Legal Division

The Legal Division attorneys serve as in-house legal counsel for all DFPI programs. The Legal Division is responsible for analyzing legislation, promulgating regulations, and responding to requests for interpretive opinions from licensees and the public. The Legal Division also is responsible for regulating the offer and sale of securities and franchises in California.

California Legislative Information

California Code of Regulations

Title 10, Chapter 1
Regulations impacting banks, credit unions, trust companies, premium finance companies, industrial banks, public banks, and money transmitters, among others under the Financial Institutions Law.
Title 1, Chapter 3
Regulations impacting finance lenders and brokers, residential mortgage lenders and servicers, mortgage loan originators, escrow agents, deferred deposit originators, broker-dealers, investment advisers, student loan servicers, securities offerings, franchise offerings, and PACE program administrators, among others.

Laws and Regulations

Securities Laws

Investment and Financial Services Laws

The Financial Institutions Laws

Fairness Hearings

California Corporations Code section 25142 allows companies interested in issuing securities in a merger or conducting an exchange of outstanding securities to seek a “fairness” hearing as part of its application for qualification of the offer and sale of securities. By this process, applicants may seek an exemption from federal registration as provided by Section 3(a)(10) of the Securities Act of 1933 through a state-law hearing on the fairness of the terms and conditions of the proposed issuance or exchange of securities.

Check information about Fairness Hearings.
Check list of the Department Fairness hearings 2010 – 2020 (PDF).

Public Records Act Requests

Additional Links

Tribal Consultation Policy
To receive notices of DFPI rule-making, subscribe to our e-mail subscription service
Commissioner’s Release 61-C: Requesting an Interpretive Opinion (PDF)