DFR License Renewal - Urgent Notice!

Attention Title Producers (Licensed Agents): You should have received an email from the NAIC on behalf of the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation about renewing your Title Producer License (which is required if you sign title insurance policies). If you have not already renewed your license, NOW is the time to do so. Existing licenses expire on 3/31/23. The renewal period runs from 4/1/23 to 3/31/25.

You can renew your license now by going to Sircon or NIPR. Note: These are 3rd party sites over which we have no control. If you have problems renewing online, please reach out directly to DFR via email or by calling, (802) 828-3303.

For additional information please click here to visit DFR's website.

Reminder! We’ve moved!



As of March 1st, you will find us at Post Office Square, 76 Pearl Street, Suite 203, Essex Junction, VT. We look forward to serving you from our new space and hope you will stop in to say hello.

CATIC Audits - What to Expect and Why



CATIC's Agent Consultation process complies with the existing regulatory Acts such as Gramm-Leach-Bliley and the new regulations implemented by the Dodd-Frank Act and its created agency, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ("CFPB"), in addition to any specific requirements enforced by the VT Bar Association. If/when you are selected for a CATIC financial audit here are a few tips to prepare for the audit:

• Forward two months (via drop box link provided in your notification email) to your auditor prior to your scheduled review (once they have contacted you). This makes the time in your office much quicker.
• Forward a completed list of account for ALL accounts held by the firm (via drop box link provided in your notification email) to your auditor prior to your scheduled review.
• Make sure that the Attorney Agent initials and dates the first page of each month’s reconciliations indicating that he/she has reviewed the same.
• Tip: Save your Trial Balance report to your desktop or print it for review within your office; What is a Trial Balance:  It is a report that lists the balances (if any) from each of your closing transaction categories.  Any funds that are left from each closing transaction that a check may not have been issued or if a closing has been over disbursed thus causing a shortage that you the Attorney Agent must research and correct.
• Print a Trial Balance report which is the 3^rd part of the 3-way reconciliation.   Review your uncashed/uncleared item report within each month’s reconciliation for any checks that are still outstanding and uncashed. Any lienable items (taxes, water, mortgages, equities, etc.) should always be addressed as high priority.
• Review your reconciliation reports for any uncleared checks and any lienable items (taxes, water/sewer, payoffs etc).

Questions Asked During Your Audit

• Do you perform a Patriot Act Search? This search option can be found here on CATIC.com under resources and in PrepExpress Online. Patriot searches should be done on all cash deals.
• Does your Bank offer:  ACH Block – automatically blocks debits to IOLTA accounts.  Ask your bank if they offer this service and if there is a fee. Not required but recommended.
• Does your Bank offer:  International Blocks – this service blocks any international wires. Ask your Bank if they offer this service and if there is a fee (usually free) – Not required but recommended.
• Does your Bank offer: Positive Pay - this service protects against counterfeit checks. Not required but recommended.

Keep Your Accounts Current and in Compliance

CATIC's UCPExpress service offers complete unclaimed property services. UCPExpress service will:

• Assist in preparing your files
• Distribute and manage Due Diligence Letters
• Prepare and submit applicable state reports
• Work with you on submitting your unclaimed funds to the correct authority

Click here for more information. Get started by calling CATIC (860) 513-3105 or emailing UCP@catic.com.

Upcoming Seminars & Events

We have resumed our in-person County Seminars! The topic of discussion will be Current Developments in VT Real Estate (2 hours of CLE including .5 hours of ethics for Attorneys licensed in VT). Please be sure to register several days prior to the event.

CATIC is going green! As an organization, CATIC is committed to reducing paper and printing usage in its offices to minimize its environmental impact. Vermont has always been a leader in environmental justice, and we are excited to announce our going green campaign. The Current Developments Presentation will be emailed the day before the seminar.

The following seminars have been scheduled:

Have a Topic of Interest?

We gain a lot of knowledge from your offices about what you are seeing out in the land records and experiences you are encountering with your transactions. Thank you for the valuable information! Please continue to email/call our office with anything you are hearing or experiencing. We love hearing from you!

Lau's Corner & Title Tips

Lane Guide

Lane Guide remains the leading source for contact information and data on closed and merged lenders. If you are interested in learning more about a subscription or have any questions, please contact support@laneguide.com.

Underwriting Question? 

Please email all questions to UnderwritingVT@catic.com. Thank you!

Career Network

We often hear of firms who are hiring. While we welcome phone calls or emails, we have added a career network post under News and Announcements (bottom right-hand corner) on the VATC website.