In today’s fast-paced lending environment, efficiency is everything. Lenders understandably want clean, quick closings with minimal back-and-forth. Yet title companies are often perceived as slowing things down—requesting operating agreements, amendments, resolutions, and even seemingly obscure internal documents when an LLC is involved. It can feel excessive, especially when a transaction appears straightforward on its face.

The reason for this level of scrutiny is simple: the risk of getting it wrong is far greater than the inconvenience of asking a few extra questions. What may appear to be routine is not always so once you look beneath the surface.

The following scenario is loosely based on a claim recently handled by a major title company:

The title company sued an attorney who issued a title policy on a multi-million refinance without confirming that a mortgage release was properly authorized. The release was later challenged by the LLC as fraudulent, and the title company paid nearly $1M to settle the claim. The core issue was the attorney’s failure to verify the authority of the signer of the LLC and related entities.

That’s not so much an issue with corporations, because many states, including California, have statutes that basically put their stamp of approval on corporate documents if they are signed by the corporation’s President and one other officer, usually the Secretary or Treasurer (of course, the title company still needs to verify that the signers are really the officers they say they are.)

Not so with limited liability companies. There are no statutory protections for reliance on the signatures of anyone signing LLC documents. This is where the title company’s role becomes critical. Their job is not to create additional work, but to identify and resolve risks before documents are signed and funds are disbursed. That process includes confirming how the LLC is structured, who actually has authority, what approvals are required, and whether those approvals have been properly obtained.

Perhaps most importantly, it helps to view requests from the title company in the right light. When additional documentation is requested, it is usually because a potential issue has been identified—not because one is being created. Addressing that issue before closing is far preferable to discovering it later, when the stakes are much higher.

Ultimately, investigating an LLC’s signing authority is not just a procedural step—it is a fundamental safeguard for the entire transaction. It helps ensure that loan documents are enforceable, liens are valid, and title insurance remains effective. While it may add a bit of time and attention on the front end, it provides a level of certainty and protection that benefits everyone involved.

What may seem like extra questions in the moment are, in reality, an essential part of closing with confidence.

Fraud Prevention

CRMP Certified – Advanced

Wednesday, June 10, 2026

10:00 am PST

Click here to register.

StewartNow Property Profiles/How to Customize Data Lists with TitlePro 247

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

10:00 am PST

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ARS is heading to Irvine, CA for this year’s NRMLA Western Regional Meeting. Click here to learn more about this event.

Join us on June 9, 2026 at 3:30pm PST at the Top Challenges in Reverse Mortgages: Practical Solutions for Today’s Loan Originator where Tina Meilinger, SVP, will be presenting. This session is approved for 1 CRMP credit.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Click here to schedule an appointment.

A Decade of Trust

10 Years of Trusted Closings and Enduring Partnerships

Ten years ago, Allegiant Reverse Services was built on a simple idea: focus on people, do the right thing, and earn trust one transaction at a time.

At the time, the reverse mortgage industry was changing rapidly. Large institutions were exiting the space, the market was volatile, and many lenders and borrowers were looking for consistency, experience, and reliability in an increasingly uncertain environment.

We saw an opportunity to build something different.

Not bigger for the sake of being bigger. Not louder. Not more automated. Just better.

Better service. Better relationships. Smoother closings.

A company built around experienced people who cared deeply about the work, the relationships, and the shared responsibility that comes with helping seniors and their families navigate important financial decisions.

Reverse Done Right

From the beginning, our focus was simple: Reverse Done Right.

That meant rolling up our sleeves and doing whatever it took to close transactions accurately, professionally, and on time. It meant staying proactive, communicating clearly, answering the phone, and never losing sight of the people behind every transaction.

Over the last decade, that commitment has allowed us to grow into a nationwide reverse mortgage title and settlement company serving clients across 48 states, supporting more than 130,000 successfully closed transactions, and helping shape the industry along the way.

As I reflect on the last 10 years, I’m proud of many things. But what I’m most proud of isn’t the growth itself — it’s the trust behind it.

Trust is something that can never simply be claimed. It has to be earned through consistency, accountability, responsiveness, and showing up for people year after year.

That philosophy has guided us from day one.

Still Deeply Human

In our business, a successful closing is often much bigger than a transaction. Many of the borrowers we serve are making needs-based decisions that directly impact their quality of life, financial security, healthcare, or ability to remain in their homes.

That’s something our team has never taken lightly.

Over the years, our industry has experienced market shifts, changing regulations, evolving technologies, and increasing complexity. Through it all, one thing has remained true: this business is still deeply human.

Technology can help us become more efficient, but it will never replace the value of experience, communication, and human judgment.

In a world quickly moving toward automation, we remain committed to personal interaction, real accountability, and doing things the right way — for you and your senior borrowers.

One of the things we say internally is that a great closing experience is “quiet.” No unnecessary noise. No confusion. No avoidance when challenges arise. Just experienced professionals working together behind the scenes to solve problems, protect everyone involved, and help transactions move smoothly from start to finish.

People Who Simply Cared

That mindset exists because of our people.

Today, more than 25 team members have been with ARS for over 10 years. Many took a leap of faith in the early days when all we had was a vision, a strong work ethic, and belief in what we could build together.

What made those early years special was the complete lack of ego. People simply cared. They stepped up, solved problems, supported one another, and put their fingerprints on this company in ways that still shape who we are today.

That same spirit continues to drive us forward.

Looking Ahead

To our clients, lender partners, brokers, vendors, and industry relationships — thank you for being part of this journey. Your trust, loyalty, and partnership over the last decade have meant everything to us.

As we celebrate this milestone, we’re incredibly proud of what we’ve built together — but we’re equally focused on the future.

We believe the need for trusted, experienced, relationship-driven partners will only become more important in the years ahead.

As we celebrate this important milestone, “A Decade of Trust” has taken on a special meaning. It represents relationships built over time, challenges overcome together, and a shared commitment to serving this industry the right way.

Through focus. Through hard work. Through leadership. Through care.

We’ve earned this — together.

We’re grateful for the relationships that brought us here, and we look forward to continuing to work alongside you for many years to come.

— Rob Awalt
Founder & President