Validating DataAnnotations with Validator class

I found the answer here: http://forums.silverlight.net/forums/p/149264/377212.aspx

MVC recognizes the MetaDataType attribute, but other projects do not. Before validating, you need to manually register the metadata class:

TypeDescriptor.AddProviderTransparent(
            new AssociatedMetadataTypeTypeDescriptionProvider(typeof(Persona), typeof(Persona_Validation)), typeof(Persona));

ValidationContext context = new ValidationContext(p, null, null);
List<ValidationResult> results = new List<ValidationResult>();

bool valid = Validator.TryValidateObject(p, context, results, true);