Escrow is common law in a civil law aspects of legal terms , and its basic meaning is saved by a third person , to be delivered after the assignee conditions Achievement deed . Because of its economic and trade activities in furtherance of trust between the parties to ensure contract performance function, which is widely used, and regardless of its content or the extension have been greatly expanded , been given new legal characteristics , becoming a legal system its core content: the debtor or the transferor or undertakings will written documents, deeds, money , securities or other property to an independent third person ( also commonly known as Escrow Agent , hereinafter referred to as the third person ) custody, when the conditions agreed upon achievement or legal event occurs by the third party custody of their written documents , deeds, money , securities or other property to the creditor or the assignee or the promisee . Accordingly, we know that only the conditions agreed upon achievements, such as the file has been signed or money paid or the goods have been delivered , etc., or the agreement is a legal event occurs, such as a person's death or incapacity , etc. , the third person to the custody of written documents , deeds , money , securities or other property to the creditor or assignee or designated by the promisee , or should be returned to me .

In the United States real estate transaction process , Escrow company 's role is to protect the interests of both buyers and sellers get the maximum protection. It is worth mentioning that not all of the states of the United States real estate transactions to go through Escrow company, but in California , Escrow Company is required to be used .