Columns – VLTA Examiner Publication

December 30, 2025December 30, 2025 vltaexaminer Columns, Cybersecurity, Featured, Underwriting

The Claims Corner: Fraud in the Modern Real Estate Transaction and Lessons From Recent Claims

By Hayden-Anne Breedlove, CounselOld Republic National Title Insurance Company Fraud has rapidly evolved into one of the most significant sources of title insurance claims, particularly as real estate transactions increasingly rely on electronic communication, remote closings, and digital documentation. Schemes that once occurred sporadically are now routine, sophisticated, and alarmingly effective. I. False Owners and … Continue reading The Claims Corner: Fraud in the Modern Real Estate Transaction and Lessons From Recent Claims

December 30, 2025 vltaexaminer Columns, Uncategorized

CFPB: ‘The Report of My Death Was an Exaggeration’

Article by Michael Holden After rumors circulated in 1897 that Mark Twain had died on a trip to Europe, he responded by famously noting in a letter to a newspaper, “The report of my death was an exaggeration.” Similarly, this may be the case with White House Budget Director Russell Vought’s rumored plans to … Continue reading CFPB: ‘The Report of My Death Was an Exaggeration’

December 30, 2025December 30, 2025 vltaexaminer Columns, Education, Featured, Record Room, Title Examination

The Hidden Recorded Treasure

The Hidden Recorded Treasure: What's wrong with this Plat? Hint: Read the surveyor’s note to the right. The Hidden Recorded TreasureDiscovered by Julie-Ann Rutledge

June 23, 2025September 24, 2025 vltaexaminer Columns, In the News, Members, Underwriting

The Claims Corner: Back in My Day…

Article by John Rinaldi I don’t know whether to be proud of or to be depressed by the fact that I am now at the point in my career when I can use phrases like: “When I started practicing law…” or “When I learned how to do it, we always….” Causing every younger attorney within earshot … Continue reading The Claims Corner: Back in My Day…

September 21, 2023 vltaexaminer Columns, Legislative, Uncategorized, Underwriting

The Business Of Marriage: The Non-Divorce Attorney’s Impact on A Divorce

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful woman who did very well for herself. She started her own software company and reaped the financial benefits when the company was bought out. She retired young and put over a million dollars down on a new home and carried a relatively small mortgage. Soon after these … Continue reading The Business Of Marriage: The Non-Divorce Attorney’s Impact on A Divorce

November 13, 2018November 13, 2018 vltaexaminer Columns

Straight Talk Title: Amazing Customer Experiences Start with Your Team

Amazing Customer Experiences Start with Your Team: It seems obvious that the customer experience is totally tied to your team but, the real question is how do you keep your team constantly focused on creating amazing experiences? We all know that the most vulnerable point of our business is how your team members respond to … Continue reading Straight Talk Title: Amazing Customer Experiences Start with Your Team

November 13, 2018November 13, 2018 vltaexaminer Columns

Title Tips & Trivia: Title Report Checklist

TITLE REPORT CHECKLIST Title Order / Contract Title Report Front Sheet List Sheets for each owner in Chain of Title Treasurer Tax Printouts Commissioner of the Revenue Printouts Copies of Deeds in Chain of Title Copies of Deeds of Trust & Liens Copies of Restrictions & Easements Copies all Plats in the Chain of Title Copies … Continue reading Title Tips & Trivia: Title Report Checklist

October 3, 2018September 30, 2018 vltaexaminer Columns

Title Tips by TUTE: Title Through the Interdimensional Portal

It was All Saint’s Eve and I was working. Pope Gregory (I forget if it was the III or the IV) would not be happy. This is supposed to be a day of prayer and atonement, one in which the restless spirits of the dead are calmed by the saintly behavior of the living, but … Continue reading Title Tips by TUTE: Title Through the Interdimensional Portal

September 4, 2018September 4, 2018 vltaexaminer Columns

ARTU

You are underwriting counsel for a title insurance company and are asked if you will insure access to a piece of property that your prospective insured purchased at a tax sale. There is no deeded easement but you are advised that you will be furnished with enough information to insure by prescription. You believe that … Continue reading ARTU

