dcrodriguez/Code-of-Virginia huggingface dataset:
Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 4 (Fraudulent and Voluntary Conveyances; Writings Necessary to be Recorded)
§ 55.1-408. Where to be recorded.
Notwithstanding that any writing is recorded in one county or city in which there is real estate or personal property, it nevertheless is void as to such creditors and purchasers in respect to other real estate or personal property without such recording until it is duly recorded in the county or city in which such other real estate or personal property may be located, but it shall be sufficient to record a deed releasing the lien of a deed of trust, in whole or in part, either in the county or city in which the property thereby released is located or in the county or city in which the property so released was situated at the time of the recordation of the deed of trust, and any recordation thereof so made of any such release is hereby validated.

Code 1919, § 5195; Code 1950, § 55-97; 2019, c. 712.

Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 4 (Fraudulent and Voluntary Conveyances; Writings Necessary to be Recorded)
§ 55.1-409. Recordation of instruments affecting civil aircraft of United States.
No instrument that affects the title to or interest in any civil aircraft of the United States, as defined by federal law, or any portion of such aircraft, shall be valid in respect of such aircraft or portion of such aircraft against any person other than the person by whom the instrument is made or to whom the instrument is given, his heir or devisee, and any person having actual notice of such instrument, until such instrument is recorded in the office of the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States, or such other office as is designated by the laws of the United States as the one in which such instruments should be filed. Every such instrument so recorded in such office shall be valid as to all persons without further recordation in any office in the Commonwealth, the provisions of any other recordation statute to the contrary notwithstanding. Any instrument for which recordation is required by the provisions of this section shall take effect from the date of its recordation and not from the date of its execution.

1946, p. 387; Michie Suppl. 1946, § 5194a; Code 1950, § 55-100; 2019, c. 712.

Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 4 (Fraudulent and Voluntary Conveyances; Writings Necessary to be Recorded)
§ 55.1-410. Priority of writings when admitted to record same day.
Unless otherwise provided for in this chapter, when two or more writings pertaining to the same property are recorded in the same county or city on the same day and stamped with the identical time, the instrument number shall determine the writing that was first recorded. The instrument that was first recorded shall have priority with respect to the property in such county or city.

Code 1919, § 5198; Code 1950, § 55-101; 1987, c. 104; 2019, c. 712.
Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 4 (Fraudulent and Voluntary Conveyances; Writings Necessary to be Recorded)
§ 55.1-411. When writings to be recorded in county, and when in city.
The provisions of this and any other chapter of the Code or of any subsequent statute, by virtue of which a writing is to be or may be recorded in the county or city in which the property embraced in such writing is located, shall be construed, in respect to the county, as relating only to property within the county and outside the corporate limits of the city having a court in which writings may be lawfully recorded, and, in respect to the city, as relating only to property within the corporate limits of such city having such a court.

Code 1919, § 5199; Code 1950, § 55-102; 2019, c. 712.

Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 4 (Fraudulent and Voluntary Conveyances; Writings Necessary to be Recorded)
§ 55.1-412. Words "creditors" and "purchasers," how construed.
The words "creditors" and "purchasers," when used in any previous section of this chapter, shall not be restricted to the protection of creditors of and purchasers from the grantor, but shall also extend to and embrace all creditors and purchasers who, but for the deed or writing, would have had title to the property conveyed or a right to subject it to their debts.

Code 1919, § 5200; Code 1950, § 55-103; 2019, c. 712.

Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 4 (Fraudulent and Voluntary Conveyances; Writings Necessary to be Recorded)
§ 55.1-413. Lien of subsequent purchaser for purchase money paid before notice.
As against any person claiming under the deed or other writing that has not been recorded before payment by a subsequent purchaser for valuable consideration of the whole or a part of his purchase money, such subsequent purchaser, notwithstanding such deed or other writing recorded before he becomes a complete purchaser, shall have a lien on the property purchased by him for so much of his purchase money as he may have paid before notice of such lien.

