American Land Title Association (ALTA)

The American Land Title Association (ALTA), founded in 1907 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., is the national trade association representing the land title insurance industry. Its core mission is to improve the skills and knowledge of professionals involved in real property transactions, advocate for member concerns, and standardize products for industry use. As a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization, ALTA promotes the safe and efficient transfer of real property ownership within the free enterprise system, providing education to its members, regulators, and consumers.

ALTA provides a range of key services, including developing standardized forms, policies, and endorsements that govern title insurance coverage across the United States, such as the widely used ALTA title insurance forms. The association establishes industry best practices and guidelines for title companies, covering areas like the protection of escrow funds and personal information. It offers extensive educational resources and training for title professionals through various channels, including webinars, conferences, and publications like its monthly TitleNews magazine and electronic newsletters. Furthermore, ALTA actively advocates for the industry's interests with federal government agencies and Congress, while also supporting state-level associations. It also educates homebuyers on the closing process and the importance of title insurance through initiatives like Homeclosing101.org.

In recent leadership changes, Chris Morton was appointed Chief Executive Officer of ALTA, effective June 10, 2025, succeeding Diane Tomb. David Townsend Esq., NTP, serves as the association's President for the 2024-2025 term. ALTA remains actively engaged in critical industry issues, such as advocating for its members regarding regulatory changes like the FinCEN Residential Real Estate Rule and gathering feedback on its implementation. The association continues its efforts to combat real estate wire fraud, having established the Coalition to Stop Real Estate Wire Fraud in 2019, and has recently launched new policy endorsements aimed at protecting homeowners from seller impersonation fraud. These initiatives underscore ALTA's ongoing commitment to protecting property rights and ensuring secure real estate transactions.