General Counsel Blog

  • 02/17/2016

    TRID and Beyond!

    Adjustments are being made to aspects of our TRID support.


  • 02/15/2016

    Legislature Addressing a Wide Range of Issues

    What should the retiree contribution rate be for a public employee? Will Florida pass the “Competitive Workforce Act” and join numerous other states? Should arrest booking photographs be restricted from dissemination on a public media website? Is it necessary to carry a concealed weapon on a college campus in Florida? Will we permit “open carry,” similar to Texas? What should the signage requirements be at a toll facility? Should appellate judges be subject to term limits? Will Florida expand gambling, reauthorize the Seminole Compact or fail to act on those issues?


  • 02/12/2016

    Unlawful Inducement Update

    A revised letter from the Dept. of Financial Services has been issued.


  • 02/10/2016

    The Unlawful Inducement Rule, Estoppel Certificates and FIRPTA Update

    An Important Update from The Department of Financial Services


  • 02/04/2016

    Has TRID Really Made Transactions Easier For Consumers?

    TRID Experience, Seller Financing, and Fund Assembly!


  • 02/02/2016

    Frantic pace requires vigilance! House Bill 203

    One-third of the legislative session is now complete and the dual tracks of policy and budgeting are ramping up. This week, legislative committees continued a breakneck pace of hearings on proposed legislation, while the various Appropriations Subcommittees released initial budget recommendations. The substantive committees are racing to hear legislation because the House and Senate Rules require committee action in order for a bill to proceed to the floor. Without a hearing, a bill dies.


  • 01/26/2016

    Estoppel, MRTA and Homestead Exemption

    Dear Members, Following a contentious, and unusual, conclusion to the 2015 Session, this year seems to be moving at a rapid pace. The Attorneys’ Title Fund Services (ATFS) legislative counsel Greg Black, of Metz, Husband and Daughton, PA in Tallahassee, reports that there has been a flurry of activity in the first two weeks of the 2016 Legislative Session. During the first week, the House and Senate quickly acted to pass priority legislation out of each chamber relating to children with unique abilities and a statewide water policy. The Governor signed both pieces of legislation with Speaker Crisafulli, President Gardiner and a number of influential legislators and stakeholders this past Thursday during the second week of Session.


  • 01/19/2016

    Miami-Dade Transactions Under Close Scrutiny

    There's never a dull moment in the world of title insurance and real property transactions! Last week, an announcement from the Department of Treasury hit the press and within minutes emails were flying back and forth.


  • 01/13/2016

    2016 Legislative Session is Here!

    Dear Members, 2016 is here and things are already moving quickly. The 2016 Legislature is now in session and there are several bills that we are watching closely. The Estoppel Certificate legislation is of primary interest and I have high hopes that it will successfully be enacted into law. I intend to provide weekly updates (assuming enough happens every week) of what is going on in Tallahassee that is of interest. These will be separate from my regular emails and will be clearly identified as a Legislative Update. Look for these new Legislative Updates to begin next week.


  • 12/28/2015

    Common TRID Questions and MORE!

    Dear Members, Confusion resulted from last week’s email about the policy surcharge and how to disclose it properly on the Closing Disclosure. I have included the FAQ’s below with an updated (and clearer) response.

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