Escrow and title under one roof, or two separate companies?

Our small service team is parked next to closings all week, so this question comes up from first time buyers constantly and I don't think the answer is obvious.

In a lot of states the title company also holds the escrow, meaning the same outfit researches ownership, issues the insurance, holds the deposit money, and runs the closing table. In some states escrow is a separate licensed function and you can end up with two companies. Which setup you get is mostly decided by state practice, so check what your state actually does before assuming.

Quick definitions since this room gets beginners. Title search is someone reading the recorded history of the property to see who owns it and what claims sit against it. Title insurance is a policy that pays if something in that history turns out to be wrong. Escrow is the neutral account and the neutral party that holds funds and documents until every condition is met.

The case for one roof: fewer handoffs, one file, one person to call when the payoff comes in wrong. Most of the late closings I've watched happened at a handoff between two parties who each thought the other had it.

The case for splitting: the escrow holder has no stake in whether the policy gets written, and some buyers like that separation on the money side.

I have a lean but I want to see where the room sits.