2013 Mississippi Code
Title 81 - BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Chapter 12 - SAVINGS ASSOCIATIONS LAW
§ 81-12-165 - Payment of expenses in connection with closing of loan; borrower to pay only his own attorney's fee; notice of right to select attorney; right of association to require title insurance

Every association may require borrowers to pay all reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the making, closing, disbursing, extending, readjusting or renewing of real estate loans as shall be authorized by the commissioner. If an attorney's fee is charged the borrower in connection with any loan, the borrower shall have the right to select an attorney of his choice to close the loan and to look after his interests in connection with the loan and the fee shall be paid to the attorney selected. It is the intention of the Legislature to insure that the borrower shall not be required to pay any attorney's fee to any attorney other than the attorney selected by the borrower to close the loan. The borrower shall be advised by the association in writing of his right to select an attorney, provided that such attorney is on an approved list of a title insurance company acceptable to the association, and authorized to do business in the State of Mississippi. Title insurance is used herein as a criterion for qualifications of attorneys only, and nothing in this chapter shall be construed as requiring any association to require a borrower to secure a title insurance policy in addition to the regular attorney's certification of title. However, an association may, if it desires, require title insurance policies on loans, but if policies are required from one (1) attorney they shall be required from all attorneys used in connection with loans under this section. No association shall discriminate as to any charges, fees or discounts, or make any different charges whatsoever between loans closed by an attorney selected or recommended by, or representing the association and loans closed by an attorney selected by the borrower under the provisions of this subsection. It is the intent of the Legislature that borrowers shall be free to select attorneys of their choice to close all loans under the authority of this paragraph, without incurring any additional charge or expense whatsoever. The commissioner shall have the authority to adopt reasonable rules and regulations to promulgate the provisions of this subsection. Any association, or any officer or employee of any such association willfully violating the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than One Hundred Dollars ($ 100.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($ 500.00).