Escrow Education Day: Business Principles + Trusts and Probate - LIVE

Morning Session: Business Principles, Practices and Law for Escrow Professionals

Operating a successful escrow company requires more than processing transactions. It requires a clear understanding of regulatory compliance, sound business practices, risk management, and effective office leadership.

This session provides a comprehensive review of the core business, legal, and operational principles that govern escrow operations. Participants will gain practical guidance on setting and negotiating escrow fees, understanding marketing limitations under RESPA and California Financial Code, and avoiding referral fee and kickback violations.

The training also addresses critical operational topics including:

• Insurance and bonding requirements (Surety Bonds, EAFC, Fidelity Bonds, Professional Liability, Cyber Fraud, and Umbrella policies)
• Managing escrow offices for productivity and regulatory readiness
• Employee recruitment, training, evaluations, and retention
• Telephone policies and client communication standards
• File retention, document organization, and audit preparation
• Surviving a DBO or CalBRE audit
• Avoiding the unauthorized practice of law in document drafting
• Knowing when to call legal counsel

Participants will also review important regulatory developments and enforcement trends affecting escrow professionals.

This session is ideal for escrow officers, branch managers, owners, compliance staff, and those preparing to take on leadership roles within an escrow operation.

Afternoon Session: Trusts, Estates and Probate: What Escrow Pro's Need to Know

Real estate ownership and estate planning are closely connected, and escrow professionals frequently encounter transactions involving trusts, probate estates, and property transfers after death.

This session provides a practical overview of trusts, estates, and probate and explains how these legal structures affect the ownership, transfer, and sale of real property. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of common estate planning tools and how they impact real estate transactions handled through escrow.

Topics covered include:

• Vesting choices and their role in estate planning
• Probate basics and the administration of a deceased person’s estate
• Intestate succession and how property transfers when no will or trust exists
• Trusts and revocable living trusts
• Transfer Upon Death (TOD) deeds and other alternatives to probate
• Corporate and entity ownership considerations
• Escrow handling when a party to the transaction dies
• Practical considerations when processing real estate transactions involving estates or trusts

Participants will also review how estate planning decisions can affect real estate transfers, title issues, and escrow procedures, helping professionals better identify potential issues and know when legal guidance may be necessary.

This session is designed for escrow professionals, real estate professionals, and others involved in property transactions who want to strengthen their understanding of how estate planning and probate issues intersect with real estate.

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Host or Publisher REACADEMIC