The following statement and the attached document were approved by the Executive Committee at the January 2020 meeting.

The New York State Land Title Association (NYSLTA) is a trade association representing the interests of persons and companies actively engaged in the title insurance industry in New York State.

The NYSLTA is devoted to advancing the interests of all those involved in abstracting, examining or insuring title to real property. Our work benefits all title professionals in New York, including title insurance companies, abstract companies, title insurance agents, law firms, individual attorneys, surveyors and others actively engaged in real estate matters.

The Association and its members frequently have questions regarding the laws and regulations governing the title insurance business in New York. In an effort to protect consumers, educate our members and to ensure compliance, NYSLTA has compiled the attached Frequently Asked Questions and Answers, including links to the appropriate New York State laws or regulations.

Trust me, you are not going to like this.  This is about changing the way you operate and conduct business. This is going to cost you money and time. This is "information security" and it is very important.

Before you go any further, I am going to reiterate something John Hollenbeck of First American Title said at our Annual Meeting in September. He said data security for title companies is important because when consumers buy a house, they give you all their information. And then they give you all their money.

The NY-DFS and an array of federal agencies are developing or have already issued regulations or standards for cybersecurity.  By Valentine's Day, you are going to be tired of seeing and hearing the term "cybersecurity".

The NYSLTA is preparing to submit testimony to the State Assembly's public hearing on cyber security.  In January, we plan to offer a CE course on the basic elements of cybersecurity.  We have posted a document titled, "Small Business Information Security: The Fundamentals" in the Technology Committee File Library.

Question: How do you eat an elephant?

Answer: One bite at a time

If you put off facing the inevitability that cybersecurity is going to be part of your business, one day you will  have to eat an entire elephant in one bite.  My advice is to start slow and start now.

Here is a link to a good, easy to read and easy to implement article on cybersecurity:

There’s No Flying Under the Radar: Why Small Businesses Should Get Smart About Information Security

If you have a DFS title agent license or if you work for an underwriter corporation in NY state - the proposed DFS cybersecurity regulation impacts YOU. 

NYSLTA Members can read the proposed regulation and see a "plain English" explainer on the Technology Committee page, on this web site.

In the coming months, you will see more information about cyber security on this site and in our email blasts.

Here is an article from FORBES magazine that everyone should find helpful.

We have made every effort to treat the recent problems in Nassau County fairly and at times that has included some criticism of County Clerk O'Connell.

So we are very pleased to include here the copy of a letter from Clerk O'Connell to the Nassau County Legislature, in which she take issue with fee hikes in the proposed county budget.

As a trade association, our job is to advance the interests of the title insurance industry in NY State.  It is our firm belief that we can best protect our business by protecting the real estate consumer - our ultimate customer.

In the attached letter, Clerk O'Connell makes a compelling argument AGAINST the real estate fee increases. We align with this position and we join Clerk O'Connell in opposing the fees in the proposed budget.

(Its a very good letter - please read it).