Virginia Statewide Title Services, LLC is an affiliated business of Virginia Credit Union and Bon Air Title. It was created to serve the members of Virginia Credit Union with title insurance needs. Virginia Statewide Title Services? offers affordable, one-time premiums to protect you against defects in the title to your property. In fact, our standard policies include coverage that others either don’t offer or for which they charge a premium. Compare us to other title companies. You’ll see we offer the best service and coverage at competitive rates. Features & Benefits Extensive experience insuring property Compares rates and terms among insurers to find the best value for each client’s policy Discounted rates for property previously insured through one of our companies Timely processing of all orders Our goal is to provide the best title products, at the best prices, with the best service in central Virginia. Products Owner's Title Coverage An owner's policy is optional and protects the borrower if someone challenges a property title based on any title defects that were unknown when the policy was purchased. The coverage protects the borrower and their heirs as long as they have an interest in the property. To obtain this coverage, the borrower pays a one-time premium at closing. In the event there is claim against the title in the future, the title insurer, without expense to the policy holder, will defend the borrower against a challenge to the property title. We encourage you to speak to your closing attorney about the benefits of title insurance to help you understand the importance of having an owner’s policy and the risk you take when you do not have a policy which gives you protection. Lender's Title Insurance A lender's policy protects the mortgage lender if someone challenges a property title based on any title defects that were unknown when the policy was purchased. When a buyer obtains a mortgage in order to purchase their new home, it is usually a loan requirement that the buyer obtain a Lender’s Title Insurance Policy. The coverage doesn’t provide any protection for the buyer. If there is a complete failure of title, the buyer may have no protection and may lose both the property and the equity in the property. The buyer could also incur legal fees and any tax penalties assessed against the property. A buyer should never presume that the lender obtained title insurance for them. Carriers We underwrite through the top underwriting companies in the area: Chicago Title First American Title Fidelity National Title Old Republic Closing Attorneys Participating attorneys indicated below provide VACU members with a special refinancing closing rate. This information is provided as a guide. Please tell your VACU mortgage processor if you would like to use a Virginia Statewide Title Services attorney. Caroline, King William, Essex, King & Queen James C. Driggs, Esq. Email James 9464 Chamberlayne Road, Suite 200 Mechanicsville, VA 23116 Map This Location Phone: (804) 220-9013 Travis P. Hughes, Esq. Email Travis 10160 Staples Mill Road, Suite 105 Glen Allen, VA 23060 Map This Location Phone: (804) 545-6250 Fax: (804) 545-6259 Edward A. Meyer, Jr., Esq. Email Edward 5600 Grove Avenue Richmond, VA 23226 Map This Location Phone: (804) 285-3888 Fax: (804) 285-7779 Charlottesville Ashleigh M. Pivonka, Esq. Email Ashleigh 414 Park Street Charlottesville, VA 22902 Map This Location Phone: (434) 977-0191 Fax: (434) 977-0198 Chesterfield (Bon Air) Mary Phillips Adams, Esq. Email Mary 2800 Buford Road, Suite 201 Richmond, VA 23235 Map This Location Phone: (804) 320-6600 Fax: (804) 320-8040 (Habla Español) W. Richard Hairfield, Esq. Email Richard 2800 Buford Road, Suite 201 Richmond, VA 23235 Map This Location Phone: (804) 320-6600 Fax: (804) 320-8040 Vicki S. Horst, Esq. Email Vicki 2800 Buford Road, Suite 201 Richmond, VA 23235 Map This Location Phone: (804) 320-6600 Fax: (804) 320-8040 J. Patrick Keith, Esq. Email J. Patrick 2727 McRae Road Richmond, VA 23235 Map This Location Phone: (804) 272-1491 Fax: (804) 272-3317 Kimberly A. Keith, Esq. Email Kimberly 2727 McRae Road Richmond, VA 23235 Map This Location Phone: (804) 272-1491 Fax: (804) 272-3317 Chesterfield (Genito) Kevin C. Cousins, Esq. Email Kevin 3520-A Courthouse Road Richmond, VA 23236 Map This Location Phone: (804) 745-2144 Fax: (804) 674-5217 Thomas L. Gordon, Esq. Email Thomas 10303 Memory Lane Chesterfield, VA 23832 Map This Location Phone: (804) 748-8153 Fax: (804) 748-3287 William