Article 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
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 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
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
Article by R. Michael Smith Correction from the author: George Mason did not teach Thomas Jefferson at William & Mary. William Small was his principal instructor. Jefferson and Mason were contemporaries who participated at the same time with Virginia's Committee of Correspondence. My stepson, a graduate of George Mason University, spotted my error. I thank … Continue reading Did Thomas Jefferson Believe in a Right to Property?
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 – June 2026
Article by Joe Shepherd, FNF Below are 4 actual, yet abbreviated, claim scenarios that have occurred in Virginia. How good are you at resolving each? 1. You are claims counsel for ABC Title Company and receive the following claim. Big Bank has recently foreclosed on a four acres parcel in Smyth County on which ABC … Continue reading The Claims Corner: Take the Claims Quiz
ALTA Advocacy 2026 Testimonials from VLTA Members & Leadership. The ALTA Advocacy Summit should always remain a vital part of VLTA because it ensures our voices are heard throughout our Capital. For me personally, one of the most meaningful aspects of attending is the opportunity to talk with professionals from across the country and learn about the issues they’re facing in … Continue reading VLTA 2026 ALTA Advocacy Testimonials
Article by Juanita M. Little-Lyons, Technical Advisory Committee Chair, Virginia Association of Notaries (VAN) Over the last decade, deed fraud (fraudulently stolen real estate) has increased nationwide, resulting in millions of dollars of loss for property owners. Prior to the 2025_26 Virginia General Assembly, the Virginia Housing Development Authority was granted authority to research the … Continue reading New Virginia Notary & Settlement Agent Requirements (2026-2027)
Article by Katherine Hunnicutt, Welcome to the second installment of this 3-part series. Read part one below: https://vltaexaminer.com/2026/03/31/the-history-of-hotel-roanoke-part-1-from-big-lick-to-roanoke/ Figure 1: “Hotel Roanoke 1910”. Virginia, Bourbonism to Boyd, 1870-1925 (1968). Retrieved from WikiCommons. In the public domain. The late afternoon sun in November of 1989 threw the Tudor-revival peaks of Hotel Roanoke into silhouette, casting the … Continue reading The History of Hotel Roanoke, Part 2: The Grand Old Lady on the Hill
Article by James Gosdin Welcome to the first installment of the 3-part series exploring the 150th Anniversary of Title Insurance. An essential characteristic of title insurance, and one that was critical to its growth, is strict liability. The Insured is not required to establish that the title insurer was negligent in its own examination in … Continue reading What Is Title Insurance on Its 150TH Anniversary?
