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Formation of an Underwritten Title Company

Documents and forms for an organizational securities permit as part of the admissions and licensing process for a newly formed underwritten title company.

Pursuant to California Insurance Code Section 12389, every licensed underwritten title company is required to maintain both a minimum working capital of $10,000 and a minimum net worth. This minimum net worth is based on the aggregate number of documents recorded and documents filed in the offices of the county recorders in the preceding calendar year in all counties where the applicant will transact business. The amounts set forth under Section 12389(a)(2) are as follows:

Number of Documents	Amount of Required Minimum Net Worth
Less than 50,000Less than 50,000Less than 50,000Less than 50,000	$ 75,000
50,000 to 100,000	$ 120,000
100,000 to 500,000	$ 200,000
500,000 to 1,000,000	$ 300,000
1,000,000 or more	$ 400,000

"Net worth" is defined as the excess of assets over all liabilities and required reserves. Although the Insurance Code sets forth a minimum net worth requirement, please keep in mind that these requirements are minimums. Commonly, applicants will be required to have additional net worth upon review of their plan of operation by the Department's Financial Analysis Division.

Name Approval

At the outset, the applicant must apply for approval for the proposed name of the underwritten title company. The applicant should address a letter to the Corporate Affairs Bureau of the California Department of Insurance at 1901 Harrison Street, 6th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612, requesting approval of the name under which the applicant intends to transact its business pursuant to the provisions of California Insurance Code Section 881. An application may list up to three names, in order of preference, and must be accompanied by a filing fee payable to the California Department of Insurance. See the "Name Approval/Change" fee category on the Schedule of Fees and Charges. Name approval requests for domestic companies in the process of formation must be accompanied by a disclosure of the company's principals. Copies of the California Insurance Code sections relating to name approval are attached.

Next, the applicant must file articles of incorporation with the Secretary of State. Only after the corporation has been formed and duly qualified, may the applicant begin the licensing review process.

Licensing

The procedure whereby a newly formed underwritten title company is licensed in California is fairly complex. First, the admission procedure involves an exhaustive review of the application for an organizational securities permit. The organizational securities permit is an important step in the qualification process as it allows the applicant to raise the necessary capital to commence operation. The application process requires the submission of detailed biographical information concerning the officers, directors, and key management personnel; the contemplated plan of operation of the corporation; a projection of anticipated income and disbursements for a substantial period of years; plus, other essential data.

The documents and forms are to be used in connection with the application for an organizational securities permit. When applying for an organizational securities permit, the applicant must provide the Department with the information and documentation requested in the enclosed Checklist and with all supplemental information requested during the course of review.

The applicant must also tender payment of the application fee, made payable to the California Department of Insurance. See the "Stock Permits" fee category on the Schedule of Fees and Charges. An original and duplicate copy of the application, including the requested documentation, the fees, and a copy of the check(s) should be submitted to the following address:

Corporate Affairs Bureau
California Department of Insurance
1901 Harrison Street, 6th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612

We also request, in addition to the two hard copies, that you submit an electronic copy of the application and supporting documents to CAB-SF-Intake@insurance.ca.gov. Please note we do not accept password protected emails or links.

Underwritten Title Company filings may now be accepted electronically, using the Online Assistance System for Insurer Submittals (OASIS). If you have any questions or experience any difficulties when submitting applications online, contact oasis@insurance.ca.gov.

Second, the admission procedure requires a separate Application for License to Act as an Underwritten Title Company. In addition to the documents that are required as exhibits to the organizational securities permit application, detailed business projections and financial studies must accompany the application for an underwritten title company license. The purpose of these exhibits is to project the company's anticipated income, expenses and other disbursements over a period of years.

You will be notified if the application is accepted for filing; and, if so, you will also be notified of the legal analyst or counsel and of the financial analyst assigned to review your application. If the application is incomplete, it will not be accepted for filing and will be returned to the applicant.

Other essential legal requirements and provisions applicable to a newly formed underwritten title company may be found in the latest edition of the California Insurance Code and in Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations, Sections 2600 through 2613.08.