evolve

Meet the eVolve Team

by Digital Settlement

Did you know that Republic Title has our own Digital Settlement and Signing Services Division? Using intuitive new technology to provide a convenient approach to the real estate closing experience, our eVolve team is at the forefront of this digital transformation and is reimagining the closing process.

Technology and the consumer’s increasing demand for convenience and flexibility is constantly changing the way people conduct business. When consumers have scheduling conflicts — whether it’s a busy day in the office or traveling on vacation — eVolve may be able to facilitate the real estate transaction through a premium digital closing service.  At closing, our dedicated team of professionals are able to communicate face to face with the customer in almost any place in the world to explain the documents and guide them through the closing process.

The eVolve team has assisted Republic Title offices in closing over $1.5B in sales volume via Remote Online Notarization and includes Dennis Pospisil, Senior Vice President/Digital Settlement and Signing Services; Audriana J. Laws, Vice President/Escrow Officer; Dana Martinez, Escrow Officer, Diane Sanders, Escrow Officer; and Robin Riggs, Vice President/Escrow Officer.

Are you or your customer in need of a remote online closing?  Whether you’re a REALTOR®, Lender or Consumer — connect with us and discover how we are helping to evolve the real estate closing experience.

To connect with our eVolve team and learn more about our Digital Settlement and Signing options, visit www.republictitle.com/evolve

As Senior Vice President/Digital Settlement and Signing Services, Dennis leads our eVolve team and is continuously working on how Republic Title can be an industry leader in the digital settlement space. A Plano native and Texas A&M graduate (whoop!), Dennis has over 25 years working in the title insurance industry. Dennis thrives on working with his team to implement solutions to ensure a great digital closing experience. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters and well as being outdoors on the lake or at the ranch.  

Audriana J. Laws is Vice President/Escrow Officer. New York born and Texas raised, Audriana brings 23 years of real estate and title industry experience to her role. A constant learner, Audriana loves that she gets to learn new technology and improve processes in her role on the eVolve team. Extremely adaptable, Audriana enjoys getting to interact with clients in a relaxed setting during RON closings. In her free time, Audriana loves spending time with her daughter, family and friends.

The newest member of our eVolve team is Escrow Officer Dana Martinez. Dana has been with Republic Title for six years and has worked in a variety of roles before joining the eVolve team which gives her a unique perspective on the closing process. Dana says that she loves being able to connect with clients and works to make sure that the process is as easy and smooth as possible.

With over 38 years of experience in the real estate industry, Diane brings a wealth of knowledge to her role on our eVolve team. Diane’s favorite part of the job is meeting customers and walking them through the closing process in a virtual setting. In her free time, Diane enjoys spending time with her son, volunteering with her church and community, reading and taking road trips with her husband. She’s an avid sports fan of teams in Dallas and in St. Louis where she grew up.

Robin Riggs is Vice President/Escrow Officer on our eVolve team with 22 years in the industry. A natural people person, Robin enjoys engaging with our customers and helping them feel comfortable with the technology we are using as well as helping them to better understand the buying and selling process. A dog lover, Robin has fostered many dogs and enjoys being part of the rescue community. In her free time, Robin enjoys spending time with her husband, 16-year-old son, reading, and exercising.  

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Republic Title’s eVolve Team Closes 1,000th RON in 2021

by Digital Settlement

Congratulations to Republic Title’s eVolve team for completing their 1,000th RON in 2021!

eVolve is Republic Title’s Digital Settlement and Signing Services Division and provides a new, convenient and alternative experience in buying/selling real estate. Republic Title is leading this transformation and developing innovative and secure ways to evolve this process for our customers. Technology and added convenience is constantly changing the way people conduct business. When our customers have scheduling conflicts – whether it’s a busy day in the office or traveling on vacation – Republic Title is able to facilitate the transaction through one of our premium closing services, either at a place of business through our Mobile First experience or through our Remote Online Notary eClosing experience. Our dedicated team of professionals will provide our customers with a clear understanding of what is being signed and why it’s needed, ensuring a worry-free closing from anywhere in the world.

The eVolve team is made up a seasoned team of professionals with at least 20 years of real estate experience each. The team includes Dennis Pospisil, Senior Vice President/Digital Settlement and Signing Services; Audriana J. Laws, Vice President/Escrow Officer; Diane Sanders, Escrow Officer; and Robin Riggs, Vice President/Escrow Officer.

Dennis Pospisil was raised in Plano and is a proud graduate of Texas A&M (whoop!). He has been with Republic Title for over 20 years and has managed the eVolve Division since its inception in 2019. Dennis says that he has loved the challenge of creating eVolve from the ground up. He has enjoyed determining what works and what doesn’t and putting the many puzzle pieces together. Dennis, thank you for the time and energy you have contributed to the creation of Republic Title’s Digital Settlement and Signing Services Division!

