One of the things I’ve learned after more than 20 years working in real estate is that most people assume once they own their property, their ownership is completely secure.

Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.

Across the country there has been a growing problem known as deed fraud — where someone fraudulently files documents with the local land records office attempting to transfer ownership of a property without the owner’s knowledge.

It sounds unbelievable, but it happens.

And I’ll tell you something personally: I have witnessed fraud attempts involving property records, which is why I strongly encourage homeowners to take advantage of a new free service available here in Virginia.

VADeed Alert: A Simple Way to Monitor Your Property

The Clerk of Circuit Court for Williamsburg–James City County recently announced a program called VADeed Alert, a free notification service that allows property owners to monitor activity involving their name or property in the land records system.

The system was created by the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia and is available to all property owners across the Commonwealth.

Once you sign up, the system will send you an email notification anytime a document is recorded in the land records that matches:

• Your name
• Your business name
• Your Tax Map or Parcel ID number

If something shows up that you didn’t authorize, the alert allows you to investigate immediately.

Why This Matters

According to Elizabeth E. O’Connor, Clerk of Circuit Court for Williamsburg–James City County:

“Deed fraud is a growing concern nationwide. VADeed Alert gives property owners a simple and effective way to stay informed and take quick action if something doesn’t look right.”

The program does not prevent documents from being recorded, and it does not determine whether a filing is legitimate.

What it does do is provide early awareness, which can be extremely important if something suspicious appears in the land records.

Key Features of VADeed Alert

The program is very straightforward:

• Free to use
• Available to all Virginia property owners
• Alerts are sent by email
• You can monitor your name, business name, or Tax Map/Parcel ID

Registration only takes a couple minutes online.

How to Sign Up

You can enroll here:

https://risweb.vacourts.gov/VADeedAlert/#/login

Once registered, you’ll begin receiving notifications anytime a document matching your information appears in the land records.

Questions?

If you have questions about VADeed Alert or local land records, you can contact the Williamsburg–James City County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office:

📞 757-564-2349
📧 wjcclandrecords@vacourts.gov

The Clerk’s office maintains official court records including land records, probate filings, and civil and criminal case documents.

My Advice as a Realtor

After working with hundreds of homeowners over the years, I’ve learned that protecting your property is just as important as buying it in the first place.

That’s why I strongly recommend every property owner sign up for VADeed Alert.

It costs nothing, takes only a few minutes, and provides another layer of protection.

And speaking from experience — fraud involving property records is real.

Anything that helps homeowners keep an eye on their property ownership is a good idea in my book.

About Me

I’m John Womeldorf, also known locally as Mr. Williamsburg.

I’m a Realtor with Liz Moore & Associates, and I’ve been helping people buy and sell homes in Williamsburg and throughout the region for more than 20 years.

I write articles like this because I believe real estate isn’t just about buying and selling homes — it’s also about helping people understand the systems, policies, and resources that affect property ownership.

If you ever have questions about real estate in Williamsburg, property values, or the buying and selling process, feel free to reach out anytime.

📞 Call or Text: 757-254-8136
📧 Email: John@MrWilliamsburg.com
🌐 Website: https://mrwilliamsburg.com