Attorneys' Title Guaranty Fund Announces VP Michael K. Brandt Recently Received Prestigious President's Award from the Illinois Land Title Association

ILTA President Kirk Sterling presented the award at the organization's annual meeting July 10, 2009, in East Peoria, IllinoisEast Peoria is a city in Tazewell County, Illinois, United States. The population was 22,638 at the 2000 census. East Peoria is part of the Greater Peoria MSA. It is home to many Caterpillar facilities.
..... Click the link for more information.. Founded more than 100 years ago, non-profit ILTA is the state trade association representing title agents, abstractors and underwriters in all 102 Illinois counties.

ILTA's President's Award is a special recognition given to individuals who took on additional work during the year to help the association achieve its goals.

"Mike co-chaired our legislative committee, which bears the enormous burden of reviewing all bills from both the Illinois SenateThe Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the state of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818.
..... Click the link for more information. and the House that could impact the title business in Illinois," explained Kirk Sterling, who recently became the immediate past president of ILTA and is vice president/division manager with Old Republic National Title Insurance Company. "Mike's commitment to continue volunteering his extra time even after serving in the capacity as president of the ILTA shows that he is truly dedicated to our business and to our association."

Brandt is both a past president of the ILTA and 2005 winner of the organization's President's Award.

Sterling added, "Through Mike's efforts along with the rest of the Legislative Committee we were successful in introducing a 'Good Funds' Bill that will benefit all title companies doing business in Illinois."

The Good Funds Bill would provide protection for Illinois title insurance companies with respect to escrow transactions. If passed, it would require that all funds over a certain dollar amount originating from a single party to a real estate transaction be wired funds as opposed to personal or cashier's checks, thereby guaranteeing the transfer of funds without delay. It is also a fraud-protection measure. The funds would be unconditionally held in the escrow account for the closing agent to draw upon for disbursement DISBURSEMENT. Literally, to take money out of a purse. Figuratively, to pay out money; to expend money; and sometimes it signifies to advance money.
2. at the appropriate time.

Working from ATG's Champaign, IL office, Brandt oversees title insurance claims and legislative matters for ATG. In addition to his current responsibilities, Brandt has extensive experience in title underwriting. He started with ATG in 1984 after four years as a private practitioner in LaSalle-Peru, Illinois. Brandt earned his B.A. in 1975 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Early years: 1867-1880
The Morrill Act of 1862 granted each state in the United States a portion of land on which to establish a major public state university, one which could teach agriculture, mechanic arts, and military training, "without excluding other scientific , and later received his J.D. (Magna Cum Laude cum lau·de
adv. & adj.
With honor. Used to express academic distinction: graduated cum laude; 25 cum laude graduates. , Order of the Coif An unincorporated national scholastic honor society in law. Its purpose is to foster excellence in legal scholarship and to recognize those who have attained high grades in law school or who have distinguished themselves in the teaching of law. ) in 1979 from the school's College of Law.

About Attorneys' Title Guaranty Fund, Inc.

Through its nearly 4,000 member attorneys across Illinois, southern Wisconsin and northern Indiana, ATG has presided over 2.5 million home closings and provided homebuyers with competitively priced title insurance since 1964. The only bar-related title insurance company based in Illinois, ATG has built a significant market share by providing excellent service at competitive prices. It has a financial stability rating of "A Prime Unsurpassed" from the independent ratings bureau, Demotech.