The automated system of the present invention uses the Federal, State, local and professional regulations and requirements and implementing instructions to generate a plurality of tasks which can be used to control and drive the process of handling a mortgage loan application to completion and settlement in accordance with these regulations. Loan requestors may specify that the system will generate the plurality of required tasks, including tasks required by applicable federal and/or state law, provide the plurality of required tasks to the requester for his execution, and monitor the completion of all required tasks so as to provide a completion certificate to the requestor. Alternatively, loan requestors may specify that the automated system will generate the plurality of required tasks, including tasks required by applicable federal and/or state law, will manage and control the execution of the required tasks, and monitor the completion of all required tasks so as to provide a completion certificate to the requestor.