On June 24, 2014, the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance sent a Bulletin Regarding Use of Blanket Exceptions in Consumer Title Insurance Policies to all Title Insurance Underwriters advising them that they are not allowed to include “Blanket Exceptions” in policies issued to non-lenders  (consumers) or owners. Such exceptions (e.g. “Covenants, conditions, restrictions, easements, leases, grants and exceptions or reservations for mineral rights, if any, appearing in the public record”) are considered to be "misleading because the benefits are too restricted to achieve the purposes of title insurance."

This notification has no effect on our operations or rate filings because the use of these “Blanket Exceptions” has never been authorized for use in non-lender (consumer) or owners policies.

ATG Rate filings provide for a reduced fee for “Expedited Searches.” Section II  C. 1. Of our Rates and Rules Filing provides as follows:

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C. Residential Refinance Loan Policy Rate

1. Expedited Searches

A residential property owner that refinances their existing mortgage debt with the same or different lender shall be charged at the following rate where the search is expedited:

Amount of Insurance                                               Expedited Search Rate

First $500,000                                                                  $325.00

Over $500,000                                                                 add $1.00 per thousand