Title 27
Insurance

Chapter 2.6
Rhode Island Title Insurers Act

R.I. Gen. Laws § 27-2.6-12

§ 27-2.6-12. Policyholder treatment.

(a) When a title insurance report includes an offer to issue an owner’s policy covering the resale of owner-occupied residential property, the report shall be furnished to the purchaser-mortgagor or its representative as soon as reasonably possible prior to closing. If the report cannot be delivered prior to the day of closing, the title insurer or agent shall document the reasons for the delay. The report furnished to the purchaser-mortgagor shall incorporate the following statement on the first page in bold type:

“Please read the exemptions and the terms shown or referred to herein carefully. The exemptions are meant to provide you with notice of matters which are not covered under the terms of the title insurance policy and should be carefully considered.

It is important to note that this form is not a written representation as to the condition of title and may not list all liens, defects, and encumbrances affecting title to the land.”

(b) A title insurer issuing a lender’s title insurance policy in conjunction with a mortgage loan made simultaneously with the purchase of all or part of the real estate securing the loan, where no owner’s title insurance policy has been requested, shall give written notice to the purchaser-mortgagor at the time the commitment is prepared. The notice shall explain that a lender’s title insurance policy is to be issued protecting the mortgage-lender, and that the policy does not provide title insurance protection to the purchaser-mortgagor as the owner of property being purchased. The notice shall explain what title policy insures against and what possible exposures exist for the purchaser-mortgagor that could be insured against through the purchase of an owner’s policy. The notice shall also explain that the purchaser-mortgagor may obtain an owner’s title insurance policy protecting the property owner at a specified cost or approximate cost, if the proposed coverages or amount of insurance is not then known. A copy of the notice, signed by the purchaser-mortgagor, shall be retained in the relevant underwriting file at least five (5) years after the effective date of the policy.

History of Section.
P.L. 2010, ch. 58, § 1; P.L. 2010, ch. 66, § 1.