Audrina Laws was born in New York and raised in Texas. With 21 years in the real estate industry, we are lucky to have had Audriana on the Republic Title team for the last 10 years. Audriana enjoys interacting with our clients and seeing them in a more relaxed setting during RON closings. Audriana is quick to pick up new technology has enjoyed implementing new ideas, processes and change.  In her free time, she loves spending time with my daughter, family and friends and just enjoy living life.

Diane Sanders is the newest member of eVolve and brings over 30 years of real estate experience to the team. Originally from St. Louis, Diane has title insurance in her blood. Her mother worked in the title insurance industry for 45 years so Diane learned the business at a young age. Diane says that being in the eVolve department takes her title knowledge to a whole new level with the technology advances.  In her free time, she loves to read, road trips with her husband, and volunteer at her church.

Robin Riggs is another Texas native and attended the University of Texas at Dallas. Robin has over 20 years of experience in real estate and 8 years of experience with Republic Title. Robin’s favorite part of working in the Digital Signing and Settlement Division is using the technology and interacting with the clients during the RON closings. With a background in real estate education, Robin has enjoyed learning the new, cutting-edge technology that eVolve offers our clients. In her free time, Robin loves to exercise to recharge.

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How Does RON Work?

by Digital SettlementResourcesTitle Information

Remote Online eClosing (“RON”) is a new, technology-driven notarial process that allows the signer to appear before the notary over a live audio-video feed when executing digital documents.

Step 1 Identity Verification

RON uses the latest identity verification technologies to make notarizations more secure.
A. Signer passes a knowledge-based identity quiz
B. Signer submits ID for review
C. Third-party software performs forensic test on ID

Step 2 Audio-Video Conference

The notary and signer talk to each other over a webcam in real-time and observe the necessary digital documents.

Step 3 “Tamper-Sealed” Documents

The notary adds a “tamper-seal” to date/time-stamp the notarized documents.  The seal will indicate whether any of the documents are altered in the future.  The signer downloads a PDF of the completed, digitally signed and digitally notarized, document.

Step 4 Audit Trail and Notary Records

Like with traditional notarizations, the notary keeps a journal logging the basic details of the notarization.  The journal can be kept in a secure digital format that includes a video of the notarial act, which can be used to prove who actually digitally signed the document.

Click here if you would like more information on our digital settlement services.

Print Version

Evaults-&-Enotes

eVaults and eNotes

by Digital SettlementReal Estate ArticlesResourcesTitle InformationVideo

What does a vault have to do with an eClosing? Plenty. As eClosings become more common, fundamental elements of the mortgage process will change. For example, instead of a paper promissory note, you may have an eNote and eVault. The note is one of the key lender documents within a loan package that borrowers sign at closing. It’s the borrower’s written promise to repay the loan within the specified term. The note is also very important to investors who buy and sell them on the secondary market. The note plays an important part in a mortgage backed security. Think of an eNote as the electronic version of a paper note. The eNote gets electronically signed instead of wet signed at closing. You must be able to identify the original version of the eNote. Think of the electronic version as a PDF. There could be infinite versions of it floating around. How do investors know the version they are buying is the original?  To solve this, the mortgage industry got smart and did two things:

  1. They created the MERS eRegistry, the legal system of record for identifying the controller and location of the authoritative copy of the eNote.
  2. Created standards for how to store eNotes in something called an eVault.

eVaults are technology platforms that are built to support the handling, status, and storage of eNotes. They always have integrations to the MERS eRegistry and often have integrations to other eVaults and trading partners. The MERS eRegistry is the librarian of the eNote world. It tracks who controls each eNote and in which eVault it is stored. When a lender creates an eNote, they register it with the MERS eRegistry  which notifies the librarian of the controller and location of the eNote. If you are exposed to an eNote, now you know what a vault has to do with it.

For more information on eClosings, visit www.republictitle.com/evolve

Click here to go to our YouTube page to see more of our helpful videos. 

eVaults and eNotes

The NEw World of eclosings

The New World of eClosing

by Digital SettlementResourcesTitle InformationVideo

Welcome to the world of eClosing!  There are many new terms to become familiar with when discussing digital settlement and eClosings. The transition to eClosing has created a plethora of new terms including In-Person eClosing, Remote Online Notarization, RON, Hybrid eClosing, etc. and we want to help you get familiar with the language and how it all works.

