-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UukbAPTdrxatcwUXxg+r2n/nPIJB2n2XXTpMT8M9c0mm8cx13nR4W/7IEC4IaGbk
 FIzJR3c92xnBm8fUTscxug==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001201213-04-000148.txt : 20041005
<SEC-HEADER>0001201213-04-000148.hdr.sgml : 20041005
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041005160316
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001201213-04-000148
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041001
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041005
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041005

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:		041066176

	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>2004-10-01</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>2004-10-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>160.8062</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>46.64</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>160.8062</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5337.3044</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The deferred stock units acquired on the first of the month are the result of an outside director's quarterly retainer fee as specified in the issuer's proxy statement, payable on the first day of the subsequent quarter in the form of stock, based on the closing price of the issuer's stock on the first day of the current month.  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>2004-10-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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