Code 1919, § 5200; Code 1950, § 55-104; 2019, c. 712.

Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 4 (Fraudulent and Voluntary Conveyances; Writings Necessary to be Recorded)
§ 55.1-414. When purchaser not affected by record of deed or contract.
A purchaser shall not, under this chapter, be affected by the record of a deed or contract made by a person under whom his title is not derived, nor by the record of a deed or contract made by any person under whom the title of such purchaser is derived, if it was made by such person before he acquired the legal title of record.

Code 1919, § 5201; Code 1950, § 55-105; 2019, c. 712.
Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 5 (Commutation and Valuation of Certain Estates and Interests)
§ 55.1-500. Annuity table.
When a party as tenant for life is entitled to the annual interests on a sum of money, or is entitled to the use of any estate, or a part thereof, and is willing to accept a gross sum in lieu thereof, or the party liable for such interest, or affected by such claim, has the right to pay a gross sum in lieu thereof, or if the court in any legal proceeding orders a gross sum to be paid in lieu thereof, the sum shall be estimated according to the then value of an annuity of eight percent on the principal sum during the probable life of such person, according to the following table, showing in Column I the present value, on the basis of eight percent interest, of an annuity of $1, payable at the end of every year that a person of a given age may be living, for the ages therein stated:

PRESENT VALUE

---------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------
Age last birthday	I life	II lives
Less than one year	12.060	11.670
1	12.291	12.124
2	12.291	12.127
3	12.286	12.120
4	12.278	12.107
5	12.267	12.091
6	12.256	12.071
7	12.242	12.049
8	12.227	12.024
9	12.211	11.996
10	12.192	11.965
11	12.171	11.930
12	12.149	11.892
13	12.125	11.852
14	12.102	11.812
15	12.078	11.773
16	12.055	11.736
17	12.032	11.701
18	12.010	11.666
19	11.988	11.632
20	11.964	11.596
21	11.939	11.559
22	11.913	11.521
23	11.886	11.480
24	11.857	11.437
25	11.824	11.389
26	11.789	11.336
27	11.751	11.278
28	11.709	11.215
29	11.664	11.148
30	11.615	11.075
31	11.564	10.998
32	11.510	10.917
33	11.452	10.831
34	11.391	10.741
35	11.326	10.645
36	11.258	10.545
37	11.186	10.440
38	11.110	10.331
39	11.031	10.217
40	10.948	10.098
41	10.861	9.975
42	10.770	9.847
43	10.675	9.714
44	10.576	9.576
45	10.473	9.434
46	10.365	9.288
47	10.254	9.138
48	10.138	8.983
49	10.018	8.824
50	9.893	8.661
51	9.764	8.493
52	9.631	8.322
53	9.493	8.147
54	9.352	7.970
55	9.207	7.790
56	9.057	7.608
57	8.904	7.423
58	8.747	7.237
59	8.586	7.048
60	8.421	6.856
61	8.252	6.662
62	8.078	6.466
63	7.900	6.267
64	7.718	6.067
65	7.532	5.865
66	7.343	5.663
67	7.150	5.460
68	6.954	5.256
69	6.755	5.052
70	6.552	4.847
71	6.345	4.640
72	6.134	4.431
73	5.920	4.222
74	5.705	4.015
75	5.491	3.812
76	5.279	3.615
77	5.069	3.424
78	4.861	3.239
79	4.654	3.057
80	4.448	2.879
81	4.244	2.706
82	4.044	2.538
83	3.846	2.376
84	3.652	2.217
85	3.459	2.061
86	3.272	1.911
87	3.097	1.774
88	2.934	1.651
89	2.780	1.537
90	2.630	1.426
91	2.485	1.319
92	2.350	1.220
93	2.227	1.131
94	2.118	1.053
95	2.024	0.986
96	1.943	0.931
97	1.873	0.885
98	1.811	0.845
99	1.754	0.810
100	1.701	0.779
101	1.651	0.751
102	1.602	0.726
103	1.550	0.703
104	1.492	0.682
105	1.420	0.661
106	1.322	0.637
107	1.178	0.602
108	0.955	0.535
109	0.595	0.383

