THIS BULLETIN IS FURNISHED TO INFORM YOU OF CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS. AS A REMINDER, YOU ARE CHARGED WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE CONTENT ON VIRTUAL UNDERWRITER AS IT EXISTS FROM TIME TO TIME AS IT APPLIES TO YOU, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER INSTRUCTIONS. OUR UNDERWRITING AGREEMENTS DO NOT AUTHORIZE OUR ISSUING AGENTS TO ENGAGE IN SETTLEMENTS OR CLOSINGS ON BEHALF OF STEWART TITLE GUARANTY COMPANY. THIS BULLETIN IS NOT INTENDED TO DIRECT YOUR ESCROW OR SETTLEMENT PRACTICES OR TO CHANGE PROVISIONS OF APPLICABLE UNDERWRITING AGREEMENTS. CONFIDENTIAL, PROPRIETARY, OR NONPUBLIC PERSONAL INFORMATION SHOULD NEVER BE SHARED OR DISSEMINATED EXCEPT AS ALLOWED BY LAW. IF APPLICABLE STATE LAW OR REGULATION IMPOSES ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS, YOU SHOULD CONTINUE TO COMPLY WITH THOSE REQUIREMENTS.
Bulletin: DC000016
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Bulletin: DC000016
Dear Associates:
The Council of the District of Columbia recently passed the Omnibus Trusts and Estate Amendment Act of 2000 (D.C. Law 13-292). Title 8 of the Act repealed §§19-102 through 19-111 of the D.C. Code, made corrections and deletions to and from §19-112 and §19-113, and inserted new §§19-101.1 through 19-101.5. The effect of the passage of this part of the Act is the abolishment of dower and curtesy rights. The law became effective April 27, 2001. The spouses of decedents dying on, or after, April 27, 2001, no longer have dower rights.
The practical effect of the abolishment of dower, as it relates to the title industry, is that the signature of a non-title holding spouse is no longer required on deeds or other instruments transferring an interest in real property. If a married man or married woman is in title to property and his or her spouse is not in title, then the married man or married woman may convey the property without his or her spouse joining in the conveyance document to relinquish dower rights.
If you have any questions regarding this matter, please call Rick Harvey or Joe Blume at (410) 547-9100.
References
- Bulletins Replaced:
- None
- Related Bulletins:
- Underwriting Manual:
- Exceptions Manual:
- None
- Forms:
- None