Revised Code of Washington - RCW Title 18 Businesses And Professions - Chapter 18.44 Escrow Agent Registration Act

18.44.011 Definitions
Unless a different meaning is apparent from the context, terms used in this chapter shall have the following meanings: (1) "Department" means the department of ...

18.44.021 License required -- Exceptions
It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in business as an escrow agent by performing escrows or any of the functions of an ...

18.44.031 License -- Application, requisites
An application for an escrow agent license shall be in writing in such form as is prescribed by the director, and shall be verified on ...

18.44.041 Branch offices -- Application to establish -- Requirements
(1) A licensed escrow agent shall not operate an escrow business in a location other than the location set forth on the agent's license or ...

18.44.051 Branch offices -- Issuance of license
Upon the filing of the application for an escrow agent branch office and satisfying the requirements of this chapter, the director shall issue and deliver ...

18.44.061 Change in business location, office location, business name -- Written notice required
A licensed escrow agent shall provide notice in writing to the director and to the insurer providing coverage under RCW 18.44.201 of any change of ...

18.44.071 Escrow officer required for handling transactions -- Responsibility of supervising escrow agent
Every licensed escrow agent shall ensure that all escrow transactions are supervised by a licensed escrow officer. In the case of a partnership, the designated ...

18.44.081 Escrow officer's license -- Application -- Form -- Timely filing -- Proof of moral character, etc
Any person desiring to be a licensed escrow officer shall meet the requirements of RCW 18.44.195 as provided in this chapter. The applicant shall make ...

18.44.091 License -- Fees -- Renewal
Every escrow officer license issued under the provisions of this chapter expires on the date one year from the date of issue which date will ...

18.44.101 License -- Retention and display by agent -- Termination -- Inactive licenses
The license of a licensed escrow officer shall be retained and displayed at all times by the licensed escrow agent. When the officer ceases for ...

18.44.111 Licenses -- Form and size -- Contents
Each escrow agent license, each escrow agent branch office license, and each escrow officer license shall be issued in the form and size prescribed by ...

18.44.121 Fees
The director shall charge and collect the following fees as established by rule by the director: (1) A fee for filing an original or a ...

18.44.127 Certificate of registration suspension -- Noncompliance with support order -- Reissuance
The department shall immediately suspend the certificate of registration of a person who has been certified pursuant to RCW 74.20A.320 by the department of social ...

18.44.131 License application -- Issuance
Upon the filing of the application for an escrow agent license on a form provided by the director and satisfying the requirements as set forth ...

18.44.141 License -- Duration -- Posting
An escrow agent's license shall remain in effect until surrendered, revoked, suspended, or until it expires, and shall at all times be kept conspicuously posted ...

18.44.151 License -- Expiration and renewal -- Fee
Each escrow agent's license shall expire at noon on the thirty-first day of December of any calendar year. The license may be renewed by filing ...

18.44.161 License -- Reinstatement
An escrow agent's license which has not been renewed may be reinstated at any time prior to the thirtieth day of January following its expiration, ...

18.44.171 Engaging in business without license -- Penalty
Any person required by this chapter to obtain a license who engages in business as an escrow agent without applying for and receiving the license ...

18.44.181 Proof of licensure prerequisite to action for fee
No person engaged in the business or acting in the capacity of an escrow agent may bring or maintain any action in any court of ...

18.44.191 Director -- Educational conferences -- Examinations
The director shall have the authority to hold educational conferences for the benefit of the industry and shall conduct examinations for licenses as an escrow ...

18.44.195 Examination -- Content
(1) Any person desiring to become a licensed escrow officer must successfully pass an examination. (2) The escrow officer examination shall encompass the following: (a) ...

18.44.201 Financial responsibility -- Fidelity bond -- Errors and omissions policy -- Surety bond
(1) At the time of filing an application for an escrow agent license, or any renewal or reinstatement of an escrow agent license, the applicant ...

18.44.211 Cancellation of fidelity bond or surety bond, or both -- New bond required
In the event of cancellation of either the fidelity bond, the surety bond, or both, the director shall require the filing of a new bond ...

18.44.221 Waiver of bond or policy where not reasonably available -- Determination procedure -- Waiver period
The director shall, within thirty days after the written request of the escrow commission, hold a public hearing to determine whether the fidelity bond, surety ...

18.44.231 Corporation for insuring where bond or policy not reasonably available
After a written determination by the director, with the consent of the insurance commissioner, that the fidelity bond, the surety bond, and/or the errors and ...

