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
Conversation With Clerks – Meet the VCCA President: Rick Francis
Article by Richard L. (Rick) Francis Meet the Virginia Court Clerks Association (VCCA) President, Rick Francis. Raised 5mi outside of a town of 660 with no traffic lights even today, Rick is a graduate of Southampton High School in 1974, Wake Forest University in 1978, and the T.C. Williams Law School in 1982. Rick practiced … Continue reading Conversation With Clerks – Meet the VCCA President: Rick Francis
Why ALTA®/NSPS Surveys Matter in Virginia Residential Real Estate Transactions
Article by Hayden-Anne Breedlove When a buyer, lender, or settlement agent asks, “Do we really need a survey?”, they’re rarely thinking about the downstream risks. Yet for Virginia title professionals, surveys are one of the most powerful tools for uncovering problems before they turn into litigation, coverage claims, or unmarketable title.The American Land Title Association … Continue reading Why ALTA®/NSPS Surveys Matter in Virginia Residential Real Estate Transactions
The Claims Corner: Will You Please Let Me Pay You?
Article by Michael Chang The title of this article is not something any of us find ourselves saying very often. Most people do not ignore people who are trying to pay them or refuse payment when it is offered. Indeed, it is perplexing and confounding when someone who is owed money is offered full payment … Continue reading The Claims Corner: Will You Please Let Me Pay You?
Conversation With the Clerks: Continuing the Conversation
Article by Becky Taylor, VLTA President Did you know that Virginia has 120 Clerks, and their Association is the Virginia Court Clerks Association (VCCA)? The Virginia Land Title Association initiated quarterly meetings with the President and President-Elect of the Virginia Court Clerks Association in 2017-2018. The VLTA Vision Statement is “To be the driving force in Virginia … Continue reading Conversation With the Clerks: Continuing the Conversation
The History and Purpose of Land Records in the United States
Article originally published and provided by Property Records Industry Association (PRIA) with permission to reprint. Adopted by the PRIA Board on January 15, 2025. Introduction-and-History-of-Public-Records_Style_CLEAN_02_2025 (1)Download
Conversation With the Clerks: Giles County Circuit Court Clerk
The Honorable Sherry Gautier Article by Elaine Cook As a title examiner, I have had the opportunity to visit many different Clerk record rooms, and I have been very impressed with the progress that Giles County has made in making the items needed most available to patrons online. In recognition of Clerk Appreciation Week (May 5-9, … Continue reading Conversation With the Clerks: Giles County Circuit Court Clerk
Twenty Helpful Title Research Tools Found Outside of the Land Records
Article by Michelle L. Statz & Jerry C. Booth, Jr. Title research is typically associated with examining public land records to confirm ownership and to uncover any outstanding claims or encumbrances against a property. However, there are instances where additional sources and methods, outside of traditional land records, are very helpful in discovering more information … Continue reading Twenty Helpful Title Research Tools Found Outside of the Land Records
EQUITABLE SUBROGATION IN VIRGINIA: THE SEQUEL
Reprinted with permission from the Virginia State Bar In 2001, I wrote an article for the Virginia Land Title Association (VLTA) Examiner simply entitled Equitable Subrogation in Virginia. The article appeared in Volume 7, Number 1, of the VLTA Examiner. Twenty-three years later, this is the sequel. Occasionally, lenders who believe they are secured by … Continue reading EQUITABLE SUBROGATION IN VIRGINIA: THE SEQUEL
Clerk’s Association Message
The Virginia Court Clerks’ Association (VCCA) held its annual convention in September 2024 and installed its Officers for 2024-2025. This year’s President is Kelly Flannagan from the Bristol Circuit Court. Kelly was sworn in as the Virginia Court Clerks’ Association President in September 2024 and will serve in that capacity for the next year. Kelly was appointed … Continue reading Clerk’s Association Message
Conversation With Clerks
Welcome to the first Conversation with Clerks. This conversation is with the Fairfax County Circuit Court, Christopher J. Falcon. Christopher J. Falcon took office on January 3rd, 2024 as the Clerk of the Fairfax County Circuit Court. He previously served as Legal Counsel, Deputy Clerk and Civil Division Supervisor for the Arlington Circuit Court Clerk’s office. … Continue reading Conversation With Clerks
Considering Mineral Rights in Virginia
