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Bulletin: GA2016002

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Bulletin: GA2016002

Note: This Bulletin has been replaced by GA2019001 - RATES AND/OR FORMS UPDATE - Georgia Rate Change effective January 7, 2019. Use it for reference only.

Bulletin Document
V 2
Date: December 19, 2016
To: All Georgia Issuing Offices
RE: RATES AND/OR FORMS UPDATE - Georgia Rate Change effective January 3, 2017

Dear Associates:

Stewart Title Guaranty Company has filed a new "All Inclusive Schedule of Charges for Use in the State of Georgia effective January 3, 2017" with the Georgia Department of Insurance. An electronic version of the rate book can be found here for your convenience.

NOTE: Please continue to use the current rate manual Schedule of Charges and then switch to the new charges beginning on January 3, 2017.

The rates in the new Schedule of Charges effective January 3, 2017, are the rates that all Issuing Offices are required to charge the consumer and upon which Issuing Offices must remit. Therefore, the quotation of rates and premium charged for policies of title insurance sold by Stewart and our Issuing Offices shall be based only upon our "All Inclusive Schedule of Charges for Use in the State of Georgia" and any additional rates for endorsements. Any other rates must be separate and distinct from premium charges in a transaction. There should be no confusion by the party charged with paying the premium that the premium relates only to those rates for the title insurance policies.

Agents must remit the percentage of the total title charges (policy premium and any rates charged for endorsements) to Stewart in accordance with their underwriting contract. Additionally, Stewart must pay premium tax on both the portion retained by the agent as well as the premium actually remitted to Stewart (see O.C.G.A. 33-8-2 and O.C.G.A. 33-8-8-4), so it is critical that the correct title charges are used to calculate the amount of the premium remitted to Stewart.

Softpro and Landtech have been provided with the new rate information. Please contact your software company to request an update for your system with the new rates as follows: Softpro – 1-800-848-0143 and Landtech – 1-800-835-1523. If you are currently utilizing StewartDocs or AIM, please contact a Stewart technology representative to update your system at Customer Care Center, 888-526-3282.

If you have any questions relating to this or other bulletins, please contact a Stewart Title Guaranty Company underwriter.

For on-line viewing of this and other bulletins, please log onto www.vuwriter.com.

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.

References