D. Hamner, Esq. Email William 3520-A Courthouse Road Richmond, VA 23236 Map This Location Phone: (804) 745-2144 Fax: (804) 674-5217 S. Craig Lane, Esq. Email S. Craig 3520-A Courthouse Road Richmond, VA 23236 Map This Location Phone: (804) 745-2144 Fax: (804) 674-5217 Sarah Lane Gonzalez, Esq. Email Sarah 3520-A Courthouse Road Richmond, VA 23236 Map This Location Phone: (804) 745-2144 Fax: (804) 674-5217 Joshua F. Snider, Esq. Email Joshua 3520-A Courthouse Road Richmond, VA 23832 Map This Location Phone: (804) 745-2144 Fax: (804) 674-5217 Chesterfield (Koger) D. Heath Gates, Jr., Esq. Email Heath 1930 Huguenot Road Richmond, VA 23235 Map This Location Phone: (804) 320-9100 Fax: (804) 323-7006 Drew DiStanislao, Esq. Email Drew 1930 Huguenot Road Richmond, VA 23235 Map This Location Phone: (804) 320-9100 Fax: (804) 323-7006 Brooke Stephenson Barden, Esq. Email Brooke 1330 Alverser Plaza Midlothian, VA 23113 Map This Location Phone: (804) 794-8070 Fax: (804) 794-5475 Colonial Heights/Petersburg D. Heath Gates Jr., Esq. Email Heath 1930 Huguenot Road Richmond, VA 23235 Map This Location Phone: (804) 320-9100 Fax: (804) 323-7006 Vicki S. Horst, Esq. Email Vicki 2800 Buford Road, Suite 201 Richmond, VA 23235 Map This Location Phone: (804) 320-6600 Fax: (804) 320-8040 Farmville David H. Gates, Esq. Email David 1930 Huguenot Road Richmond, VA 23235 Map This Location Phone: (804) 320-9100 Fax: (804) 323-7006 Hanover James C. Driggs, Esq. Email James 13137 Rivers Bend Blvd. Chester, VA 23836 Map This Location Phone: (804) 220-9013 William D. Hamner, Esq. Email William 100 England Street Ashland, VA 23005 Map This Location Phone: (804) 798-5231 Fax: (804) 674-5217 Travis P. Hughes, Esq. Email Travis 10160 Staples Mill Road, Suite 105 Glen Allen, VA 23060 Map This Location Phone: (804) 545-6250 Fax: (804) 545-6259 Henrico - Far West End Michael P. Lafayette, Esq. Email Michael 10160 Staples Mill Road, Suite 105 Glen Allen, VA 23060 Map This Location Phone: (804) 545-6250 Fax: (804) 545-6259 Faiz T. Shaheen, Esq. Email Faiz 15871 City View Drive Midlothian, VA 23113 Map This Location Phone: (804) 285-6406 Fax: (804) 285-8048 Blaise Shaheen, Esq. Email Blaise 15871 City View Drive Midlothian, VA 23113 Map This Location Phone: (804) 285-6406 Fax: (804) 285-8048 Travis P. Hughes, Esq. Email Travis 10160 Staples Mill Road, Suite 105 Glen Allen, VA 23060 Map This Location Phone: (804) 545-6250 Fax: (804) 545-6259 Henrico - Near West End Timothy D. Freshly, Esq. Email Timothy 8890 Three Chopt Road Richmond, VA 23229 Map This Location Phone: (804) 285-6406 Fax: (804) 285-8048 Robert Kastenbaum, Esq. Email Robert 4900 Radford Avenue Richmond, VA 23230 Map This Location Phone: (804) 355-7900 Fax: (804) 355-9297 Victor A. Shaheen, Esq. Email Victor 8890 Three Chopt Road Richmond, VA 23229 Map This Location Phone: (804) 285-6406 Fax: (804) 285-8048 Victor A. Shaheen,Jr., Esq. Email Victor 8890 Three Chopt Road Richmond, VA 23229 Map This Location Phone: (804) 285-6406 Fax: (804) 285-8048 George Gray, Esq. Email George 4900 Radford Avenue Richmond, VA 23230 Map This Location Phone: (804) 355-7900 Fax: (804) 355-9297 Jon Kastenbaum, Esq. Email Jon 4900 Radford Avenue Richmond, VA 23230 Map This Location Phone: (804) 355-7900 Fax: (804) 355-9297 Travis P. Hughes, Esq. Email Travis 10160 Staples Mill Road, Suite 105 Glen Allen, VA 23060 Map This Location Phone: (804) 545-6250 Fax: (804) 545-6259 Richmond Mark A. Fleckenstein & Associates, PC Email Mark 311 South Boulevard Richmond, VA 23220 Map This Location Phone: (804) 358-9400, ext. 409 Fax: (804) 358-9089 Edward A. Meyer, Jr., Esq. Email Edward 5600 Grove Avenue Richmond, VA 23226 Map This Location Phone: (804) 285-3888 Fax: (804) 285-7779 George R. Parrish, Esq. Email George 5600 Grove Avenue Richmond, VA 23226 Map This Location Phone: (804) 285-3888 Fax: (804) 285-7779 Lawrence H. Pearson, Jr., Esq. Email Lawrence 311 South Boulevard Richmond, VA 23220 Map This Location Phone: (804) 358-9400 Fax: (804) 358-9089 Adam Young, Esq. Email Adam 311 South Boulevard Richmond, VA 23220 Map This Location Phone: (804) 358-9400 Fax: (804) 358-9089 Suzanne L. Long, Esq. Email Suzanne 5600 Grove Avenue Richmond, VA 23226 Map This Location Phone: (804) 285-3888 Fax: (804) 285-7779 Waynesboro Franchesca Gomez, Esq. Email Franchesca 109 S. Wayne Avenue Waynesboro, VA 22980 Map This Location Phone: (540) 932-2424 Fax: (540) 932-2424 Contact Us Virginia Statewide Title Services and its closing attorneys are happy to help you find the