Alabama Department of Insurance

For individuals who meet the Military Family Jobs Opportunity under Regulation 165, please click here for further information.

The Alabama Title Insurance Act is codified in Chapter 25 of Title 27, Code of Alabama 1975. This law was amended by Act No. 2012-397, effective January 1, 2013, and by Act No. 2016-296, effective May 10, 2016.

To view Chapter 25, please click here.

To view a "PDF" copy of the 2012 act, please click here.

Alabama Insurance Regulation No. 148 [Ala. Admin. Code Chapter 482-1-148] sets forth the rules and procedural requirements necessary to implement the title insurance agent law. To view a “PDF” copy of the regulation, click here.

Information regarding Attorneys as Title Insurance Agents:

Effective May 10, 2016, with the passage of House Bill 129 in the 2016 Regular Session of the Alabama Legislature, now Alabama Act No. 2016-296, attorneys licensed by the Alabama State Bar Association are exempt from the licensing requirements of the title insurance agent law. If a licensed attorney chooses to do business through an entity law firm, this department will also consider the entity law firm as exempt from the title insurance agent licensing requirements.

Please note, however, if a licensed attorney chooses to do title insurance agent business through an entity separate and apart from a law firm, that entity will be subject to the title insurance agent licensing requirements and at least one individual licensed as a title insurance agent must be designated as responsible for the entity’s compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations. This individual is also designated to act as signatory on title insurance issued by the entity agent. An exempt attorney cannot be so designated unless the attorney submits to becoming licensed as a title insurance agent.

Additionally, if an individual who is not a licensed attorney seeks to do business as a title insurance agent through an entity law firm, then the entity law firm would be subject to the title insurance agent licensing requirements. In such a case, the non-attorney individual title insurance agent can be designated as the responsible party for the entity law firm.

Title insurance agents who are now exempt from the title insurance agent licensing requirements can request the immediate cancellation of the title insurance agent license by faxing or mailing a letter to Producer Licensing Division requesting cancellation of license, or they can allow the license to expire by not renewing it. Title insurance companies can cancel a title insurance agent appointment by using the NIPR Interactive Appointments and Terminations application. If you do not have a PDB login for your company please contact the NIPR Marketing Department at 816-783-8467 or marketing@nipr.com

Reminder: Individuals previously licensed as title insurance agents in this state, whether by having passed the examination or by being exempt from the examination, are exempt from the examination requirements should they subsequently seek to again become licensed as title insurance agents, but only if the application for license is received within 12 months of the date the previous license was cancelled.

Information regarding the Fingerprinting of Title Insurance Agents:

Effective April 1, 2015, all individual resident applicants seeking to become licensed as a Title Agents, or who are adding a new line of authority to an existing Title license, must have completed a Fingerprint background check. You should seek to get fingerprinted after passing the state exam and one day before applying for the license.

Follow instructions on this link: https://fieldprintalabama.com

Please be aware the fingerprint results will remain in our system only 30 days after you are fingerprinted. If the application reaches the DOI after those 30 days you will have to get fingerprinted again and again pay the required fee. **Note: The Department can only utilize fingerprints processed through Fieldprint. We also cannot accept fingerprints completed for any reason outside of pursuing an insurance license from the Alabama Department of Insurance. The fingerprints will be utilized to conduct a federal and state criminal background check per Producer fingerprint requirements: Ala. Code § 27-7-4.4, Adjuster fingerprint requirements: Ala. Code § 27-9A-17 and Title agent fingerprint requirements: Ala. Code § 27-25-4.6. Being possessed of sound mind and legally competent to complete this request, the applicant authorizes the Alabama Department of Insurance, to obtain any and all criminal history information on said applicant from the ALEA and/or FBI. Applicant may challenge or appeal any portion of his/her own Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) that he/she believes to be incomplete or inaccurate by contacting the Records & Identification Division within ALEA 334-353-4340.

In accordance with the Beason-Hammon Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act, Alabama is now required to verify the citizenship of ALL APPLICANTS. Please submit proof of citizenship using the link below. There are sixteen different identifiers, including your official driver’s license, any one of which can be used as proof. Your license will not be issued until this documentation is received. If information is not received within 10 days your application will be rejected. Please note: Fees paid are non-refundable.
Submit Proof of Citizenship

Request to Cancel or Surrender License

Click here to go directly to the NIPR page to begin the online licensing process (For Individual Title Agents and Title Agencies).

Please note: To maintain a license as a Business Entity title agent, you must indicate an individual licensed title agent designated as responsible for the business entity’s compliance with the law, rules and regulations. To change/add a Designated Responsible Title Agent, click here. (Form AL-DP-1)

OUTLINE OF REGULATION 148:

• All renewals one on-line.
• Fees:
  • Individuals:
    • $40 on time
    • $90 within 30 days late, renews without lapse
    • $80 within 12 months of expiration
  • Business Entities:
    • $100 on time
    • $150 within 30 days, renews without lapse
• Individual licenses expire/renew in month of birth – even or odd years based on year of birth
  • Born in even year, renew in 2014 and every other year thereafter
  • Born in odd year, renew in 2015 and every other year thereafter
  • Can renew 75 days prior to expiration date. Initial license will not expire within first 75 days.
  • In accordance with the Beason-Hammon Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act, Alabama is now required to verify the citizenship of ALL APPLICANTS. Please submit proof of citizenship using the link below. There are sixteen different identifiers, including your official driver’s license, any one of which can be used as proof. Your license will not be renewed until this documentation is received. If information is not received within 10 days your application will be rejected. Please note: Fees paid are non-refundable.
    Submit Proof of Citizenship
• Request to Cancel or Surrender License
• Business entity licenses expires December 31, 2014, and every other year thereafter.
  • Renew on-time October 1 – December 31.
  • Late renewal in January.

• 24 hours, of which 3 are in ethics - cannot renew without CE.
• Teacher of CE course can only get same credit as students.
• Title agents can only receive credit for any particular course once in each reporting period.
• A “classroom hour” is 50 minutes.
• Exempt from CE if licensed less than 1 year at time of license expiration.

• All title agents must be appointed by the title insurer they represent.
• All appointments are handled on-line by the title insurer.
• Notice of appointment should be completed within 15 days after agency contract is executed or first application for insurance is submitted, whichever occurs first.
• Title insurer may terminate appointment at any time (subject to any contract rights of agent). If the agent wants to cancel, agent should request the insurer to cancel it. All cancellation handled on-line.
• Appointment renewals – see Reg. 109.
• Appointment fees:
  • $30 for notice of appointment
  • $10 for each annual renewal

• All title agents must renew or license will expire.
• Individual title agents must complete CE to renew.

For additional information, please contact Michelle Driggers:
Frances.Driggers@insurance.alabama.gov or (334)240-7576.