How to protect your deed in Virginia. Can someone really sell my house?

Protect Your Home from Deed Fraud — Virginia’s Free VADeed Alert Has You Covered!

Hey friends! Today I want to share something really important that every Virginia property owner should know about. It’s called VADeed Alert, and it’s a free service that could literally save your home. Yes, really — so stick with me here!

What in the World is Deed Fraud? Can someone really sell my house?

You may not have heard much about deed fraud, but it’s a growing problem all across the country — and Virginia is not immune. Here’s how it works: a scammer fakes a homeowner’s signature on a deed and files it with the local land records office, essentially “transferring” ownership of your property to themselves — all without you knowing a thing. Once they’ve pulled that off, they can sell your home, take out a mortgage on it, or even rent it out.

I know. It sounds absolutely wild. But it happens, and it’s becoming more and more common. The good news? Virginia has done something about it.

Introducing VADeed Alert 🎉

The Virginia Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia has launched VADeed Alert — a free, easy-to-use notification system designed to give property owners an early heads-up if something is filed under their name or property ID in the land records system.

In fact, the Virginia Supreme Court recently ordered all 133 counties and independent cities across the state to implement this system. That means no matter where in Virginia you own property, this tool is available to you!

Here’s the simple version of how it works: you sign up, and if anything gets recorded in the land records that matches your name or property information, you get an email. That’s it!

Why This Matters

VADeed Alert doesn’t prevent fraud from happening — no system can do that entirely. What it does do is give you timely notice so you can take action quickly if something looks wrong. Think of it as an early warning system, like a smoke detector for your property.

As one local Clerk of Court put it: “We can’t prevent fraud, but we can notify you if something is filed under your name, your tax ID, or your property number.” And that notification can make all the difference in stopping a bad situation before it gets worse.

How to Register

The service is voluntary and enrollment only took me a few minutes.

Visit the VADeed Alert Login Portal.
Create a new account using your email address.
Enter your specific preferences, including name variations and the Tax Map/Parcel ID numbers for your properties. (You can typically find your Parcel ID on your local city or county GIS/land records website). If you can’t find it and want my help I’m happy to find it in the Multiple Listing Service.

Easy as that!

What to Do if You Receive an Alert

If you get an alert for a document you did not authorize, the Supreme Court of Virginia advises that you take the following steps immediately:

Contact your local Circuit Court Clerk’s office to review exactly what was recorded.
Contact local law enforcement if you suspect you are a victim of fraud or identity theft.
Consult a legal professional to discuss how to remove fraudulent filings from your title.

A Small Step That Makes a Big Difference

We lock our doors, we set our alarms, we have home insurance — this is just one more simple, free step we can take to protect one of our most valuable assets. If you own property in Virginia, I really hope you’ll take two minutes today to sign up.

And hey, share this with your neighbors, your family, your friends — anyone who owns property in Virginia! The more people who know about VADeed Alert, the better protected our whole community will be.

Stay safe out there, friends! 🏡

The Best Part? It’s Completely Free.

Here’s everything you need to know about VADeed Alert at a glance: