The  entire basis of our business is based on trust.  When clients send an order out they expect it come back to them with zero errors. We all know the consequences of mistakes made on abstracts  especially when those mistakes aren't picked up before the closing.  I believe that communication is an essential part of the process here.  Why exactly did the abstractor miss the mortgage?  I believe that's a legitimate question to ask.  It's probably going to be an embarrassing question to answer; but people do get distracted & make mistakes.  As to an ongoing relationship with an abstractor who's made a mistake,  that's only something that you can decide.  I know people who have decided that one mistake didn't mean the end of the world & that an apology & a free title made the matter good; other people have kicked the abstractor to the street after one mistake- apology or not.  I don't think there are any hard & fast rules for this kind of situation, but I would want some kind of explanation from the abstractor before I made a decision as to whether to continue to use her or to find someone else to handle her work.