September 4, 2018September 4, 2018 vltaexaminer Columns

Title Tips by TUTE

Lists of Heirs I Have Known and Loved Spoiler alert! This may descend into a rant. Being raised by a genteel woman of moderately impeccable breeding, it will not rise to the level of Twitter flame wars (or whatever they are called these days, at least I hope not), but Tute begins from a pit … Continue reading Title Tips by TUTE

August 6, 2018August 2, 2018 vltaexaminer Columns

Beautfort’s Bucket

Hi! My name’s Beaufort Hambuket, and dis is my bucket wheres I gets to talk ‘bout title n’ stuff. Today I wanna talk ‘bout dis new-fangled thing called “Bitcoin”. I hear all sortsa talk ‘bout how bitcoin gonna revolutionize da’ title n’ settlement world. If ya’ ask me (and ya’ are, cause your readin’ my … Continue reading Beautfort’s Bucket

July 5, 2018July 9, 2018 vltaexaminer Columns, Underwriting

Tales from the Table: A View to A Kill

By Stephanie Campbell, Westcor Land Title Insurance Company. Most people are familiar with the James Bond movie “A View to a Kill”. An intense thriller with great music and exotic backdrops. The theme song by Duran-Duran runs through my head every time I repeat the crazy story of one of my many “Tales from the … Continue reading Tales from the Table: A View to A Kill

July 5, 2018July 5, 2018 vltaexaminer Columns

Title Tips by TUTE: You Want Me to Do What???!!!

TUTE: The Unknown Title Examiner I am sure it comes as no surprise to hear your humble correspondent is not the sharpest pencil in the drawer. When no fascinating topic develops from the work in progress, Tute is prone to generic Google searches (I am sure that is © or ® or ™ to some … Continue reading Title Tips by TUTE: You Want Me to Do What???!!!

June 5, 2018June 5, 2018 vltaexaminer Columns

What is it that you’re buying???

There are so many insurance and bond products available to people and businesses in the Title Industry, and options keep growing. Some items are required and some are just good business sense. Since the late 90’s, the Commonwealth of Virginia has required licensed Title Agencies, that conduct real estate closings, to obtain and maintain … Continue reading What is it that you’re buying???

June 5, 2018May 28, 2018 vltaexaminer Columns

Recorded Treasure

This month's Recorded Treasure was submitted by Lisa Tully. Who's happy to be single?

May 7, 2018May 7, 2018 vltaexaminer Columns

Recorded Treasure

When a "Dear John" letter becomes part of the public land records... Download and share the laugh: 5-2018 Recorded Treasure - Dear John letter as POA

May 7, 2018April 30, 2018 vltaexaminer Columns

How to last in the title industry – How to run a title agency that endures

By Colleen Taylor I came into the title industry as many do – by happenstance. I started out as a mortgage loan officer for a small community owned bank in another state. I moved to Virginia for love and put my resume out to local title companies because, hey, those nice guys from Ticor used … Continue reading How to last in the title industry – How to run a title agency that endures

April 3, 2018April 2, 2018 vltaexaminer Columns

Title Tips by Tute

April 2018 TUTE: The Unknown Title Examiner Poor Little Lambs That Have Lost Their Way... Dear Tute: I’m at a loss for what to do next. Well, that doesn’t help much, let me back up and start at the beginning. I was asked to examine title to a ten acre parcel of land in a rural … Continue reading Title Tips by Tute

April 3, 2018April 2, 2018 vltaexaminer Columns

All in the Title Family

An Interview with Michael Holden by Julie Ann Rutledge, VCTE How long has your family been in the industry? My family started in the title industry in 1920 when my grandfather took a job as an apprentice working for the Title Insurance Corporation of St. Louis. My father started working for my grandfather in 1946 … Continue reading All in the Title Family

April 3, 2018April 2, 2018 vltaexaminer Columns, Underwriting

Straight Talk Title

Surveys & Title, Why We Need Them Both by Connie Fuksa We all know, in our profession, that we can search the title to a piece of property and come up with the owners of the property, in most cases, with careful research. What we can’t do is visually see the property to confirm … Continue reading Straight Talk Title

April 3, 2018March 30, 2018 vltaexaminer Columns

Helpful links at the Virginia BOI

Finding your way around some of the most important information for new and established title insurance agents on the Virginia Bureau of Insurance website can be daunting. Here are some helpful links.