Bulletin: NJ2023002

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Bulletin: NJ2023002

Bulletin Document
V 4
Date: March 28, 2023
To: All New Jersey Issuing Offices
RE: UNDERWRITING - NJ Daniel’s Law Update

Dear Associates:

This bulletin supplements Stewart bulletins, NJ2020006 and NJ2022007, and is an update to Daniel’s Law.

We have recently become aware that the County Clerks have begun to change the public’s access to online property records in accordance with Daniel’s Law (P.L. 2021, c.371). Currently, many of the counties are still allowing access to public property records. However, if the person is protected under Daniel’s Law, their documents will not be accessible. Instead, searchers will have to visit the County Clerk’s office in person and comply with each County’s procedures to gain access to the protected documents. In other Counties, the Clerk has or will be removing all online access to property records.

As a reminder, all Stewart Title Guaranty Company associates must include the following requirement for all commitments:

You must tell us in writing the name of anyone referred to in this Commitment who is or may be an individual protected by the provisions of Daniel’s Law, P.L. 2020 c.125. We may then make additional requirements or exceptions.

In addition, we recommend contacting all title search vendors you work with to ensure they are up to date on all changes and can complete a full search.

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

Bulletins Replaced:
  • None
Related Bulletins:
Underwriting Manual:
  • None
Exceptions Manual:
  • None
Forms:
  • None