Stewart Acquires Majority Interest in Rattikin Title
July 17, 2026
On July 16, Stewart Title announced it acquired a majority interest in Fort Worth, Texas-based Rattikin Title Co., which has served commercial and residential customers across the state for more than 80 years.
"The addition of Rattikin Title to our family of companies brings strength to the Stewart operations in the fast-growing North Texas region,” said Fred Eppinger, Stewart CEO. “The team’s exceptional group of highly experienced title professionals reflects its reputation for integrity and trust cultivated over many decades.”
The two companies have history together prior to the aquisition. After a brief stint practicing law in West Texas, Jack Rattikin Sr. returned to Fort Worth to be closer to family. Soon after, he was recruited by Maco Stewart to join the growing Galveston-based company that would become known throughout the industry as Stewart Title.
At a time when title insurance was still gaining traction across Texas, Rattikin traveled extensively throughout the state, recruiting agents and educating them about abstracts and the emerging value of title insurance. His efforts helped expand Stewart's presence in Texas, and he eventually was named manager of all Stewart Title agents in the state while simultaneously establishing the law firm of Rattikin & Spiller.
But Rattikin had larger ambitions. After helping build Stewart's Texas operations, he set his sights on creating a title company of his own.
The opportunity arrived in 1943 when a friend offered to give him a title plant, but with one condition that it had to be removed from its downtown Fort Worth location by 5 p.m. that very day. Rattikin quickly hired a trucking company, parked it outside the building and began moving the title records. According to company lore, title plant cards were tossed from a second-story window into the waiting truck to meet the deadline.
The unconventional transfer proved to be the foundation of a lasting enterprise. The following year, in 1944, Rattikin Title officially opened its doors, launching a company that would become one of the most recognized independent title operations in Texas.
The family legacy continued as Jack Rattikin Jr. took over the business in 1968 and led it for decades before passing on leadership to Jack Rattikin III. While in high school, Rattikin III started working at the title company at the age of 15. He earned a business management degree from The University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from Texas Tech University. Rattikin III officially joined Rattikin Title in 1983 after graduating. He worked through virtually every aspect of the company before becoming president in 1999 and then president and CEO in 2004. He served in that role until his passing in February.
All three Rattikins served as president of both ALTA and the Texas Land Title Association.
In a statement from the Rattikin family, siblings Alicia Lindsey, Allyson Grona, Jeff Rattikin and sister-in-law Laura Rattikin remarked, “We are proud of the legacy that our family has built in title insurance over the past 82 years. Since the company’s founding, Rattikin has served as an industry leader throughout the state and nation, widely known and admired for our tradition of excellence. We are confident that the combination with the Stewart family of companies will greatly benefit our employees, customers and local partners, and build upon the local tradition that has long defined our company.”
Nathan Preuit, senior division president for Stewart in North Texas and Oklahoma, said the companies expect the acquisition to expand title and escrow services throughout Fort Worth and North Texas. In 2025, Stewart captured 12% of the market share in Texas.
“Together, we believe this strategic alignment will complement and enhance the Rattikin Title brand,” Preuit said.
Contact ALTA at 202-296-3671 or [email protected].