Unauthorized Practice of Law in Connecticut

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(Redirected from UPL in CT)

Overview

Since 1984, Connecticut law has required that any new title agent be required to be a "commissioner of the superior court in good standing" which restricts new title agents to licensed Connecticut attorneys. As a result, even though most aspects of title insurance are not considered to be the unauthorized practice of law for any non-attorney agents who were licensed prior to the change in the law, most aspects of title insurance are now treated as requiring the involvement of an attorney. The only exception is for those agents licensed prior to 1984, which is limited now to a handful of corporate agents.

Sources

  • Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 51-88
  • Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 38a-401, et seq.
  • In re Grievance Comm. of the Bar v. Payne, 22 A.2d 623, 128 Conn. 325 (1941)

Title Searching

Title Searches are not required to be done by or supervised by attorneys in Connecticut.

Title Examination

Title Examinations is not required to be done by or supervised by attorneys in Connecticut.

Attorney Title Certifications

Attorney Title Certifications are not required in Connecticut.

Attorney Title Opinions

Attorney Title Opinions are not required in Connecticut.

Document Preparation

Closing and Escrow

Closings are not required to be done by or supervised by attorneys in Connecticut.

Parties to a closing are not required to be represented by attorneys in Connecticut.

Disbursement

Disbursement of files is not required to be done by or supervised by attorneys in Connecticut.

Recording

Document recording is not required to be done by or supervised by attorneys in Connecticut.

Other

Since 1984, all Connecticut title insurance agents are required to be licensed Connecticut attorneys. A few corporate licenses issued prior to the date are exempt from this requirement. As a result of this rule, nearly all aspects of title insurance in Connecticut are controlled to some degree by licensed attorneys even though none of the activities listed above are, strictly speaking, considered to be the unauthorized practice of law in Connecticut.

Cross-References