Can the ALTA SOW be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures on business-to-business contracts are enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted; ensure intent, consent, attribution, and retention are documented.

Is notarization required for an ALTA SOW?

Generally no for the SOW itself, unless the SOW is incorporated into a record requiring notarization or recorded instrument; if recording or acknowledgement is later needed, follow state notary or RON rules.

What authentication level should be used?

Choose authentication based on risk: email-only or SMS for routine transactions; stronger methods like KBA or two-factor when identity verification is critical for title or lender requirements.

How do I handle amendments after execution?

Create a written amendment signed by the same authorized parties; record the amendment date and archive it with the original SOW to maintain an auditable change history.

Who must sign the SOW to be binding?

An authorized representative of each party with authority to bind the entity should sign; identify role and title in the signature block to avoid later disputes about authority.

How long should signed SOWs be retained?

Retain signed SOWs for the transaction life plus applicable retention periods (IRS minimum 3 years; longer for title audit and state rules); follow your document retention policy.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Finance
Revised ALTA Statement of Work

Revised ALTA Statement of Work

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

REVISED ALTA STATEMENT OF WORK

This Revised ALTA Statement of Work (Statement of Work) is entered into as of Effective Date: between Provider (Title Company) and Client (Lender/Owner) for the delivery of title, escrow, closing, and related services described below.

PARTIES

Provider (Title Company) — Legal Name Provider Address

Provider Contact Name

Phone

Email

Client (Lender/Owner) — Legal Name Client Address

Client Contact Name

Phone

Email

TRANSACTION & PROPERTY

Property Address:

Transaction Type: Loan Number/File Ref:

Proposed Closing Date: Commitment Delivery Target:

SCOPE OF SERVICES

Provider shall perform the following services in accordance with ALTA best practices and the instructions of Client. Services include, but are not limited to:

Included Services (select applicable): Title search and examination Issuance of Title Commitment (ALTA form) Issuance of ALTA Title Insurance Policy Endorsements as requested by Client Escrow/Settlement and closing services Closing Protection Letter (if requested) Wire instructions and anti-fraud controls

Specific Endorsements or Requirements Exclusions and Exceptions

SCHEDULE & DELIVERY

Standard turnaround for title search and commitment is calendar days from receipt of complete instructions and payment of any required deposit. Expedited turnaround requested: .

Additional schedule requirements or milestones

FEES, CHARGES & PAYMENT

The fees for services shall be itemized as follows. Client will pay Provider the amounts invoiced in accordance with the terms below.

Description	Quantity	Unit Rate	Amount




Subtotal
Tax / Assessments
Other Charges (Recording, Courier)
Total Due

Payment Terms

Invoices are due within calendar days of invoice date. Late payments shall incur a charge of per month or the maximum allowable by law, whichever is less.

Accepted Payment Methods ACH / Bank Transfer Wire Transfer Company Check

Billing Contact for Invoices

TAXES, COSTS & PAYOR RESPONSIBILITIES

REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES & INDEMNITIES

Provider represents that it shall perform services in a commercially reasonable manner consistent with customary practices for title companies providing ALTA services. Client represents it has authority to engage Provider and will provide accurate instructions and required documentation. Each party agrees to indemnify and hold the other harmless from claims arising from that party's breach, negligence, or willful misconduct.

Limitations of Liability

Except for willful misconduct or fraud, Provider's aggregate liability under this Statement of Work for direct damages shall not exceed .

CONFIDENTIALITY

Each party shall maintain as confidential any non-public information received in connection with this engagement and shall not disclose such information except as required by law or with prior written consent of the other party.

TERMINATION

Either party may terminate this Statement of Work upon days' written notice to the other party. Termination shall not relieve Client of payment obligations for services performed prior to termination.

FORCE MAJEURE

Neither party shall be liable for delays or failures to perform resulting from events beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, government restrictions, strikes, or interruptions of utilities or communications.

GOVERNING LAW & DISPUTE RESOLUTION

This Statement of Work shall be governed by the laws of the State of . The parties shall first attempt to resolve disputes by good faith negotiation; unresolved disputes may be submitted to mediation or arbitration as agreed in writing.

