This statement is furnished to you to disclose the business relationship between Excel Title Services, LLC (“Excel”) and Dressman Benzinger LaVelle psc law firm (“DBL”). Excel is a limited liability company wholly owned by DBL. Excel, by and through its Manager, who is licensed by the Ohio Department is in the business issuing title insurance.
For Ohio title insurance transactions, the business of the issuance of title insurance is regulated by the Ohio Department of Insurance (“ODI”) and the rates charged, are dictated by the rates on file at ODI. For other states such as Kentucky and Indiana (“Non-Rate Filed States”), rates charged for title insurance are negotiable by title insurance underwriters. Excel receives a portion of the title insurance premium charged in each transaction as compensation for its services and, in addition, may make additional charges as compensation for additional services including title examinations, closing and settlement fees, and miscellaneous charges such as copy and fax charges. In all Non-Rate Filed States, Excel will attempt to negotiate a competitive rate with our respective title insurance underwriters.
At times, attorneys and employees of DBL may be working on legal aspects of a particular real estate transaction. This legal work and the fees associated therewith are separate and apart from the fees paid to Excel in connection with the issuance of the title insurance. These DBL fees will be disclosed to you prior to the completion of the work or upon your request. DBL’s ownership of Excel will not affect its exercise of its professional judgment with respect to transactions involving Excel, and DBL will continue to deliver excellent legal services in a timely, professional, ethical and valuable manner. The selection of a title company is your choice; DBL does not require you to use Excel.
In addition to providing title insurance, Excel may also perform settlement and closing services to you for real estate transactions. We recommend that you request a “Closing Protection Letter” from any title insurance underwriter insuring such transactions, protecting you, as the insured only, subject to certain conditions, against loss in the event of failure of Excel or its employees to follow your written closing instructions, fraud, or dishonesty, in handling your closing funds or documents in connection with the transaction (specimen copies of such Closing Protection Letters are available upon request.)
Should you have any questions regarding this Disclosure, please contact:
Patrick Hughes
Dressman Benzinger LaVelle psc
207 Thomas More Parkway
Crestview Hills, KY 41017
Direct: (859) 426-2151
General: (859) 341-1881 Fax: (859) 341-1469
www.dbllaw.com / phughes@dbllaw.com
Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky / Louisville
