Fidelity National Financial Completes First Digital Real Estate Closing with Remote Online Notarization Transaction in Texas

- Remote online notarization and digital signature technology allowed closing to take place at sellers' convenience

- Sellers, buyers and escrow officer - all in different localities - connected seamlessly with the notary online

- Texas state law allows escrow officers commissioned as online notary publics to perform fully digital closings using a combination of video technology and digital signatures

- FNF's adoption of digital closing technology is part of the company's end-to-end digital real estate strategy, which will give its vast network of partners the ability to compete in a rapidly changing environment.

News provided by

Fidelity National Financial, Inc.

Mar 04, 2019, 16:15 ET

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., March 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Fidelity National Financial, Inc. (NYSE: FNF) announced the successful completion of a digital real estate closing that utilized a remote online notarization and digital signature process. This was the first such transaction for FNF in Texas, where state law allows escrow officers commissioned as online notary publics to perform fully digital closings using a combination of video technology and digital signatures. A Texas FNF affiliate used secure, remote notarization technology to connect the property sellers in Austin with an escrow officer in Pearland. To complete the transaction, several documents were digitally signed by the sellers and notarized remotely, creating a superior closing experience.

"As consumers' lives become increasingly mobile, we are evolving our service to include a broad range of digital tools that allow us to meet them wherever is most convenient." said Jason Nadeau, Chief Digital Officer, Fidelity National Financial, Inc. "Remote online notarization is just one part of this wider toolset, and allows sellers and buyers to close on a real estate transaction when and where best suits their schedules. Moving the already complex process of a real estate transaction closing online requires the coordination of many different moving parts and, as expected, our Texas team pulled it off seamlessly for our customer."

The digital tools employed by FNF for this transaction used electronic methods to ensure the identity of the property sellers and created a full set of compliant, digitally signed documents. Following the closing, an archived video version of the remote closing experience was uploaded to FNF's secure, web-based system for the delivery and storage of escrow and title documents, becoming part of the official record tied to this transaction.

"Digital closings and remote notarization tools are key components of Fidelity National Financial's wider vision for an end-to-end digital real estate experience," Nadeau added. "By combining the very best in eClose, eSign, remote notarization and other innovations, we are moving our operations – and the industry – forward into the digital future. At the same time, we're ensuring our vast network of settlement agents, escrow officers and notaries maintain their competitive edge in an increasingly digital market."

About Fidelity National Financial, Inc.
Fidelity National Financial, Inc. (NYSE: FNF) is a leading provider of title insurance and transaction services to the real estate and mortgage industries. FNF is the nation's largest title insurance company through its title insurance underwriters - Fidelity National Title, Chicago Title, Commonwealth Land Title, Alamo Title and National Title of New York - that collectively issue more title insurance policies than any other title company in the United States. More information about FNF can be found at fnf.com.

SOURCE Fidelity National Financial, Inc.