1973, c. 355, § 55-269.1; 1981, c. 612; 1990, c. 831; 2019, c. 712.
Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 5 (Commutation and Valuation of Certain Estates and Interests)
§ 55.1-501. Rule of calculation under § 55.1-500.
A. Calculate the interest at eight percent upon the sum to the income of which, or upon the value of the property to the use of which, the person is entitled. Multiply this interest by the present value of an annuity of $1, as set opposite the person's age in the table, and the product is the gross value of the life estate of such person.

B. Example: Suppose a person whose age is 42 is a tenant for life in the whole of an estate worth $10,500. The annual interest on that sum at eight percent is $840. The present value of an annuity of $1 at the age of 42, as shown by the table, is $10.77, which, multiplied by $840, gives $9,046.80 as the gross value of such life estate in the premises, or the proceeds of such life estate.

Code 1919, §§ 5132, 5133; 1946, p. 555; Code 1950, §§ 55-270, 55-271; 1973, c. 355; 1981, c. 612; 1990, c. 831; 2019, c. 712.

Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 5 (Commutation and Valuation of Certain Estates and Interests)
§ 55.1-502. Table of uniform seniority.
When any two parties, as joint tenants for life, are entitled to the annual interest on a sum of money, or are entitled to the use of any estate or a part thereof, and are willing to accept a gross sum in lieu thereof, or the party liable for such interest, or affected by such claim, has the right to pay a gross sum in lieu thereof, or if the court in any legal proceeding orders a gross sum to be paid in lieu thereof, the sum shall be estimated according to the then value of an annuity of eight percent on the principal sum during the probable joint lives of such persons (which probable joint lives shall be computed from the table in this section for computing uniform seniority) as set forth in Column II in the table in § 55.1-500, showing the present value, on the basis of eight percent interest, of an annuity of $1 payable at the end of every year that two persons of given ages may both be living for the ages therein stated:

TABLE OF UNIFORM SENIORITY

---------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------
Difference of age	Addition to younger age
1	1
2	1
3	2
4	2
5	3
6	4
7	4
8	5
9	6
10	7
11	7
12	8
13	9
14	10
15	11
16	12
17	13
18	14
19	14
20	15
21	16
22	17
23	18
24	19
25	20
26	21
27	22
28	23
29	24
30	25
31	26
32	27
33	28
34	29
35	30
36	31
37	32
38	33
39	34
40	35
41	36
42	37
43	38
44	39
45	40
46	41
47	42
48	43
49	44
50	45
51	46
52	47
53	48
54	49
55	50
56	51
57	52
58	53
59	54
60	55
61	56
62	57
63	58
64	59
65	60
66	61
67	62
68	63
69	64
70	65
71	66
72	67
73	68
74	69
75	70

1973, c. 355, § 55-272.1; 1981, c. 612; 2019, c. 712.
Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 5 (Commutation and Valuation of Certain Estates and Interests)
§ 55.1-503. Rules of calculation under § 55.1-502.
A. Calculate the interest at eight percent upon the sum to the income of which, or upon the value of the property to the use of which, the joint life tenants are entitled. Multiply this interest by the present value of an annuity of $1, as shown in Column II of § 55.1-500, for the joint equal age of such joint life tenants. The joint equal age of such tenants shall be obtained as follows: Take the difference in age in years between such tenants and refer to the table in § 55.1-502 and add to the younger age the value opposite such difference, and the sum is the joint equal age; take this joint equal age and refer to the table in § 55.1-500 and find in Column II the value of an annuity of $1 a year payable for life during such joint equal age. The product of the interest and the value of an annuity for a given joint equal age is the gross value of the joint life estate of such person therein.

