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New Jersey adopts privacy, redaction bill
Posted Date: Monday, January 31, 2022
The New Jersey Legislature adopted legislation that would create an Office of Information Privacy and require, upon request, redaction and nondisclosure of home addresses of judicial officers, prosecutors, law enforcement officers and their immediate family members. The bill took effect immediately upon adoption and is retroactive to Dec. 10, 2021.
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Small Business Administration launches new cybersecurity pilot program
Posted Date: Wednesday, January 26, 2022
U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced $3 million in new funding for state governments to help emerging small businesses across America develop their cybersecurity infrastructure, part of the Cybersecurity for Small Business Pilot Program.
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Oklahoma considers land ownership legislation
Posted Date: Wednesday, January 26, 2022
The Oklahoma State Legislature is considering legislation that would prohibit certain ownership of land and establish the Citizen Land Ownership Unit of the Attorney General.
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Mississippi considers lis pendens bill
Posted Date: Wednesday, January 26, 2022
The Mississippi Legislature is considering legislation that would require a lis pendens notice of a lien be filed within 30 days after the commencement of the action.
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Atlanta real estate agent sentenced for mortgage fraud
Posted Date: Wednesday, January 26, 2022
An Atlanta real estate agent was sentenced for his participation in a mortgage-fraud scheme that netted more than $21 million in fraudulent mortgage loans, many of which were insured by the Federal Housing Administration.
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New Jersey Gov. Murphy signs title insurance bill
Posted Date: Wednesday, January 19, 2022
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation repealing a law concerning excess rates and charges for title insurance. The bill also makes the agreement to use the services of a title or settlement service company subject to attorney review.
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Buyers sue title company, real estate brokerage for alleged kickbacks
Posted Date: Wednesday, January 19, 2022
Buyers of property in Wadsworth, Ohio, filed suit against the seller’s real estate brokerage and the title company that provided the settlement services for their transaction, alleging they violated the anti-kickback provision of RESPA. The brokerage and title company moved to dismiss the case.
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Maryland introduces underwriting review amendments
Posted Date: Wednesday, January 19, 2022
The Maryland General Assembly has introduced legislation that would alter requirements on title insurers relating to the review of underwriting, claims and escrow practices and policy-issuing processes of title insurance producers appointed by the title insurers.
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New York prepares for RON
Posted Date: Monday, January 17, 2022
On Dec. 23, New York Gov. Kathy Hochel signed SB 1780/AB 399B, which will allow notaries in the state to perform remote notarizations for paper and electronic documents with the passage of the legislation and amendments agreed upon by the legislature and governor. Industry members are now preparing for the implementation of the rule.
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Court determines validity of eSigned power of attorney
Posted Date: Monday, January 17, 2022
After a man purchased property at a homeowners’ foreclosure sale, the beneficiary on the first deed of trust filed an action to quiet title and for declaratory relief against the man in federal court. When the court confirmed the beneficiary’s deed of trust was not extinguished, the man filed a petition in state court for foreclosure mediation assistance, and had his daughter appear on his behalf at the mediation proceedings. The mediator, and later the state court, said the electronically signed power of attorney provided was not valid because it did not have his signature and eventually dismissed his petition for foreclosure mediation assistance. The man appealed to the Court of Appeals of Nevada.
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Virginia considers title insurance legislation
Posted Date: Monday, January 17, 2022
The Virginia General Assembly is considering legislation that would require settlement agents to obtain from the purchaser a statement that the purchaser has been notified that the purchaser may wish to obtain owner’s title insurance coverage. It would also provide that a real estate licensee has an affirmative duty to disclose in writing to the purchaser, seller, lessor or lessee if they, a family member, or their firm has an ownership interest to the other parties to the transaction. In addition, it would require an owner of residential property to provide a prospective purchaser a written disclosure of any known lis pendens on the property.
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Illinois considers amendment to Counties Code
Posted Date: Monday, January 17, 2022
The Illinois General Assembly is considering legislation that would amend the Counties Code to provide that a physical or electronic image of a recorder’s stamp satisfies the signature requirement for recorded instruments prior to, on and after the effective date of the amendatory act.
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St. Louis man sentenced for identity, deed theft
Posted Date: Monday, January 17, 2022
A St. Louis man was sentenced to time in prison after being convicted of six counts of identity theft in connection with the man’s filing of counterfeit quit claim deeds with the St. Louis Recorder of Deeds Office.
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