Which of the following does NOT fall under the category of defects and claims against a title?

Property taxes do not fall under the category of defects and claims against a title in the same way that the other options do. Instead, property taxes are a type of ongoing obligation that must be paid by the property owner to local governments. While failure to pay property taxes can result in the government placing a lien on the property, which does create a claim against the title, the taxes themselves are not considered a defect in the title.

Adverse claims refer to disputes or potential claims made by parties asserting ownership or rights over the property's title, which certainly impacts the status of that title. Liens, which can arise from various factors such as loans or unpaid bills, represent financial claims against the property that can encumber the title. Encumbrances, similarly, are legal claims or restrictions on a property that affect the owner's rights or usage and can be considered defects in a title.

Thus, while property taxes signify an obligation related to ownership, they do not inherently threaten the integrity or marketability of the title as the others do.