Additional Terms or Special Instructions

ATTACHMENTS

Attachments incorporated into this Statement of Work:

Provider (Title Company) — Printed Name:

By (Signature):

Date:

Client (Lender/Owner) — Printed Name:

By (Signature):

Date:

What the Revised ALTA Statement of Work Is and Why It Matters

The Revised ALTA Statement of Work is a standardized real estate industry form that defines the scope, deliverables, and responsibilities for property-related services — commonly used for surveys, title work, environmental reports, and closing-related tasks. It clarifies who orders and pays for services, specifies deliverable formats and timing, and records exceptions or required corrections. For lenders, title companies, surveyors, and closing agents, a clear ALTA SOW reduces misunderstandings at closing and creates a written baseline for dispute resolution or cure work if issues arise during title examination or survey review.

Why a Clear Revised ALTA Statement of Work Reduces Closing Risk

A well-prepared Revised ALTA Statement of Work aligns expectations among lender, title insurer, surveyor, and seller, reducing delays and rework. It captures deliverables, formats, and acceptance criteria to support timely closing and clear remedies for defects.

Typical Users and Signers of the Revised ALTA Statement of Work

The Revised ALTA Statement of Work is used across the transaction chain to assign responsibility and record technical requirements before closing.

Lenders and loan officers who require specific survey and title deliverables for mortgage underwriting and closing.
Title companies and escrow agents responsible for ordering, receiving, and approving deliverables to satisfy policy exceptions.
Surveyors and environmental vendors who perform work and need explicit instructions on scope, format, and delivery deadlines.

Clear assignment of roles in the form helps prevent last-minute disputes and supports efficient resolution if exceptions appear during title or survey review.

Core Elements Included in a Professional Revised ALTA Statement of Work

A complete Revised ALTA Statement of Work organizes responsibilities and technical requirements so each party understands deliverables, deadlines, and acceptance tests before work begins.

Parties

Identifies client, lender, title insurer, surveyor, and any third-party vendors responsible for performance and payment.

Scope

Specifies the precise ALTA survey level, maps, attachments, and any permitted deviations or site access limitations.

Deliverables

List of required documents, formats (PDF, DWG), certification language, and electronic delivery method for each item.

Deadlines

Concrete delivery dates, cure periods for defects, and escalation paths for overdue or nonconforming work.

Acceptance

Criteria for final acceptance, correction obligations, and how exceptions will be recorded on title.

Payment and Fees

Who pays for surveys, rework, or supplemental reports and any reimbursement terms for additional services.

Step-by-Step: How to Complete and Circulate the ALTA Statement of Work

Use this sequence to prepare, approve, and distribute the Revised ALTA Statement of Work with minimal friction.

01

Draft SOW: Complete parties, scope, dates, and deliverables before vendor outreach.
02

Vendor Review: Send draft to surveyor for availability and technical confirmation.
03

Approval and Signatures: Obtain sign-offs from lender and title company in the prescribed order.
04

Distribution: Share final signed SOW with all stakeholders and attach to closing file.

How to Configure an Online Workflow for the ALTA Statement of Work

Below are practical settings to automate signature routing, authentication, and recordkeeping for high-volume ALTA SOW processing.

Field	Configuration
Authentication	Email link or SMS code; consider stronger KBA for high-risk loans
Routing Order	Sequential: lender → title → vendor; parallel where vendor confirmation optional
Conditional Fields	Show vendor-specific instructions only when selected by party
Retention Policy	Auto-archive signed SOW to escrow file and compliance repository

Digital Signing and File Formats for Electronic ALTA SOW Execution

The SOW should be delivered and signed in a format that preserves content, metadata, and an audit trail.

File Types: PDF, DOCX, DWG
Integrations: Supports Salesforce, NetSuite, Microsoft 365
Authentication: Email link, SMS code, or KBA

Where to Send and File the Executed ALTA Statement of Work

Follow a consistent routing plan so the executed SOW is available to title underwriters, lenders, and vendors at closing.

Title Company: Primary original kept in escrow file and linked to title policy documents
Lender: Lender receives fully executed SOW for underwriting and loan file
Vendor: Surveyor receives signed SOW to begin work and confirm timeline
Repository: Store final PDF and audit trail in secure document management system

Typical Deadlines and Processing Expectations for ALTA SOW Tasks

Timelines vary by workload and vendor capacity; include realistic delivery estimates in the SOW and add buffer for cure work.

