the “Contact Us” tab above to speak with a local closing professional today. All real estate questions are welcome—and always answered by someone who truly knows the communities we serve.
Phone 217-532-3113
218 S. Main Street
Hillsboro, IL 62049
Fully Staffed Monday - Friday
8am - 4pm
Driving Directions to Hillsboro
Phone 217-854-3278
5 Wall Street
Carlinville, IL 62626
Fully Staffed Monday - Friday
8am - 4pm
Driving Directions to Carlinville
Phone 217-250-9709
120 W Ryder Street
Litchfield, IL 62056
Staffed Wednesday or by appointment.
Available for Closings Monday - Friday
8am - 4pm.
Driving Directions to Litchfield
Hybrid eSign Closings (Illinois)
Hybrid eSign Closings allow buyers, sellers, and lenders in Illinois to combine the convenience of electronic document signing with the legal certainty of in-person notarization. Documents that require wet signatures or notarization under Illinois law are signed in person with a licensed notary, while eligible non-notarized documents are securely signed electronically. This hybrid approach reduces paperwork, shortens appointment times, and provides a faster, more convenient closing experience while fully complying with Illinois real estate requirements.
Title Insurance for Owners and Lenders
Title insurance protects property owners and mortgage lenders from financial loss caused by title defects, including liens, encumbrances, recording errors, or ownership disputes arising from past events. Unlike other types of insurance that cover future risks, title insurance focuses on issues that may already exist in the public record. A one-time premium is paid at closing, and coverage remains in effect for as long as the owner holds an interest in the property or the lender maintains a mortgage. Title insurance is a critical part of protecting real estate investments throughout South Central Illinois.
Letter Search
A Letter Search is a limited, targeted review of public records related to a specific property or individual. It is commonly used to identify particular matters such as judgments, liens, or other recorded claims that may affect title. Unlike a full title search, a letter search focuses on a narrower scope of information and is often requested for verification, due diligence, or legal review purposes. Letter searches are informational only and do not include title insurance coverage.
Ownership Report
An Ownership Report identifies the current owner of record for a property and summarizes the recorded ownership history, along with visible liens, encumbrances, easements, or other recorded interests affecting title. This report provides a snapshot of the property’s legal status based on public records and is commonly used for informational or preliminary review purposes. Ownership reports do not insure title and are not a substitute for a title insurance policy.
Insured Closings
An insured real estate closing is a transaction in which Spears Title Company conducts the closing and issues title insurance as part of the process. Prior to closing, the title is examined to identify and resolve defects or encumbrances that could affect ownership or lender priority. At closing, the title company coordinates document execution, disburses funds, records documents, and issues title insurance policies to protect buyers and lenders against covered title risks. Insured closings are commonly used for residential, commercial, agricultural, and refinance transactions throughout South Central Illinois.
Non-Insured Closings
A non-insured closing is a real estate transaction in which the closing process is facilitated without issuing title insurance. In these transactions, the title company may coordinate document execution, handle recording, and disburse funds, but does not insure the validity or condition of title. Non-insured closings are often used when title insurance is not required, when parties elect to proceed without coverage, or in certain commercial or private transactions.
What Forms of ID are acceptable for my upcoming real estate closing?
Any non-expired picture ID issued by a government agency. Typically people bring in a Driver’s License or State ID. A passport or FOID card would work as well.
Who should checks be made payable to for my upcoming real estate closing and what forms of payment are acceptable?
All checks should be made payable to “Spears Title Company”. We will not accept personal checks over $500 the day of closing. Anything over $500 must be in the form of certified funds. Certified funds that are acceptable the same day as closing are cashiers checks (Up to $49,999) and wired funds (Unlimited). If you are wiring funds always call our office by looking up our phone number from a trusted 3rd party source to verify you are wiring funds to the correct account.
Do I need to come to one of your offices to complete my real estate closing?
Not if you don’t want to! We offer streamlined electronic signing closings and mail away closings. All you need is a valid email address in your name and internet access. You can electronically sign any closing documents that do not require notarization. Our office will send you all documents that would need to be witnessed by a local notary public. Then you can meet with local notary to sign the documents and send them back to our office. The process is simple and painless. We always suggest coming into one of our offices in person if it is feasible. Selling/Buying real estate is a big deal and we always want to give you the personal experience you deserve. However, we also understand distance and work schedules prevent this in certain situations.
Do you offer any discounts?
We most certainly do! We reward loyal repeat clients with a large “Re-Issue” rate discount if you meet certain criteria and have utilized our services in the last 10 years. Additionally, if a Owner’s Policy is being issued with a Lender’s Policy and said loan associated with the purchase is equal to or less than the purchase price the buyer will receive a flat $90 fee for the lender’s title insurance.
Who determines who does my real estate closing and title insurance?
The answer is always you! Never get bullied into using a title/closing agent. Many title/closing agents are not independent. Meaning they are owned by Realty Firms or Lenders who have a direct monetary interest in you using their title/closing agents. Always ask for an independently owned and operated title company like Spears Title. It ensures that your interests will truly be protected.
How long does it take to typically close a transaction?
If the deal involves a lender we say 45 days or less. (Due to appraisals and inspections) If it is a cash deal we say two weeks or less. For an additional fee we can insure a cash deal gets closed in a week or less barring any issues with our title search and commitment.
How does the process typically work with a purchase transaction?
1) We receive a purchase contract or title order with terms of transaction. (From Seller, Buyer, Realtor, Auctioneer, or Attorney)
2) We initiate a title search of the local public records to verify all recorded information about real estate on the title order.
3) We examine findings and type up a title commitment outlining what we found during our search of the public records.
4) This Title Commitment emailed out to all parties for approval.
5) If approved our office gets to work on creating closing statements based off of the commitment and purchase contract terms.
6) Real Estate Closing Statements are sent to parties for approval.
7) Closing funds are attained by Spears Title and the real estate closing takes place. Copies of closing documents given to all parties.
8) Our office records all required documents signed at closing with the local recorder’s office and pays for all expenses listed in the closing statements with funds received at closing.
9) We do an updated search of the public records the ensure title is clear and proper documents were recorded.
10) Within 45-60 days of the real estate closing the new owner and lender gets a copy of Owners/Lenders Title Policy showing updated ownership and lien status.
