Member Highlight – Agent: Scott Thornley
Scott Thornley is a director for the counties of Colbert, Fayette, Franklin, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Marion, Walker, and Winston. Scott is a Partner in the…
Category: News
Title Tips: Mapping Departments and Reappraisal Departments
The Mapping Departments and Reappraisal Departments often contain a wealth of information on property report cards. The information included on the cards can be helpful…
2023 Alabama Legislative Update
Act No. 2023-63 was passed (and made effective) on April 20, 2023. It authorizes the appointment of temporary probate judges (to serve with the current…
Title Tips: Searching Probate Records
1. Always search additional spellings, abbreviations and possible misspellings of names. 2. Always ask realtors and lenders for the parties’ full legal names. It is…
New Regulations: DOI Licensing and Compliance
The Alabama Department of Insurance has updated several regulations concerning licensing and compliance requirements for several categories of insurance professionals. Click on the links below…
New Law: The Notary Public Act
For those of you who are Alabama notaries, The Notary Public Act becomes effective September 1, 2023. Highlighted are the most relevant portions, but please…
Member Highlight – Agent: Stephanie Martin
Stephanie is the owner/operator of Elite Title Services, Inc. of Rainbow City, AL. She has been in the title insurance industry for 24 years. She…
Abstractor Tips for Lee, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, Morgan, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, and Tuscaloosa Counties
Following up on the Alabama Abstractor’s Helpful Hints, here are some county-specific tips that we hope you find useful: LEE COUNTY: Hours: 8:30 am to…
Alabama Abstractor’s Helpful Hints
This month’s edition features “Helpful Hints” from many of our experienced title searchers, abstractors, and examiners. The ability to search the Probate real estate records…
Un-Real Estate: Forged signatures, Fake ID and other Phony documents
WWL-TV’s series “Un-Real Estate” by investigative reporter David Hammer has uncovered forged signatures, fake identification, and other phony documents being used by scammers to lay…
Seller Impersonation Fraud
Fraudsters committing seller fraud are becoming more creative and sophisticated. In many areas, two or more agents a week encounter and fortunately stop fraudsters mid-transaction.…
Protecting Homeowners from Predatory NTRAPS
Senate Bill 228, passed May 9th, 2023, is designed to protect the property rights of Alabama homeowners from predatory agreements known as Non-Title Record Agreements…
Interesting Texas Law: Dirty Deeds
Texas has adopted an interesting new law that allows Texas Clerks to require photo identification whenever anyone tries to file paperwork changing a property’s ownership.…
Prohibition of Foreign Government Land Purchases
House Bill 379, signed by Governor Ivey May 31st, 2023, is designed to prevent Alabama’s agricultural resources, or lands surrounding critical resources and military installations…
Member Highlight – Agent: Kathy W. Shirah
Kathy started her career in mortgage banking in 1990 with First Alabama Bank which later became Regions Mortgage, Incorporated. She has worked in various functions…
Amended Procedures for Recording Certain Judgments Concerning Real Property
House Bill 328, approved on June 6, 2023, requires that judgments concerning actions for condemnation or other land boundary or title disputes must be recorded…
Termination of the Pre-Licensing Course
House Bill 60, approved on May 3, 2023, concerns the Alabama Department of Insurance, and more specifically, licenses for those dealing in insurance. It removes…
Alabama Joins List of States Banning Unfair Real Estate Fee Agreements
Alabama has joined a growing list of states to pass legislation protecting homeowners from the predatory practice of filing of unfair real estate fee agreements…
Press Release: The Hidden Revenue Potential of Idle Escrow Account Balances
Higher – and fluctuating – interest rates haven’t exactly been kind to those in real estate or to buyers and sellers, but there could be…
AL House Bill 328 – Filing of Judgments
HB 328– 1st read in house of origin 4/18/23, 2nd read 5/3/23, 3rd read 5/24/23 and passed with amendments to 2nd house. 1st read in…