A few questions that will come up when discussing eClosings are:

1.     When are we signing?

2.     Where are we signing?

3.     How are we signing?

What is eVolve?

eVolve is Republic Title’s Digital Settlement and Signing Services Division and provides a new, convenient, and alternative experience in buying/selling real estate. Republic Title is leading this transformation and developing innovative and secure ways to evolve this process for our customers. Technology and added convenience are constantly changing the way people conduct business. When our customers have scheduling conflicts — whether it’s a busy day in the office or traveling on vacation — Republic Title is able to facilitate the transaction through one of our premium closing services, either at a place of business through our Mobile First experience or through our Remote Online Notary eClosing experience. Our dedicated team of professionals will provide our customers with a clear understanding of what is being signed and why it’s needed, ensuring a worry-free closing from anywhere in the world. For more information about eVolve or eClosings, visit our website at: https://www.republictitle.com/evolve

What is an eclosing

What is an eClosing?

by Digital SettlementReal Estate ArticlesResourcesTitle InformationVideo

An eClosing involves using some combination of electronic documents, electronic signatures, electronic notarization, or electronic recording. An eDocument, or electronic document, is a digital document as opposed to a scanned image of a paper document. An eSignature is a process used to apply a signature to an electronic document in place of a wet ink signature. An eNotarization is a process of applying the notary’s electronic signature and notarial seal to an electronic document. eRecording is the process of recording the electronic document in the county records in its original form.

What is eVolve?

eVolve is Republic Title’s Digital Settlement and Signing Services Division and provides a new, convenient, and alternative experience in buying/selling real estate. Republic Title is leading this transformation and developing innovative and secure ways to evolve this process for our customers. Technology and added convenience are constantly changing the way people conduct business. When our customers have scheduling conflicts — whether it’s a busy day in the office or traveling on vacation — Republic Title is able to facilitate the transaction through one of our premium closing services, either at a place of business through our Mobile First experience or through our Remote Online Notary eClosing experience. Our dedicated team of professionals will provide our customers with a clear understanding of what is being signed and why it’s needed, ensuring a worry-free closing from anywhere in the world. For more information about eVolve or eClosings, visit our website at: https://www.republictitle.com/evolve​

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RON Prevails During Winter Storm Uri

by Digital SettlementReal Estate ArticlesResourcesTitle Information

As most things go lately every event seems to be of a historical nature.  Winter Storm Uri that blanketed the state in a frigid white frosting and forced millions of people to improvise on the little things like heat and water was nothing short of such an event.  However, the real estate market kept pushing forward through the bitter cold, frozen roads and rolling blackouts.  Thanks to a new, technology-driven notarial process called Remote Online Notarization (“RON”), real estate closings continued and Buyers and Sellers were able to keep their contractual commitments even though mother nature was trying to dictate otherwise.

“The level of satisfaction expressed by our customers was maintained and even excelled despite freezing temperatures, power outages, icy roads and diminished water levels.  This was in large part due to the expedient technology of RON.  RON has empowered our team of professionals to be at their most productive in accomplishing superior customer satisfaction levels, all while executing their duties in remote locations.” said Audriana J. Laws, Vice President/Escrow Officer with Republic Title’s eVolve Division.

What exactly is Remote Online Notarization?

Remote Online Notarization (”RON”) is a technology-driven notarial process that allows the signer to appear before the notary over a live audio-video feed when executing digital documents. Our dedicated team of professionals provide our customers with a clear understanding of what is being signed and why it’s needed ensuring a virtual closing experience with the signing party being located practically anywhere in the world.

In the case of Winter Storm Uri, that meant signing parties were closing virtually during the rolling blackouts or in some cases no power at all from their homes, hotel rooms, vehicles, and other numerous locations where some variation of power and internet was available.

“Having the capability to close so many transactions and service our customers during the most treacherous weather we have seen in our state was a true testament to the value of the RON eClosing model and the technology Republic Title has available.  The roads were so bad that a typical mobile notary was not an option.  As long as we had an internet connection and electricity, or in some cases a full charge on the laptop battery, we were able to close transactions via live audio-video feed seamlessly.  The sheer volume of closings we completed under these circumstances would not have been possible without Remote Online Notarization. The software platforms that we use to conduct these virtual eClosings provide a painless experience for both the Digital Closer and the Signer.” said Robin Riggs, Vice President/Escrow Officer with Republic Title’s eVolve Division.

So how does Remote Online Notarization work?

Through a technology-driven notarial process the signer will go through the below five steps:

  1. RON Vetting Requirements | Signers must be able to verify minimum personal information and personal device vetting requirements to conduct a RON session.
  2. Identity Verification | Using the latest identity verification technologies, the signer will take a knowledge-based identity quiz and submit ID for review.
  3. Audio-Video Conference | The notary and signer talk over webcam in real-time and observe the necessary digital signatures and seals being added to the digital documents.
  4. Tamper-Sealed Documents | The notary adds a tamper-seal to date/time-stamp the notarized documents. The signer downloads a PDF of the completed, digitally signed and digitally notarized document.
  5. Audit Trail and Notary Records | Like with traditional notarizations, the notary keeps a journal logging the basic details of the notarization.

