Essentials of Title Examination (Online Seminar)

Real estate serves as most individuals’ largest value asset and makes up the collateral for their largest debts. Yet those transactions are only as good as the title to the real estate. A properly conducted title examination assures both purchaser and lender they are getting what they bargained for. The process of examination is part mechanical, part intuition, part historical research, part terror, and part drudgery. Yet the proper end result is a magic that fuels dreams.

This course will provide a basic overview of title examination processes and procedures in Virginia. Focus areas will include the various records maintained by Clerk of the Circuit Court, records maintained by the locality, and the indices to those records, which make finding the data pertaining to the transaction at hand possible.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Douglass W. Dewing, Douglass W. Dewing Title Examination LC / Henrico

Douglass W. Dewing has practiced law in Virginia for over 20 years. His clients have included the Commonwealth of Virginia's State Highway Commissioner and the City of Virginia Beach. He has assisted with title examinations needed in order to acquire land for various road and municipal projects. In 1987 he joined Lawyers Title Insurance Corporation, and has served as a title attorney, branch counsel, state counsel, and commercial counsel in offices in Norfolk, Fredericksburg, and, following the purchase of Lawyers Title by the Fidelity National Title Group, Richmond, Virginia. Mr. Dewing has provided continuing education seminars for lawyers, title insurers, lenders, surveyors, and real estate agents on a variety of topics. He has written articles for different industry trade publications on matters respecting real estate titles and has been an occasional expert witness on real estate matters.

Edward Ray Waugaman, Attorney and Counselor at Law / Newport News

Edward Ray Waugaman is a real estate attorney who has served as regional counsel for title operations and underwriting, including claims litigation, for national and regional title insurance underwriters and agencies, and is currently in private practice.  He has served in leadership capacities in Real Property sections of the VSB, VBA, and VLTA and recognized as the 2014 Traver Scholar Award recipient.  He is a former adjunct professor of real estate law at CNU and a frequent seminar lecturer in various topics of continuing legal education programs.  He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Virginia Tech and his Juris Doctor’s degree from George Mason University School of Law.