Wrapping Up 2021 with Important Reminders

DFS Administrative Surcharge.  If you operate through a title agency, don't forget to pay your administrative surcharge of $200 to the Florida Department of Financial Services before the end of January 2022.  You should get a "courtesy email" reminder in early January from DFS. To ensure you receive follow-up emails, please log in to the MyProfile account for your title agency and make sure the correct email address is on file. DFS also recommends you do the same for your individual MyProfile account. Demographic changes made to an agency's profile do not populate the profiles of licensees associated with the agency.

Department of Financial Services FAQs.  Every Fund Member and their staff, whether operating through an agency or your law firm, should be familiar with the information published by DFS in their "Frequently Asked Questions."  They have recently updated the location of these FAQS so here it is for your reading enjoyment: https://www.myfloridacfo.com/division/agents/compliance/title-insurance-agents

Assembly 2022 is Coming!  Registration for the event is not yet open BUT you can book your hotel room to be sure that you are on-site for the entire event.  Here is a link with information about Assembly, including a link for the hotel room booking https://www.thefund.com/assembly.  Hope to see you there!

ALTA Membership/Licensing Fee Reminder.  Don't forget that you must either be a member of the American Land Title Association or have a policy license in order to issue commitments, policies and endorsements…..even though these forms are approved by the State of Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, they remain copyrighted forms and you must have the appropriate permission to use them.  Here is some additional information:

Even if your company only issues one title insurance policy per year, you must still secure a Policy Forms License. There are three ways to obtain the license:

• A. Join ALTA today as a member and obtain the Policy Forms License as part of a value-packed ALTA membership.
   
• B. For companies that issued more than 50 title policies in 2021, you can obtain your 2022 Policy Forms License online here.
   
• C. If your company issued 50 or fewer title policies in 2021, you may obtain your 2022 Policy Forms License via the Policy Forms License Waiver. You can apply for the Policy Forms License Waiver online here,  call 202-296-3671 or email us at licensing@alta.org to apply manually.

That's a wrap for 2021!  Best wishes for the holidays and for the new year.

Let me know how we can help you.

Melissa Jay Murphy
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer,
and General Counsel