District of Columbia $3.79M Title Insurance Settlement

Individuals who purchased title insurance or escrow services in Washington, D.C., through certain real estate agents and title companies may qualify to submit a claim for $500 from a settlement.

Universal Title, Allied Title & Escrow, KVS Title, Modern Settlements, Union Settlements and several related entities agreed to pay a combined $3.79 million to settle a lawsuit alleging it provided illegal kickbacks to real estate agents in exchange for client referrals. The Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia claimed these practices violated consumer protection laws, restricted consumer choice and harmed competitors who complied with the law.

Who can file a claim for a restitution payment?

Class members are District of Columbia residents who used the identified real estate agents and title companies during the qualifying time period noted in each settlement agreement.

They must have purchased title insurance or escrow services from any of the following companies or their related entities:

• Alliance Title Services
• Clear Title Solutions
• Eversure Title
• Title Pro Group
• Washington Title Team
• Allied Title & Escrow, including Allied Title, Allied Title Services, Allied Title Agency, Allied Title Closings, Allied Title Metro, Allied Title Network and Allied Title Organization
• Modern Settlements
• Union Settlements
• Universal Title, including UTCP Collective and Fundamental Title

The real estate agents must have received a financial incentive for referring the title company the class member used.

How much are the settlement payments?

Cash payment: Eligible residents can submit a claim to receive a cash payment of $500.

How to claim a restitution payment

To claim a payment, eligible individuals must file a claim online. The claim deadline is May 5, 2026.

Individuals who received a claim number and PIN by mail or email can use these credentials to log in and complete their claim. They can also select their preferred payment method and provide IRS W-9 information.

Individuals who did not receive a claim number and PIN can log in using a email address.

Required claim information and proof

• All class members must provide their Social Security or Tax ID number.
• Individuals who did not receive a claim number and PIN must provide supporting documentation, which may include a HUD-1 settlement statement, ALTA settlement statement or other proof showing the name of the title company, the settlement/closing agent and the names of all realtors involved in the qualifying transaction.

Payout options

• Direct deposit
• PayPal
• Venmo
• Virtual Mastercard
• Paper check mailed to the address provided

$3.79 million settlement fund

The $3,790,000 combined settlement funds will include

• Payments to approved claimants: At least $1.75 million for restitution
• Office of attorney general: Remaining funds

Important dates

• Deadline to file a claim: May 5, 2026

When is the title insurance restitution payout date?

The settlement administrator will issue payments to approved claimants after the claim deadline passes and it completes claim processing.

Why was there a settlement?

The lawsuit alleged that several title insurance and settlement companies, including Universal Title, Allied Title & Escrow, KVS Title, Modern Settlements and Union Settlements, provided financial incentives to real estate agents in exchange for client referrals. This conduct allegedly violated the District of Columbia’s Consumer Protection Procedures Act by limiting consumer choice, inflating costs and harming law-abiding competitors.

The companies denied the allegations but agreed to settle to resolve the claims and avoid further litigation.

Sources

1. Official settlement website
2. Office of the attorney general universal settlement newsroom release
3. Office of the attorney general remaining settlements newsroom release