News By Edition

Chicago Title Insurance Co. is suing a bank and an allegedly fraudulent Nigerian banking entity after losing $4.1 million in real estate proceeds, saying the company was duped into wiring funds into a compromised escrow account.

A lengthy court battle between Fidelity National Financial and the U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network has come to an end, with a district court ordering summary judgement in Treasury’s favor.

Ahead of the March 1 enforcement deadline for the new real estate transaction reporting rule instituted by the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, industry professionals look for answers to lingering compliance questions. The agency created an FAQ database to try to answer some of them.

A district court in the District of Columbia recently reviewed a case involving a title company facing a negligence lawsuit and its insurer, who claimed it had no duty to defend a client that would not cooperate with court proceedings.

A bill under consideration in West Virginia is intended to address deed fraud with a variety of initiatives, including new and enhanced penalties, the establishment of an official property alert system, educational requirements for notaries and more.

A bill under consideration in the state legislature would require insurance producer licensing examinations to be administered by outside testing service vendors.

In a Feb. 12 bulletin to insurance professionals operating within the state, the Delaware Department of Insurance issued a comprehensive reminder of reporting obligations required by the Delaware Insurance Data Security Act, including annual certification.

A new real estate transfer tax return form will be required by New York state officials for deeds dated on or following March 1, the enforcement date of the Financial Crime Enforcement Network’s new Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule.

A new city ordinance signed into law by Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker closes a loophole commonly exploited by deed fraudsters, allowing the city to issue through the realty transfer tax refunds to property theft victims.

A new order issued by the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network eases some of the reporting requirements under the Customer Due Diligence Requirements for Financial Institutions rule regarding beneficial ownership.

A state bill recently introduced in Illinois would amend the Illinois Human Rights Act to codify the use of artificial intelligence in some real estate transactions without notification as a human rights violation.

Lawmakers in Alabama have introduced the Alabama Property Protection Act, which proposes security measures for title agents, attorneys, notaries and realtors to better protect against title fraud.

A licensed real estate broker and two co-defendants were arrested on Feb. 11 for the alleged fraudulent sale of a $1.5 million house in Burbank, Calif., which was sold without the owner’s consent using stolen identities.

When a deed fraud scam successfully hijacked a property closing, the originator of the loan and the title insurance provider disputed liability, with the title company moving to dismiss the case.

A bill under consideration by New Mexico legislators would create new statutes that codify deed fraud as an official criminal offense, as well as detail associated penalties and definitions.

A bill recently introduced to the Illinois legislature would create a process by which tenants in common can obtain legal titles to inherited property.

Lawmakers in Arizona have introduced a bill that would amend the legal processes by which property ownership can be claimed by tax-paying occupants.

The New York State Department of Financial Services recently issued a cybersecurity advisory, calling attention to a “vishing” campaign that poses an ongoing threat to regulated entities.

Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready has been appointed vice chair of the property and casualty insurance committee for 2026 by National Association of Insurance Commissioners President Scott White.

In an appeal of an Arkansas state court decision, two brothers aim to argue before the highest court in the land that their rights to due process and just compensation were violated when the state seized their property for tax delinquency.

A former employee of United Wholesale Mortgage is alleging wrongful termination in a lawsuit in which he claims he was pressured to sign title support letters in violation of state laws.

Legislators in Arizona are considering a bill that would require county recorders to verify the status of any notary conveying property through a quitclaim deed.

In a bulletin released on Feb. 4, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday warned residents to beware of criminal schemes concentrated on false transfers of property deeds or titles.

Throughout 2025, the staff of the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance assisted consumers and policyholders with insurance complaints to the tune of $129 million in fund recovery, according to the department.

The former owner of several title insurance companies, who also consulted in the past on preventing escrow theft, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison on Jan. 29 for wire fraud.