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Reserves For Claims
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Liability for Future Policy Benefits and Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense [Abstract]  
Reserves For Claims Reserve for Claims
Activity in the reserve for claims for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2020 and the year ended December 31, 2019 are summarized as follows:
 (in thousands)September 30, 2020December 31, 2019
Balance, beginning of period$31,333 $31,729 
Provision charged to operations4,452 3,532 
Payments of claims, net of recoveries(2,253)(3,928)
Balance, end of period
$33,532 $31,333 
The total reserve for all reported and unreported losses the Company incurred through September 30, 2020 is represented by the reserve for claims on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company's reserves for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses are established using estimated amounts required to settle claims for which notice has been received (reported) and the amount estimated to be required to satisfy claims that have been incurred but not yet reported (“IBNR”). Despite the variability of such estimates, management believes that the total reserve for claims is adequate to cover claim losses which might result from pending and future claims under title insurance policies issued through September 30, 2020. Management continually reviews and adjusts its reserve for claims estimates to reflect its loss experience and any new information that becomes available. Adjustments resulting from such reviews could be significant.

A summary of the Company’s reserve for claims, broken down into its components of known title claims and IBNR, follows:
 (in thousands, except percentages)September 30, 2020%December 31, 2019%
Known title claims$3,993 11.9 $3,799 12.1 
IBNR29,539 88.1 27,534 87.9 
Total reserve for claims
$33,532 100.0 $31,333 100.0 

Claims and losses paid are charged to the reserve for claims. Although claims losses are typically paid in cash, occasionally claims are settled by purchasing the interest of the insured or the claimant in the real property. When this event occurs, the Company carries assets at the lower of cost or estimated fair value, net of any indebtedness on the property.