Article & permission to reprint by James L. Windsor, Kaufman & Canoles, P.C. In July of 2025, the Court of Appeals of Virginia issued a significant 24-page opinion in David Tidwell, et al. v. Kenneth. M Goldsmith, et al., Record No. 0629-24-1 and Record No. 0666-24-1, in consolidated cases concerning the ownership and use of certain easements. In … Continue reading Title Insurance Client Alert – Important Court of Appeals of Virginia Opinion Concerning the Ownership and Use of Certain Easements
Article by Hayden-Anne Breedlove In January, the Virginia Land Title Association launched its first Book Club discussion. The inaugural selection was The Coming Wave: Technology, Power, and the Twenty-First Century’s Greatest Dilemma by Mustafa Suleyman. The book examines the rapid emergence of powerful technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, and the challenges societies face in managing them … Continue reading The Coming Wave: Reflections from VLTA’s First Book Club
Contact ALTA at 202-296-3671 or communications@alta.org. Below you will find five ALTA links listed in chronological order (oldest to newest): Behind Every Closing: The Complex Work of Clearing TitleMarch 10, 2026New research from ALTA shows the work performed by the title insurance industry, which includes searching property records, identifying defects and resolving issues before closing, … Continue reading What’s New With ALTA – March 2026
We’re excited to kick off this Spring 2026 issue of the VLTA Examiner Magazine with our Top 10 most popular articles from 2025 — showcasing the topics and trends that resonated most with the industry, at a glance: “Twenty Helpful Title Research Tools Found Outside of the Land Records” by Michelle L. Statz & Jerry … Continue reading VLTA Top 10 Articles of 2025
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Article by Sharron Kennovin Dear VLTA Members, I hope this message finds you well and that you have successfully weathered the biting cold of this past winter. It certainly felt like one of the harshest seasons we have experienced in quite some time, and I am personally thrilled to see warmer temperatures and the first … Continue reading VLTA Spring 2026 President’s Message
1. Why are you a member of VLTA? I joined VLTA because it brings together professionals who share a common goal: protecting the land title industry in a landscape that is constantly evolving with new developments in technology, new regulations, and market fluctuations. The title industry plays a sometimes quiet but essential role in every real … Continue reading VLTA Board of Director Spotlight: Jessica Snead
Article by Anna Marie Sossong *ALERT from Financial Crimes Enforcement Network: In light of a federal court decision, reporting persons are not currently required to file real estate reports with FinCEN and are not subject to liability if they fail to do so while the order remains in force.* For many years, the Financial Crimes … Continue reading The FinCEN Residential Real Estate Reporting Obligation
Article by Katherine Hunnicutt The moon hung low over the Virginia hills, casting long shadows across the path as Charles W. Thomas pressed onward, the weight of Big Lick’s future tucked securely against his chest. He had left the energetic and decisive voices of the Big Lick elites who had drafted the proposal; here in … Continue reading The History of Hotel Roanoke, Part 1: From Big Lick to Roanoke
Article by Michael Holden In November, the Ohio state legislature passed Senate Bill 155, promulgating regulations on real estate wholesaling in an effort to address lack of transparency and predatory practices against vulnerable homeowners in this emerging trend. Real estate wholesaling is considered an entry level “investment strategy,” where a wholesaler identifies likely targets, usually … Continue reading New State Laws Seek to Address Lack of Transparency in Real Estate Wholesaling
The Anal Retentive Title Underwriter (ARTU) was the brainchild of Claire Kennett, the first Editor-in-Chief to succeed Bill Johnston, and the idea was born during the GALA Celebration at the 2011 VLTA Convention at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond when Tim Akers became President. Historically, ARTU was presented from the perspective of an Underwriter, and the format … Continue reading A History of the Anal Retentive Title Underwriter (ARTU)
Article by Jerry C. Booth, Jr. The Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act (Virginia Code § 64.2-621 et seq.) became effective on July 1, 2013. It was enacted to permit Transfer on Death Deeds (“TODD’s”) which can be used to transfer title to real estate after the death of the owner to a named … Continue reading Transfer on Death Deeds in Virginia
Article by Stephanie Armstrong, Esq.Senior Underwriting Counsel, First American Title Insurance Company Introduction Trusts play a vital role in modern real estate transactions and estate planning. They offer privacy, flexibility, and significant procedural advantages—particularly in avoiding probate and managing complex ownership structures. This article examines the legal foundations of Trusts under Virginia law, their practical … Continue reading The Use of Trusts in Real Estate Transactions
Article provided by Tina Townsend with First Citizens Bank Over the past few years, always-available instant payment systems have emerged to help businesses send and receive payments faster and more securely. These platforms were promptly embraced by a wide range of businesses and are increasingly being adopted by title companies across the US. In this … Continue reading The Future of Closings: Real-Time Payments for Virginia Title Companies
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’
Contact ALTA at 202-296-3671 or communications@alta.org. FinCEN Delays AML Real Estate Reporting RuleSeptember 30, 2025The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) announced Sept. 30 it will postpone reporting requirements of the Anti-Money Laundering Regulations for Residential Real Estate Transfers Rule until March 1, 2026. ALTA Elects David Townsend as PresidentOctober 9, … Continue reading What’s New With ALTA – December 2025
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