There is a clever letter campaign being conducted by an Illinois company that targets Hampton Roads home owners. Although the letter does not break the law, it comes across as something you should urgently do -- obtain from them a Certified Copy of your Deed. The letter was smartly brought to our attention by a client who was confused.

Following are some helpful facts about your Deed:

• All of our clients receive back from us their original recorded Deed. This should also be true of most law firms that handle real estate transactions.

• Ordinarily, there is no compelling reason for you to maintain a certified copy of your Deed. If you have misplaced or lost your Deed and we performed your closing, we can usually provide a copy to you at no charge.

• If for some reason you need a clerk-certified copy of your Deed, you can write or visit your City Clerk's office and obtain a certified copy of your Deed for about $2 per document, plus about 50 cents per page (each city may vary). An average Deed is two pages, so that's about $3.00 for a certified copy -- a far better price than what the Illinois company offers.

• If you need a certified copy of your Deed and would rather not deal with the City Clerk's office, we can obtain a court certified copy for you.

• Home owners should possess a copy of their Deed as a means to confirm ownership of their property, but a copy of your recorded Deed is always available at your city or county courthouse.

• When someone responds to the Illinois letter or a similar campaign, they're essentially giving their financial (credit card/checking account) information to these unknown companies.

If anyone is asking about your Deed, feel free to contact us for assistance at (757) 490-3500.