18.44.241 Waiver of errors and omissions policy requirement -- Criteria
The following criteria will be considered by the director when deciding whether to grant a licensed escrow agent a waiver from the errors and omissions ...

18.44.251 Waiver -- Affidavit
A request for a waiver of the required errors and omissions policy may be accomplished under the statute by submitting to the director an affidavit ...

18.44.261 Waiver -- Determination
The director shall, within thirty days following submission of a written petition for waiver of the insurance requirements found in RCW 18.44.201, issue a written ...

18.44.270 Application of Administrative Procedure Act
The proceedings for revocation, suspension, or refusal to renew or accept an application for renewal of an escrow agent's registration or escrow officer license, and ...

18.44.271 Waiver -- Certificate of waiver
Upon granting a waiver of insurance requirements found in RCW 18.44.201, the director shall issue a certificate of waiver, which certificate shall be mailed to ...

18.44.281 Waiver -- Denial
Upon determining that a licensed escrow agent is to be denied a waiver of the errors and omissions policy requirements of RCW 18.44.201, the director ...

18.44.291 Waiver -- Application by escrow license applicant
Nothing in RCW 18.44.201, 18.44.241 through 18.44.261, 18.44.271, and 18.44.281 shall be construed as prohibiting a person applying for an escrow license from applying for ...

18.44.301 Prohibited practices
It is a violation of this chapter for any escrow agent, controlling person, officer, designated escrow officer, independent contractor, employee of an escrow business, or ...

18.44.305 Financial interest in an escrow agent -- Prohibited practices
(1) An escrow agent, officer or employee of any escrow agent, or person who has a financial interest in an escrow agent shall not, directly ...

18.44.400 Records and accounts -- Segregation and disbursements of funds -- Violation of section, penalties
(1) Every licensed escrow agent shall keep adequate records, as determined by rule by the director, of all transactions handled by or through the agent ...

18.44.410 Powers of director
(1) The director has the power and broad administrative discretion to administer and interpret this chapter to facilitate the delivery of services to citizens of ...

18.44.420 Investigation of violations -- Procedure -- Powers of director
The director may: (1) Make necessary public or private investigations within or outside of this state to determine whether any person has violated or is ...

18.44.430 Actions against license -- Grounds
(1) The director may, upon notice to the escrow agent and to the insurer providing coverage under RCW 18.44.201, deny, suspend, decline to renew, or ...

18.44.440 Violations -- Cease and desist orders
If the director determines after notice and hearing that a person has: (1) Violated any provision of this chapter; or (2) Directly, or through an ...

18.44.450 Referral fees prohibited -- Consumer protection act -- Application
(1) "Real property lender" as used in this section means a bank, savings bank, savings and loan association, credit union, mortgage company, or other corporation, ...

18.44.460 License suspension -- Nonpayment or default on educational loan or scholarship
The director shall suspend the license of any person who has been certified by a lending agency and reported to the director for nonpayment or ...

18.44.465 Termination of license -- Effect upon preexisting escrows -- Notice to principals
The revocation, suspension, surrender, or expiration of an escrow agent's license shall not impair or affect preexisting escrows accepted by the agent prior to such ...

18.44.470 Receivership
Upon application by the director or any other interested party and upon a showing that the interest of the creditors so requires, the superior court ...

18.44.480 Remedies -- Affecting corporate franchise
Upon petition by the attorney general, the court may, in its discretion, order the dissolution, or suspension or forfeiture of franchise, of any corporation for ...

18.44.490 Authority to prosecute -- Grants of injunctive relief, temporary restraining orders
(1) The director, through the attorney general, may prosecute an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce any order made by him or ...

18.44.500 Escrow commission -- Members -- Terms -- Compensation and travel expenses
There is established an escrow commission of the state of Washington, to consist of the director of financial institutions or his or her designee as ...

18.44.510 Compensation and travel expenses of commission members
The escrow commission members shall each be compensated in accordance with RCW 43.03.240 and shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided for state officials ...

18.44.901 Construction -- 1965 c 153
Nothing in this chapter shall be so construed as to authorize any escrow agent, or his employees or agents, to engage in the practice of ...

18.44.902 Short title
This chapter shall be known and cited as the "Escrow Agent Registration Act".[1965 c 153 § 21. Formerly RCW 18.44.910.] ...

18.44.903 Severability -- 1971 ex.s. c 245
If any provision of this act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application ...

18.44.904 Severability -- 1977 ex.s. c 156
If any provision of this 1977 amendatory act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or ...

18.44.905 Severability -- 1979 c 70
If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application ...