Survey Turnaround:

Typical 10–20 business days depending on complexity and access

Vendor Acknowledgement:

Vendor should confirm availability within 2–5 business days

Cure Period:

Allow 5–10 business days for vendor corrections after review

Title Review:

Title company typically reviews and flags exceptions within 3–7 business days

Closing Buffer:

Include 5–7 business days contingency before scheduled closing

Key Milestones from SOW Issuance to Final Acceptance

Track milestones so responsibility and timing remain visible through closing.

01

Issue SOW

Sender finalizes scope and sends SOW to vendor and lender for confirmation.

02

Vendor Acceptance

Vendor confirms scope, schedule, and any site access constraints.

03

Delivery of Draft

Vendor delivers draft survey or report for title review and comment.

04

Final Acceptance

Title and lender approve corrected deliverables; document is archived for closing.

Common Preparation Errors to Avoid with the Revised ALTA Statement of Work

Using imprecise property descriptions or street addresses instead of full legal descriptions, which can misidentify the parcel and delay closing.
Failing to specify file formats and coordinate systems, resulting in unusable survey deliverables and extra conversion work.
Not assigning a named point of contact for vendor questions, causing back-and-forth that lengthens delivery timelines and increases costs.
Omitting acceptance criteria or cure windows, which creates disagreement about whether corrected work satisfies title exceptions.

Risks and Consequences of an Incorrect or Incomplete ALTA SOW

Delayed Closing: Loss of scheduled close date

Title Exceptions: Unresolved exceptions remain on policy

Replacement Costs: Vendor rework billed to payer

Liability Disputes: Contractual disputes over responsibility

Insurance Refusal: Underwriter may limit coverage

Regulatory Exposure: Noncompliance with recordkeeping rules

Essential Information to Include for Compliance and Auditability

Full Legal Names: Include exact legal entity names

Property Description: Use deed legal description

Effective Date: MM/DD/YYYY required

Deliverable Types: List required files and formats

Acceptance Criteria: Define pass/fail standards

Retention Note: Specify storage location and period

Real-world Examples of ALTA SOW Use in Closing Workflows

Two representative examples show how standardization reduces friction across stakeholders.

Optica Ventures

A regional title operation standardized SOW templates to reduce vendor questions and rework.

Saved cycle time on survey clarifications by centralizing scope and format requirements.
The clearer instructions reduced back-and-forth with surveyors and improved alignment with lender underwriting, resulting in fewer last-minute corrections at closing.

Martin Properties

A property management firm adopted a templated Revised ALTA SOW for acquisitions.

The template specified deliverable formats and acceptance tests up front.
Consistent SOW use shortened due-diligence coordination and helped property closings proceed with fewer title exceptions.

eSignature Pricing Snapshot for ALTA SOW Workflows (signNow First)

Compare common vendor pricing and feature signals relevant to executing and storing the Revised ALTA Statement of Work in electronic workflows.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	No	No	Yes, limited	Yes, limited
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Envelope Cap	No cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan

Frequently Asked Questions About the Revised ALTA Statement of Work

Answers to common implementation, signature, and storage questions for teams using the Revised ALTA Statement of Work.

Need help? Contact support

Can the ALTA SOW be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures on business-to-business contracts are enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted; ensure intent, consent, attribution, and retention are documented.
Is notarization required for an ALTA SOW?
Generally no for the SOW itself, unless the SOW is incorporated into a record requiring notarization or recorded instrument; if recording or acknowledgement is later needed, follow state notary or RON rules.
What authentication level should be used?
Choose authentication based on risk: email-only or SMS for routine transactions; stronger methods like KBA or two-factor when identity verification is critical for title or lender requirements.
How do I handle amendments after execution?
Create a written amendment signed by the same authorized parties; record the amendment date and archive it with the original SOW to maintain an auditable change history.
Who must sign the SOW to be binding?
An authorized representative of each party with authority to bind the entity should sign; identify role and title in the signature block to avoid later disputes about authority.
How long should signed SOWs be retained?
Retain signed SOWs for the transaction life plus applicable retention periods (IRS minimum 3 years; longer for title audit and state rules); follow your document retention policy.

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