09/01/2026
🚨 with Title Write! A RECORDED LIEN ≠ DEBT!
A recent Virginia Court of Appeals decision reminds us: don’t assume a recorded credit line deed of trust means money is still owed. In Refund Recovery Specialist, LLC v. City of Norfolk, the court found that the absence of a certificate of satisfaction does not prove an outstanding debt exists.
🔎 UNDERWRITER TAKEAWAY:
Before treating a recorded credit line deed of trust as a claim against tax sale surplus, verify that an actual debt exists and determine the amount owed.
The lien may be on record. But is there really a debt behind it? That’s the question. 👀