Close with confidence.

Choose legal expertise over centralized closing centres.

The history of centralized closing centres – how legal professionals lost refinance work

In the mid-1990s, certain title insurers introduced centralized closing centres within the Canadian real estate market. This closing centre model was provided as an alternative workflow for lender driven mortgage transactions (particularly refinances) and, in some cases, as an attempted model for residential purchase and sale transactions. They encouraged lending and real estate professionals to route transactions directly through these centralized facilities for processing rather than through legal professionals.

Coordinated efforts within the legal community (as well as the impact of Regulation 69/07 of the Insurance Act in Ontario specifically) ensured that residential purchase and sale transactions remained under the purview of legal professionals, effectively bringing an end to the closing centre model for this segment of the market.

Ontario’s Insurance Act, Regulation 69/07 (formerly Reg. 666), mandates that before a title insurer can issue a policy of title insurance, a lawyer licensed to practice in Ontario must provide the title insurer with a concurrent certificate of title (generally considered to be a title search) and that the lawyer must not be employed by the title insurer issuing the policy.

Although the Title Insurance Industry Association of Canada (TIIAC, now known as MTIIAC) later sought a review of this regulatory requirement, the mandate that an independent lawyer provide a concurrent certificate of title ultimately remained in place. Stewart firmly advocated against the removal of this regulatory requirement.

The majority of refinances, however, continue to be processed by centralized closing centres. Lenders and brokers widely adopted this model, drawn by its standardized workflows, predictable fees and operational efficiencies.

As a result, a significant portion of refinance work shifted away from legal professionals.

Why Stewart Title never supported this approach

Stewart Title is not -- nor were we ever -- members of (M)TIIAC. When this association was formed, Stewart Title declined to join because in our view, our business philosophy fundamentally differed from that of the title insurers involved.

We have always believed that a title insurer’s role in Canada is to underwrite risk, while legal professionals provide advice, and prepare and register documents. Lawyers and notaries are best positioned to protect the interests of all parties involved, and we remain committed to supporting their role in real estate transactions.

For this reason, we do not participate in or endorse programs that reduce or remove the legal professional’s involvement.

What the market needs now

The landscape has evolved. As customer needs have changed and files have grown more complex, the traditional “one‑size‑fits‑all” centralized closing model is creating new challenges for both lenders and borrowers.

Lending professionals have told us that these centres are no longer meeting their needs, citing longer processing times, limited flexibility for complex transactions, reduced transparency and inconsistent communication — factors that ultimately affect funding timelines and the overall borrower experience.

As a result, many lenders and brokers have already moved transactions back to legal professionals where they benefit from faster turnaround times and a more personalized client experience; others are actively considering the same shift.

With modern technology and stronger workflow tools, legal professionals are now equally—if not better—equipped to manage refinance transactions efficiently and competitively.

Stewart is helping legal professionals win back more refinance work by highlighting
the speed, transparency and service they are uniquely positioned to deliver.

Why legal professionals are the best choice

Representation for Borrowers

Provide legal representation and guidance to borrowers, supporting informed decisions and better outcomes for all parties.

Personal Service, Not Just Processing

Use modern digital tools to close files faster and more efficiently with in-office or virtual closings where permitted.

Offer direct access to answers and explanations throughout the process with the ability to tailor service, such as multilingual support, to borrower needs.

Expertise in Complex Transactions

Address legal and title issues directly, triaging time sensitive files and resolving complexity without added delays.

Single-Track Efficiency

Manage the entire transaction in one place, reducing handoffs, inconsistency and delays.

Faster Closings

Standard refinance files are typically completed in significantly less time than those handled by centralized service providers, enabling quicker funding and disbursements.

Competitive Fees, Superior Value

Offer competitive pricing while delivering added expertise, personalized service and the ability to handle both standard and complex transactions all in one place.

The result

Lenders gain efficiency and expertise.
Brokers receive responsive service for their clients.
Borrowers access their funds faster with clarity and confidence.

Stewart Title’s legal-led model raises the bar

With a 60% surge in mortgage activity expected this year, having transactions closed by legal professionals means reduced risk, faster turnaround times, stronger outcomes and greater peace of mind.

Stewart Title is actively working with lenders and brokers to support legal-led refinance closings. As consumer and lender expectations continue to evolve, our longstanding partnerships with legal professionals across the country uniquely position us to connect these needs and help build a foundation for sustained success.

Get in touch!

Turnaround times depend on complete documentation and lender conditions. Regulatory requirements and availability vary by province. This material is general information and not legal advice.

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