Best Practices
Put Your Policies & Procedures in Writing

Keeping You in the Game

Implementing ALTA's best practices can help title professionals meet market demands by ensuring regulatory compliance, protecting funds and information, and capturing a larger market share to keep you in the game.

ALTA Best Practices 4.0 Framework
ALTA Best Practices 4.0 Framework: Assessment Procedures


Lender Requirements

Lenders are vetting settlement agents in a wide variety of ways. Make sure your practice meets Best Practices standards and is prepared to address the lenders' requirements.
 

Suggested Actions for Fund Members:

  1. Review your practice and volume with specific lenders.
  2. Review lender requirements with the Bank Requirement Chart and consider setting up Google Alerts for lender updates.
  3. Decide on the level of requirements appropriate for your practice per the Lender Requirement Scale.
  4. If 3rd party certification is needed, ensure AT LEAST 90-day lead time for the review period and 6-8 months to complete.

Lender Requirement Complexity Scale

Find out how difficult it is to obtain different Lender Best Practice requirements - Download

LOW

COMPLEXITY

HIGH

1

Old Republic Authorized Agent Letter

2

Settlement Agent Self-Certification

3

Copy of Best Practices Manual

4

Settlement Agent Self-Certification
with ALTA Certification package

5

Lender-Specific Requirements
E.g. questionnaire, financial statements, business license, E&O, review AfBAs

6

Secure Insight/SSI Vendors Compliance Group

7

3rd-Party Certification


The 7 Pillars of ALTA's Best Practices

1st ALTA Pillar Icon
2nd ALTA Pillar Icon
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Get the materials, documents and other resources that will assist you in implementing ALTA's Best Practices for your agency. 


Webinars

Video – 10 Years After: A Refreshed Look at Best Practices - Purchase Now

This two and one-half hour, intermediate-level program reviews the background and basic information behind ALTAs seven Pillars, taking special note of the most recent changes ALTA has made to the seven pillars.


Video – Protecting NPI – Pillar 3 - Purchase Now

This webinar examines the American Land Title Association’s (ALTA) Best Practices Pillar 3: Privacy and Information Security.


Video – Record Retention and Disposal: Put It in Writing - Purchase Now

Learn the parameters of information security and their applicability to practitioners, rules on confidentiality, safeguarding information, and proper disposal.


On-Demand Training Library Webinars

Video – Building the Pillars of ALTA’s Best Practices Workshop I - Watch Now

Are Lenders asking you for a copy of your Best Practices Policies and Procedures Manual? If so, it’s time to attend Building the Pillars of ALTA’s Best Practices – Workshop I.The workshop is designed to give you a jump-start on the creation and...


Video – Building the Pillars of ALTA’s Best Practices Workshop II - Watch Now

This workshop continues the Fund’s examination of ALTA’s Best Practices, detailing Florida-specific requirements for:Pillar 2 - Escrow / Trust AccountingPillar 4 - Recording & Pricing ProceduresPillar 5 - Title Policy ProceduresAs with Workshop I...


Video – Introduction to ALTA’s Best Practices - Watch Now

As the real estate market continues to recover and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau creates new rules related to real estate closings, the landscape in which title insurance agents conduct business continues to evolve. The American Land Title Association...


Questions

Send us your questions and we will get back to you as soon as we can. 

Email: legaled@thefund.com


News & Updates

ALTA Closing Disclosure Three-Day Chart

ALTA Closing Disclosure Three-Day Chart
07/14/2015

New CFPB rules require you to work differently to ensure your closings occur without delay. New ALTA resource to...

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Sample Completed Policies & Procedures Handbook

Sample Completed Policies & Procedures Handbook
07/13/2015

This Best Practices template represents a sample document that can be downloaded and manipulated to fit the desires...

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ALTA Best Practices Executive Summary

ALTA Best Practices Executive Summary
07/13/2015

ALTA seeks to guide its membership on best practices to protect consumers, promote quality service, provide for...

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ALTA’s Best Practices FAQ

ALTA’s Best Practices FAQ
07/10/2015

What are the best practices? ALTA’s Title Insurance and Settlement Company Best Practices are a benchmark for the...

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Be Prepared for Disaster: Preparing for Physical Disasters - Part II
03/27/2015

By Linda N. Monaco, Fund Legal Education Attorney As more and more lenders require adoption of the...

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Cyber and Privacy Insurance
01/30/2015

By John H. Simmons, President, Fund Insurance Solutions, LLCThe Threat. Everyone...

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Practical Tips for a Clean Desk Policy and Procedure Pillar 3 - Privacy & Information Security
12/29/2014

By Linda Monaco, Fund Legal Education Attorney As attorneys we like to spread out to do our work...

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ALTA Best Practice Pillar No. 4
11/01/2013

By: W. Theodore Connner, Fund Senior Vice President, General Counsel Lenders continue to face...

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The Referees are Making New Rules: Title/Settlement Agents Playbook Changes Ahead
10/31/2013

By: Philip Holtsberg, Fund Sr. Underwriting Counsel, and W. Theodore Conner, Fund Sr. Vice President and...

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Keeping You In The Game – ALTA’s Best Practices Initiative – Pillar No. 2
10/29/2013

By: Margaret A. (Peggy) Williams, Fund Risk Manager The April Fund Concept lead article &ndash...

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