right insurance coverage, give you a quote, and answer any questions you may have. Please contact your VACU mortgage processor if you have any questions about your mortgage loan. Phone Call us at 804-320-4234, Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm Fax Send a fax transmission to (804) 521-7968 Mail Virginia Statewide Title Services 9211 Forest Hill Avenue, Suite 102 Richmond, VA 23235 Resources Ways to insure a smooth closing Sales transaction chart What is title insurance? The term “title” refers to all the elements that constitute your legal right to own, use, control, and enjoy real estate. Before you purchased your home, it may have gone through several ownership changes and the land on which it stands went through many more. A weak link at any point in that chain could cause trouble. Simply put, title insurance is protection from loss arising from problems connected to the title to your property. Unfortunately, a defect in your title can have devastating effects if you are not properly insured. You may not be able to take out a home equity loan or you may be denied a building permit for an addition. You might even incur the costs to correct the violation. Is purchasing title insurance required? Title insurance is broken into two parts: A lender's policy is mandatory and protects your lender if someone challenges your title to your property An owner's policy is optional and protects the borrower against challenges to their title. Most lending institutions will not loan you money on a home or other property unless a mortgagee title policy is purchased. Title insurance will repay the balance of your mortgage if a claim against the property voids your title ownership to the property. What period does title insurance cover? Title insurance generally only protects against losses arising from events that occurred prior to the date of the policy. Coverage ends on the day the policy is issued and extends backward in time for an indefinite period. This is in marked contrast to property insurance, which protects against losses resulting from events that occur after the policy is issued, for a specified period into the future. How long does title insurance stay in effect? Lender's policies remain in effect until the loan is repaid. Most lenders require the purchase of a new Lender's title policy if you refinance your home because the existing policy expires when the existing mortgage loan is paid off. You are entitled to a premium discount on a new Lender's policy for the same property if you refinance within the first seven years. An owner's policy remains in effect as long as you or your heirs have an interest in the property. Steps in the title process Initial Request An order for title insurance is opened with a title officer. A preliminary report can be issued with a minimum of information, without even identifying the buyer. It shows the record title as it presently exists and is only an offer to provide insurance. On-Site Searching and Examining A title officer performs three searches: Property, Name, and Tax searches. From that information, a preliminary report is created. Technical Review Once a preliminary report is issued, a technical analysis of the documents of the record begins. This view of all recorded matters is made to evaluate their impact on the title to the property. Inspection Analysis In anticipation of coverage, an inspection of the site is ordered. From the inspection report, the title product is amended to show any encroachments or other matters which would ultimately impact the title. 12 reasons to have title insurance By insuring your title, you can eliminate delays and technicalities when passing it on to someone else. Here's a list of just some of the hidden risks title insurance protects you from. Deeds by persons of unsound mind Deeds by minors Deeds by persons who are supposedly single but are in fact married Undisclosed or missing heirs False impersonation of the true owner of the property Forged deeds, releases or wills Instruments executed under invalid or expired power of attorney Mistakes in recording legal documents Misinterpretations of wills Liens for unpaid estate, inheritance, income or gift taxes Deeds signed while the grantor was in bankruptcy Defects in the recording of a document upon which your title is dependent Title services are offered through Virginia Statewide Title Services, in which VACU holds ownership interest. Virginia Statewide Title Services maintains its own privacy policy.