Republic Title has fully embraced the digital closing experience and has a dedicated division, eVolve, focused on the digital settlement approach of the real estate transaction. eVolve is able to provide a new, convenient and alternative experience in buying/selling real estate.  We invite you to eVolve with Republic Title in your approach to closing on your next real estate transaction.

For information on digital closings, please visit www.republictitle.com/evolve

5-benefits-of-an-eclosing

5 Benefits of eClosing

by Digital SettlementReal Estate ArticlesResourcesTitle Information

Many types of documents need to be signed in a real estate transaction.  A number of factors are driving the real estate industry to transition from traditional paper and wet-ink signings to electric signatures on digital paperless documents.  This is known as a digital closing or more commonly called an eClosing.

CONVENIENT

Review documents in advance and ask questions of the appropriate parties.

Close from any location.*
If wet-signing is required a mobile closer or in a few instances a mobile notary may be utilized.

ECO-FRIENDLY

Reduced use of paper.

Reduced carbon footprint of shipping and storing physical documents.

EFFICIENT

Earlier document delivery.

No redundant paperwork.

Shorter signing appointments.

Shorter funding times.

NEW EXPERIENCE

Streamlined closing.

Automated data validation.

Close on your real estate transaction interactively through a virtual closing room.

SECURITY

Multi-factor authentication (MFA).

Knowledge-based authentication (KBA).

Quickly identify any altered documents.

Click here for print version.

*A remote online notary may be required

eClosing 101: Hybrid, In-Person and Remote Online

by Digital SettlementResourcesTitle Information

Broadly speaking, eClosings fall along a continuum that include three basic types – hybrid, in-person, and remote online. These methods incorporate varying amounts of the eClosing elements. In today’s blog, Dennis Pospisil, Senior Vice President/Digital Settlement and Signing Services, breaks down the different types of eClosings.

Hybrid eClosing “Hybrid” (“procedural” documents only closing) – At the low-end of the spectrum is the Hybrid or procedural documents only eClosing. This “entry-level” eClosing only involves electronic documents that do not need to be notarized or recorded, such as loan disclosures and settlement statements. The remainder of the closing takes place in a traditional manner.

All parties appear in person at the closing table, but some documents are signed electronically and some, typically collateral, notarized, and witnessed loan documents are wet signed. For documents that are electronically signed, generally one electronic signature is applied across all documents. Hybrid eClosings are the most popular and most widely used type of eClosing.

In-Person eClosing In-person – The middle-tier approach to eClosing involves electronically recording electronic documents with electronic signatures and electronic notarizations.  The closing takes place in-person utilizing a shared computer or tablet.

All parties appear in person either at the settlement agent’s office or in the presence of a mobile notary, and all documents are both signed and notarized electronically. Very few closings are full eClosings because a large percentage of lenders are not ready to have the note electronically signed.

Remote Online eClosing Remote Online eClosing (“RON”) is a new, technology-driven notarial process that allows the signer to appear before the notary over a live audio-video feed when executing digital documents.

Click here if you would like more information on our digital settlement services.

What Is An eClosing And How Does It Work?

by Digital Settlement

An eClosing involves using some combination of electronic documents, electronic signatures, electronic notarization, and electronic recording.

  • An electronic document is a “native digital” document, as opposed to a scanned-in image of a paper document.
  • An electronic signature is a sound, symbol, or process applied by the signer to an electronic document in place of a wet-ink signature. eSignatures can take many forms, but the three most common versions are holographic (aka hand-drawn with a mouse, finger, or stylus), cursive typeface, and standard typeface.
  • An electronic notarization is the process of applying the notary’s electronic signature and notarial stamp or seal to an electronic document.
  • And lastly, electronic recording is the process of recording the electronic document in the county records in its original digital form without breaking the document’s tamper seal. This is different than the form of electronic recording that exists in many jurisdictions today which simply involves uploading a scanned-in image of a paper document.

An eClosing is the electronic execution of some or all real estate closing documents in a secure digital environment.  eClosings allow for a more efficient and streamlined closing experience for sellers, borrowers, lenders, and third parties.

eClosings can occur in several different variations ranging from Hybrid eClosing to In-Person eClosing to Remote Online eClosing.  Key documents such as the promissory note and security instrument can be printed to paper and wet-signed, while other documents are signed electronically. Our website can provide you more information on the different types of eClosings.

eClosing real estate will provide many benefits including:

  • Electronic access to documents prior to the closing
  • Faster closings
  • Fast commission check for the real estate agent, typically

In an eClosing, whether hybrid, full or remote online, you will need an online platform to house documents electronically and to enable electronic signatures and electronic notarizations. These types of platforms are typically referred to as online collaboration platforms or digital closing platforms.

For more information on eClosing, please contact our eVolve team.