Effective immediately, ATG is using the City of Chicago Water Department’s electronic water management system to obtain Water Certifications, which are required on all City of Chicago properties. We can order most Water Certifications online, with the exception of vacant land and condominium buildings where the associations are not set up in the system. These types of properties will still need to be handled in person at the Water Department for processing.

NOTE: A Water Certification is required for all deeds being recorded even if you are recording two deeds for the same transaction. (Added 11-13-12)

To process the electronic Water Certification, please submit the following:

• Completed Request for Water and Zoning, ATG Form 4027;
• Assessment Letter, if applicable; and
• Check for $125.00 payable to Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc.

When there is a balance due on the account for the electronic process, these transactions will not be certified until the day of closing. The amount of the water bill that is due will be placed in the services screen in ATG REsource and will be included on the HUD-1 Settlement Statement at closing. 

Once ATG certifies a balance due, it must be paid within 24 hours; therefore, it is important that ATG collect the proper funds for the payment. When there is a balance due on the water account, the member will receive notification from ATG. Either the closer or the member should contact Dan Bowden at dbowden@atgf.com or call 312.752.1134, on the day of the closing, so the water payment will be properly made and the certification can be completed.

These procedures will increase the efficiency of the Water Certification process. Requests without payment will not be processed until the payment is received. If you have questions, please contact Dan Bowden at dbowden@atgf.com in the ATG Search Department. Thank you.