-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Sc+QNRx4N4hs2RI4oKJ/EufKgRM9Oo4+zflHHMZewaudKREdjCB8rwNzvdQ2zI0j
 M6f/bR1qcsu4397nMahbMg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001201213-04-000140.txt : 20040917
<SEC-HEADER>0001201213-04-000140.hdr.sgml : 20040917
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040917171710
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001201213-04-000140
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040915
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040917
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040917

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SMITH JULIOUS P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001174644

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13990
		FILM NUMBER:		041036387

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4951 LAKE BROOK DR
		STREET 2:		STE 500
		CITY:			GLEN ALLEN
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23060

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LANDAMERICA FINANCIAL GROUP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000877355
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TITLE INSURANCE [6361]
		IRS NUMBER:				541589611
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			VA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		101 GATEWAY CTR PKWAY
		STREET 2:		GATEWAY ONE
		CITY:			RICHMOND
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23235
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8042678000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 27567
		CITY:			RICHMOND
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23261

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	LAWYERS TITLE CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930328
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-09-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000877355</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LANDAMERICA FINANCIAL GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LFG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001174644</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SMITH JULIOUS P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>WILLIAMS MULLEN</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1021 EAST CARY STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RICHMOND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>23219</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Deferred Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-09-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>17.3246</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>44.67</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1988-08-08</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>1988-08-08</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>17.3246</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5176.4982</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The deferred stock units were acquired under a company deferral plan as a result of a dividend paid by the issuer on September 15, 2004.  There is no conversion or exercise price of derivative security (Box 2), or no exercisable or expiration date (Box 6) for this transaction.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Wm. Chadwick Perrine  For: Julious P. Smith, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-09-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----