The VLTA EXAMINER is the official online publication of the Virginia Land Title Association, offering articles of interest to land title professionals.
EXAMINER MAGAZINEArticle by Julie Ann Rutledge Looking back on America’s 250th Anniversary, we embrace the opportunity to understand the leaders who helped to mold our country. Hindsight offers us an opportunity to review how their life experiences influenced their leadership approach. George Washington, who was born on February 22, 1732, and lived until December 14, 1799, … Continue reading America’s 250th Series: George Washington – Surveyor, The Early Years
Article by Katherine Hunnicutt From Moomaw’s ambitious midnight ride in 1881 that put Roanoke on the map, to the glamorous hotel that survived fire and the Depression to host celebrities and society elite alike, the history of this year’s VLTA Convention location is nothing short of fascinating. And when a storied history stretches well over … Continue reading The History of Hotel Roanoke, Part 3: Phantoms in the Ballroom
Article by John Mashack Introduction A title agent screens every party in a commercial real estate transaction and finds no OFAC hits. Days before closing, newly discovered ownership information reveals that the seller is indirectly owned by sanctioned parties. Most title professionals understand the importance of screening parties against the Office of Foreign Assets Control's … Continue reading Understanding OFAC’s 50 Percent Rule: Why Title Professionals Must Look Beyond the SDN List
Leaving the Publication Better Than We Found It Article by John Mashack When I accepted the role of Examiner Committee Chair and Editor in Chief of The VLTA Examiner Magazine in 2023, I inherited responsibility for a publication with a long history and an important role within the Association. For decades, The Examiner has served … Continue reading From the Editor’s Desk
1. How long have you been in the title industry, and how did you get started in this profession? I have been in the title industry since the summer of 1991, when I did an internship with the Norfolk Branch of Lawyers Title in between my second and third years of law school. I knew very … Continue reading VLTA Board of Director Spotlight: Jerry Booth, Esq.
Article by Genady Vishnevetsky The Call That Sounded Right This past March, a couple buying a condominium in West Michigan got a phone call from their mortgage lender. The number on the caller ID matched. The voice matched. The caller walked them through where things stood in the transaction and then mentioned, almost as an … Continue reading When the Voice on the Phone Isn’t Real: How Our Threat Landscape Changed in a Year
Article by James Gosdin Welcome to the second installment of the 3-part series exploring the 150th Anniversary of Title Insurance. Access and Other Insurance Some states, such as Alabama, do not explicitly address the rights of access to the land, but this coverage of access is well within the general scope of any definition of … Continue reading What Is Title Insurance on Its 150TH Anniversary? Part Two
Welcome to the first installment of the 3-part series. by Kevin T. Pogoda, Esq.[1]First VP & Virginia State Manager, ORNTIC INTRODUCTION Judgment liens are the most common title defect to address when evaluating title work. But common does not mean simple—judgment liens can be tricky, especially considering the variety of contexts in which they occur. … Continue reading Underwriting Judgment Liens in Virginia
Article by Michael Holden Consensus: ROAD to Housing Act offers substantial relief, but more work needed Following years of research and months of negotiations, both chambers of Congress passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act in June, paving the way for critically needed reforms that will help lower housing costs, improve housing supply, and … Continue reading Ramblings of a Title Man
Article by Kristopher Ryan Sleeth The following is a dramatization of an actual title insurance claim involving an omitted heir. This type of claim is often completely invisible in the land records and is precisely the type of hidden risk that title insurance is designed to address. The names and locations in this claims chronicle … Continue reading The Claims Corner: Hidden Acres
Article by Sharron Kennovin As I approach the conclusion of my term as President of the Virginia Land Title Association, I find myself reflecting on all that we have accomplished together as a Board. Serving in this role has been both an honor and a privilege, and I am proud of the progress we have … Continue reading President’s Message
Article by James L. Windsor In Virginia, a party claiming adverse possession "must prove actual, hostile, exclusive, visible, and continuous possession, under a claim of right [or color of title], for the statu-tory period of 15 years." Grappo v. Blanks, 241 Va. 58, 61 (1991); Heath v. Est. of Heath, No.1276-22-2, 2024 Va. App. LEXIS … Continue reading Adverse Possession Under Virginia Law: A Primer
As a VLTA Member, we invite you to share what you are doing in your community, new jobs, promotions, retirements, milestones, professional accomplishments, good deeds, events, awards, or even a member advocacy story, or while you’re at it! News can include a relevant link to an article, blog post, press release, video, landing page, or … Continue reading VLTA Members in Motion – September 2026
History Holds Its Secrets… The Investigation Continues at the 2026 VLTA Annual Convention Not every mystery begins with a smoking gun. Sometimes, it begins with a deed. This October, step back to 1882 Roanoke, where railroad expansion, hidden records, and long-buried secrets set the stage for The Christmas Current Mystery. Throughout Convention, clues will be … Continue reading 2026 VLTA Annual Convention: Sneak Peek
Article by Sharron Kennovin As we move further into the summer months, I hope each of you is experiencing renewed momentum in your business. With school out and families eager to relocate or invest in home improvements, many areas across our state are reporting increased activity. It’s encouraging to see this positive shift, and I’m … Continue reading VLTA Summer 2026 President’s Message
Supporting the PAC, one member-made contribution at a time. This year, we're inviting VLTA members to help bring our 2026 Annual Convention theme, "Use the Technology; Be the Human," to life through the PAC Silent Auction. Rather than focusing on traditional auction items, we're celebrating the creativity, craftsmanship, and generosity of our membership by featuring … Continue reading 2026 VLTA PAC Silent Auction: Made by Members, Powered by Purpose
