Escrow Law

The Escrow Law is contained in Division 6 (commencing with Section 17000) of the California Financial Code . The regulations are contained in Subchapter 9, Title 10, California Code of Regulations commencing with Section 1700 (10 C.C.R. § 1700, et seq.).

The Escrow Law protects members of the public who entrust their money or other assets to independent escrow agents in California. Escrow agents, joint control agents and Internet escrow agents are subject to the provisions of the Escrow Law.

Visit About Escrow Law page to know more information.

How to reach us:

Announcements

• 8/29/22 – The next Escrow Law Advisory Committee meeting will be on Wednesday, September 7, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. PST. The meeting will be held at the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation’s Los Angeles office located at 300 S. Spring Street, 15th floor conference room, and Sacramento office located at 2101 Arena Blvd., Room 110A/B conference room. Both conference rooms are connected via video call.

  The meeting is also available telephonically. The conference number and participant code are on the meeting agenda. Please contact Special Administrator Paul Liang in the Los Angeles office at (213) 576-7535 if you have any questions. The AGENDA for the coming meeting (PDF) and the MINUTES for the June 7, 2022 meeting (PDF) are available.

  Due to health and safety, and security reasons, in-person participants are requested to preregister by emailing names to Paul.Liang@dfpi.ca.gov no later than three business days prior to the date of the meeting. The conference room has limited capacity available to maintain social distancing. In-person participants are encouraged to wear face coverings. If any registered participant experiences COVID like symptoms or has tested positive for COVID-19 within 72 hours prior to the meeting, the participant should not appear in-person, and the participant may join the meeting telephonically. In-person participants over the room limit will be directed to additional DFPI conference rooms to attend the meeting.”

• 7/1/22 – There are three openings on the Escrow Advisory Committee (Committee) in September. The Committee is established in Financial Code Section 17214. The Committee’s purpose, as designated in statute, is to assist the Commissioner in the implementation of the Commissioner’s duties under the Escrow Law.The Committee is comprised of eleven members, including the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee. The Commissioner appoints the Committee members, other than those representing Escrow Institute of California and Escrow Agents’ Fidelity Corporation. Appointed members serve for a period of two years without compensation or reimbursement for expenses. The Committee meets quarterly at the Department’s office. The next meeting is tentatively scheduled on September 7, 2022.

  The Committee vacancies are representatives from:

  1) A small-size escrow company, 2) An escrow company that has other ownership, and 3) A CPA who has escrow agent clients.

  Examples of other business ownership may include escrow agents owned by title companies, real estate brokers, etc. Managers or corporate officers of independent escrow companies are eligible to serve on the committee.

  If you, your company or your company’s CPA qualifies for one of the open positions, you and/or your CPA are encouraged to apply by sending a letter of qualifications and/or resume to the attention of Paul Liang, Special Administrator at 320 West 4th Street, Suite 750, Los Angeles, California 90013. The deadline for submissions is on July 29, 2022. Should you have any questions, please contact Paul Liang at (213) 576-7535 or Paul.Liang@dfpi.ca.gov.

• 5/27/22 – The next Escrow Law Advisory Committee meeting will be on Tuesday, June 7, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. PST. The meeting will be held at the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation’s Los Angeles office located at 300 S. Spring Street, 15th floor conference room. The meeting is also available telephonically. The conference number and participant code are on the meeting agenda. Please contact Special Administrator Paul Liang in the Los Angeles office at (213) 576-7535 if you have any questions. The AGENDA for the coming meeting (PDF) and the MINUTES for the March 8, 2022 meeting (PDF) are available.

  Due to health and safety, and security reasons, in-person participants are requested to preregister by emailing names to Paul.Liang@dfpi.ca.gov no later than three business days prior to the date of the meeting. The conference room has limited capacity available to maintain social distancing. In-person participants are encouraged to wear face coverings. If any registered participant experiences COVID like symptoms or has tested positive for COVID-19 within 72 hours prior to the meeting, the participant should not appear in-person, and the participant may join the meeting telephonically. In-person participants over the room limit will be directed to additional DFPI conference rooms to attend the meeting.

• 2/25/22 – The next Escrow Law Advisory Committee meeting will be on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. PST. The meeting will be held telephonically. The call in information is on the meeting agenda. Please contact Special Administrator Paul Liang in the Los Angeles office at (213) 576-7535 if you have any questions. The AGENDA for the coming meeting (PDF) and the MINUTES for the December 7, 2021 meeting (PDF) are available.
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Licensee Information

• Frequently Asked Questions about Escrow Law
• Who is required to obtain a license?
• How do I apply for a license?
• Requirements after an Escrow license has been issued

Publications and Forms

• Escrow Law Reports (2007, 2009, 2010)
  • Escrow Bulletin – June 2010 – Issue 34 (PDF)
  • Escrow Bulletin – March 2009 – Issue 33 (PDF)
  • Escrow Bulletin – January 2007 – Issue 31 (PDF)
• Escrow Law Forms

Laws and Regulations

• About the Escrow Law
• General Definitions
• Escrow Agent’s Advisory Committee Meetings
• Escrow Agents: Employee Disciplinary Actions
• Regulations, Legislation, Opinions, Releases, Notices

Service Portal DOCQNET

Licensee Resources Companies licensed under the California Finance Lenders Law, California Deferred Deposit Transaction Law, and Escrow Law, may access the Self-Service DOCQNET Portal to submit applications for licensure, view the status of applications, submit annual report information, and update contact information.

Other resources

• Consumer Information
• Online Escrow Companies
• California Escrow Association
• Escrow Institute of California
• Search for Enforcement Actions taken by California Department of Real Estate
• Search for Enforcement Actions taken by California Department of Insurance
• Escrow Agents’ Fidelity Corporation (EAFC)

Securities (Escrow Law) Forms

Department of Financial Protection and Innovation is pleased to provide links to the following forms listed below. To find which is the proper office to file your application and or notice, please refer to Commissioner’s Release 13-G (Revised) (PDF)

Escrow Agents: Employee Disciplinary Actions

List of individuals that have been censured, suspended, or barred by the California Department of Corporations pursuant to Financial Code Section 17423 of the Escrow Law from January 1, 1991 to 2012. (PDF)

To check the name of an individual who may have been disciplined by the Department of Corporations under Financial Code section 17423 prior to January 1, 1991 please contact the Consumer Services Office toll free at 1-866-275-2677.

For further information of any of the Department’s actions noted, please contact the Consumer Services Office toll free at 1-866-275-2677. Also, please visit the California Department of Insurance and California Department of Real Estate databases for additional information.