I. Geographic scope of minerals development in Virginia It is easy to think of mineral rights issues as geographically centered in, if not limited to, southwestern Virginia. But, both historically and in the present day, minerals have been found, claimed, and produced throughout the Commonwealth. Title examiners, agents, and insurers must account not only for … Continue reading Considering Mineral Rights in Virginia
Virginia State Bar – Real Property Section’s “Living Library” Video Series to Educate on Real Estate Law Careers
Provided by the Virginia State Bar Membership CommitteeThe Real Property Section of the Virginia State Bar has unveiled an innovative new video series titled the "Living Library" produced by the Section’s Membership Committee. The project is intended to demystify the complexities of real estate law. Its goals include providing Section and Bar members at large … Continue reading Virginia State Bar – Real Property Section’s “Living Library” Video Series to Educate on Real Estate Law Careers
The Origin of the “Claims Corner”
I was asked to submit a story about how the Claims Corner series began. For much of my career in the title insurance industry, first employed as a title examiner trainee at my father’s law firm in Alexandria, VA in 1971, to becoming a title insurance agent in 1976, and then an underwriter and employee … Continue reading The Origin of the “Claims Corner”
WHEN MARRIAGE MATTERS – Part 2: Various Ways Marital Status Can Affect Title
Read WHEN MARRIAGE MATTERS – Part 1 here. Take the VLTA online course, “When Marriage Matters”, on-demand here: https://www.pathlms.com/vlta/courses/69081 (1-hour of CE, CLE and CCE credits). Conveyances and Creditors Moving beyond the advantages and exceptions to survivorship, all the remaining advantages to a tenancy by the entirety are rooted in the concept of one flesh. … Continue reading WHEN MARRIAGE MATTERS – Part 2: Various Ways Marital Status Can Affect Title
WHEN MARRIAGE MATTERS – Part 1: Various Ways Marital Status Can Affect Title
Take the VLTA online course, "When Marriage Matters", on-demand here: https://www.pathlms.com/vlta/courses/69081 (1-hour of CE, CLE and CCE credits). Introduction Marriage matters for many reasons. Just ask anyone, and you are likely to get sundry reasons for why marriage matters: love, security, companionship, children, etc. But pose that same question to someone in the title industry, and you may … Continue reading WHEN MARRIAGE MATTERS – Part 1: Various Ways Marital Status Can Affect Title
Access to Deeds and Land Records in Virginia: A Thirty-Year Perspective Part 3 – Electronic Commerce Solutions
Read part 1 here: Access to Deeds and Land Records in Virginia Part 1 – The Ghost of Title Search Past. Read part 2 here: Access to Deeds and Land Records in Virginia: A Thirty-Year Perspective Part 2 – Digital Conversion is a Game Changer. I appreciate the opportunity to share my perspectives with the … Continue reading Access to Deeds and Land Records in Virginia: A Thirty-Year Perspective Part 3 – Electronic Commerce Solutions
The Claims Corner: A Failed Specific Devise – Intricacies of Examining and Underwriting Estates in Virginia
Let’s face it -- it’s just not easy to determine how to vest property that has gone through an estate in Virginia. It’s a complicated task, and sparks quite a few title insurance claims. This article discusses the issue of a specific devise in a probated will that failed due to the devisee predeceasing the testator. … Continue reading The Claims Corner: A Failed Specific Devise – Intricacies of Examining and Underwriting Estates in Virginia
TUTE Spring 2024
The Unknown Title Examiner TUTE departs from the usual dive into the land records to discuss what is in this electronic age an all-too-frequent occurrence of fraud in the marketplace. “Hello, Ms. Jetson? My name is Spacely and I own a lot in Bedrock subdivision. I see from your credentials that you list and sell … Continue reading TUTE Spring 2024
Access to Deeds and Land Records in Virginia: A Thirty-Year Perspective Part 2 – Digital Conversion is a Game Changer
Read Access to Deeds and Land Records in Virginia Part 1 – The Ghost of Title Search Past here. In my previous article in December 2023, I shared a glimpse from the past related to how individuals and businesses involved in the title industry conducted title searches by visiting 120 records rooms in the offices … Continue reading Access to Deeds and Land Records in Virginia: A Thirty-Year Perspective Part 2 – Digital Conversion is a Game Changer
Tax Sales in Virginia – Part Two
Read Tax Sales in Virginia - Part One here. Litigation After the pre-litigation publication and mailed notice periods have expired a complaint can be filed with the circuit court asking that the property be sold for the delinquent taxes. The complaint generally tells the story of the real estate. It should indicate whose name the … Continue reading Tax Sales in Virginia – Part Two