ALTA Updates Best Practices to Include Requirements for Identity Verification Processes

August 19, 2025

ALTA updated its Best Practices Framework to include new guidance to help title professionals combat fraud through identity verification efforts.

ALTA’s Board of Governors approved the revisions recommended by the ALTA Best Practices Executive Committee and Best Practices Work Group. The ALTA Best Practices materials can be downloaded here. 

The new guidance focuses on:

  • Training staff on impersonation fraud
  • Controlling the selection of signing professionals
  • Actions to be taken for signing professionals employed by the Company
  • Confirmation steps for signing professionals not employed by the Company
  • Handling of documents notarized by a signing professional not employed by the Company as being “at risk” of fraud
  • Creation of protocols and procedures to respond to suspected fraud or impersonation attempts

The new section within Pillar 4 in the proposed Best Practices Framework 4.2 reflecting the requirements includes the following:

  • Company will create and implement an identity fraud prevention program designed to verify the identity of the parties who are signing documents for a Settlement. 
  • Train staff on fraud in the real estate sector, including buyer, borrower, and seller impersonation fraud.
  • Control the selection of the signing professional who the buyer(s), borrower(s), and seller(s) will meet with to sign the documents.
  • For signing professionals employed by the Company, provide training and tools to: (i) attempt to validate that the government issued ID (both foreign and domestic) presented by the signer is an authentic ID, and (ii) attempt to verify that the signer presenting the ID is the person on the ID.
  • For third party signing professionals retained by the Company, confirm that the signing professional is utilizing training and tools to: (i) attempt to validate that the government issued ID (both foreign and domestic) presented by the signer is an authentic ID, and (ii) attempt to verify that the signer presenting the ID is the person on the ID.
  • If Company receives a document that was notarized by a buyer, borrower, or seller’s selected signing professional of their choosing, treat the document as being at risk for fraud. Regarding such a document, Company should independently obtain the signer’s credentials to attempt to validate the signer’s government issued ID is authentic and attempt to verify that the signer is the person on the ID.
  • Create protocols and protocols and processes to identify and respond to suspected fraud or impersonation attempts.

These revisions have been made with the objective of allowing agents and direct operations to continue to optimize their practices and procedures to ensure financial safety, data security and operational stability, and to provide lenders with the assurances that their needs are being fulfilled by improved operations. Click here to access the ALTA Best Practices materials.

Guidance Material on Identity Verification

In order to provide context and general information related to the new requirements, the Best Practices Executive Committee is providing a draft of Identity Verification Guidance, which will be published in final form shortly. This document is not part of the materials subject to public comment, and is for convenience and context only. 

ALTA will develop additional resources that provide further guidance on issues relevant to Best Practices. These items will include:

  • Vetting a Vendor: Given the critical business impact in selecting vendors, the ALTA Best Practices Executive Committee will be providing a document providing recommended practices when selecting a vendor. 
  • Risk of GenAI: As the use of artificial intelligence (AI), specifically Generative AI (GenAI), has become more prevalent, ALTA Best Practices, in concert with the ALTA Information Security Work Group, will publish a list of issues that should be considered and addressed in deciding whether to use or permit the use of GenAI in the context of title operations. 


Contact ALTA at 202-296-3671 or [email protected].