Missouri Laws 381.412 – Settlement agents, accepting funds, exemption — title insurer, deposit of ..
1. A settlement agent who accepts funds of more than two thousand five hundred dollars for closing a real estate transaction shall require a buyer, seller, or lender who is not a financial institution to convey such funds to the settlement agent as certified funds. A check shall be exempt from the provisions of this section if drawn on:
(1) An escrow account of a licensed real estate broker, as regulated and described in section 339.105; or
Terms Used In Missouri Laws 381.412
- Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
- Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
- State: when applied to any of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" includes such district and territories. See Missouri Laws 1.020
- United States: includes such district and territories. See Missouri Laws 1.020
(2) An escrow account of a title insurer or title insurance agency licensed to do business in Missouri; or
(3) An agency of the United States of America, the state of Missouri, or any county or municipality of the state of Missouri; or
(4) An account by a financial institution.
2. It is unlawful for any title insurer, title agency, or title agent, as defined in section 381.009*, to make any payment, disbursement or withdrawal from an escrow account which it maintains as a depository of funds received from the public for the settlement of real estate transactions unless a corresponding deposit of funds was made to the escrow account for the benefit of the payee or payees:
(1) At least ten days prior to such payment, disbursement, or withdrawal; or
(2) Which consisted of certified funds; or
(3) Consisted of a check made exempt from this section by the provisions of subsection 1 of this section.
3. A violation of any provision of this section is a level two violation under section 374.049.