Title Law in Virginia

Agenda / Content Covered

All times are shown in Eastern time.

1. THE LAW OF REAL ESTATE TITLES
   9:00 - 10:00, Trevor B. Reid
   1. The Background of Real Estate Titles
   2. Current Issues in Conveyancing Practice
   3. Typical and Atypical Liens and Encumbrances
   4. Q&A
2. THE PROCESS OF TITLE EXAMINATION
   10:00 - 11:15, Minturn Wright
   1. Forms, Practice Pointers and Procedures
   2. Finding and Resolving Issues Through Examination of the Records
      1. Defects in Execution
      2. Homestead and Statutory Rights
      3. Heir's Deeds
      4. Missing or Incorrect Elements in Documents
      5. Old Roads and Old Subdivisions
   3. Examination of the Abstract of Title
   4. Q&A
3. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
   11:30 - 12:30, Meredith L. Yoder
   1. Attorneys' Fees
   2. Conflicts of Interest
   3. Multiple Representation
   4. Disclosure of Defects in Property
   5. Q&A
4. PREPARING THE TITLE OPINION AND ISSUES IN TITLE INSURANCE
   1:30 - 2:45, Brian Sneath
   1. Organizing and Analyzing Information
   2. What is Marketable Title?
   3. Introduction to Title Insurance
   4. Drafting and Negotiating Title Insurance Policies
   5. ALTA Owner's and Lender's Title Insurance Policies
   6. Availability of Expanded Coverage Policies Provided by ALTA
   7. The Role of the State
   8. Governmental Control
   9. Q&A
5. TRANSFER OF TITLE
   3:00 - 4:30, Trevor B. Reid
   1. Voluntary Transfers
      1. Legal Requirements for an Effective Conveyance
      2. Types of Deeds
   2. Involuntary Transfers
      1. Foreclosures of Mortgages or Deeds of Trusts
      2. Mechanics' Lien Foreclosures
      3. Foreclosures of Tax and Other Liens
      4. Adverse Possession
      5. Condemnation
      6. Reversion of Title
      7. Forfeitures of Title
   3. Private Covenants and Restrictions
   4. Q&A

TREVOR B. REID is a shareholder with the Richmond law firm of Parker, Pollard, Wilton & Peaden, P.C., practicing in the areas of commercial real estate, business law, and civil litigation. Mr. Reid's practice focuses primarily on the representation of secured lenders and property owners in matters ranging from workouts of distressed loans to the resolution of title defects. He also represents corporations and other business entities with respect to entity formation, corporate authority issues, director and officer liability, and business tort litigation. Mr. Reid is a member of the Virginia State Bar, the Richmond Bar Association, the Henrico County Bar Association, and the John Marshall Inn of Court. He earned his B.A. degree from Gonzaga University and his J.D. degree from the University of Richmond.

BRIAN SNEATH is a settlement attorney at Double Eagle Title Company in Virginia. He conducts residential and commercial real estate settlements. He is admitted to practice in Virginia. Mr. Sneath earned his B.A. degree from George Mason University and his J.D. degree from Syracuse University College of Law.

MINTURN WRIGHT is a founding partner with Shannon Mullins & Wright LLP, in Alexandria, Virginia, where he primarily represents clients in real estate transactions and litigation matters. His two-plus decades of experience as a lawyer have been almost equally divided between real estate transfers and other transactions, and litigation (principally real estate, tax appeals and tax sales, civil rights, and insurance defense). He also has had experience dealing with environmental issues, business entities (corporations, limited liability companies, and the like), and patent/trademark issues, particularly licensing. Mr. Wright earned his B.S. degree from Yale University and his J.D., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Southern California. He is admitted to practice in Virginia, the District of Columbia, and California; and before the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, United States District Court for the Northern District of California, United States District Court for the Central District of California, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.

MEREDITH L. YODER is a shareholder with the Richmond law firm of Parker, Pollard, Wilton & Peaden, P.C. His practice focuses on business litigation, real estate litigation, trust and estate litigation, and general corporate law. Mr. Yoder represents insured lenders, insured owners, and a number of title insurance companies in title defect and title insurance coverage litigation cases throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. He is a member of the Virginia State Bar, the Virginia Bar Association, the Henrico Bar Association, and the Richmond Bar Association. Mr. Yoder earned his B.A. degree, magna cum laude, at Messiah College and his J.D. degree at Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William & Mary.