B. Example: Doe, age 30, and Roe, age 40, are joint tenants for life in the whole of an estate worth $10,500: The difference in ages is 10 and, as shown by the table in § 55.1-502, the value opposite age difference 10 is seven. Seven added to 30, Doe's age, gives 37; as shown by the table in § 55.1-500, the value in Column II for an annuity of $1 for two joint lives at joint equal age 37 is $10.44 and no mills, and this, multiplied by $840 (the interest at eight percent on $10,000), gives $8,769.60 as the gross value of the joint life estate of such persons.

1946, p. 556; Michie Suppl. 1946, § 5133a2; Code 1950, § 55-273; 1973, c. 355; 1981, c. 612; 2019, c. 712.
Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 5 (Commutation and Valuation of Certain Estates and Interests)
§ 55.1-505. Commutation in case of persons under disability.
In any case in which, under the laws of the Commonwealth, a provision is made for commutation in money of a life estate when all the parties interested are under no disability, such provision shall also apply when any of the parties interested are under disability. Where any of the parties interested are under disability, the court may, upon application of the guardian, conservator, committee, or trustee, if any, and, if not, by a guardian ad litem appointed by the clerk or judge of said court, of any such person, on behalf of his ward, and upon hearing evidence satisfactory to such court or judge, enter an order authorizing such guardian, conservator, committee, trustee, or guardian ad litem to consent on behalf of such person under disability to such commutation. Such consent shall be as valid and effective as if the person on whose behalf it was given were sui juris and had given such consent. All judicial orders and decrees entered prior to July 1, 1960, authorizing any such commutation where persons under disability were interested, are hereby validated and confirmed, provided that nothing in this section shall be construed as intended to impair any vested right.

1926, p. 746; Michie Code 1942, § 5133b; 1948, p. 682; Code 1950, § 55-276; 1960, c. 45; 1997, c. 801; 2019, c. 712.

Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 5 (Commutation and Valuation of Certain Estates and Interests)
§ 55.1-506. Commutation of certain life estates.
Whenever a party as tenant for life, or in any other manner, has a life interest in an estate that has been sold under an action for partition or has been reduced to money, stocks, bonds, or notes, susceptible of division and when the total cost of holding such money, stocks, bonds, or notes intact amounts to more than eight percent of the gross annual income, and when the party owning such life estate is willing to accept a lump sum in lieu of such annual income, upon the application of such person entitled to such annual income to any court of record having jurisdiction over the subject matter, the court may order that such party or parties having charge of such money, stocks, bonds, or notes shall pay to the party having the right to receive such annual income a lump sum in accordance with § 55.1-500. This section shall not affect any spendthrift trust.

1926, p. 361; Michie Code 1942, § 5133a; Code 1950, § 55-277; 1973, c. 355; 1981, c. 612; 1990, c. 831; 2005, c. 681; 2019, c. 712.
Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 5.1 (Foreign Entities and Property Ownership)
§ 55.1-507. Definitions.
As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Agricultural land" means real estate in the Commonwealth used or zoned in a manner that would permit the use of the real estate for an agricultural operation.

"Agricultural operation" means any operation devoted to the bona fide production of crops, animals, or fowl, including the production of fruits and vegetables of any kind; meat, dairy, and poultry products; nuts, tobacco, nursery, and floral products; and the production and harvest of products from silvicultural activity.

"Department" means the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

"Foreign adversary" means any foreign government or nongovernment person determined by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to have engaged in a long-term pattern or serious instances of conduct significantly adverse to the national security of the United States or security and safety of United States persons, as set forth in 15 C.F.R. § 7.4 or such successor regulation, declaration, or statute as may exist from time to time.

"Interest in agricultural land" means any right, title, or interest, direct or indirect, in and to (i) agricultural land or (ii) any entity or other organization that holds any right, title, or interest, direct or indirect, in and to agricultural land. For purposes of this definition, any interest that taken on its own or together with any other interest held in common or under common control does not give the holder of the interest the ability to possess or occupy the agricultural land in any manner or the power or authority to direct the conduct of the agricultural operation being conducted on the agricultural land, shall not be deemed an "interest in agricultural land" for purposes of this chapter.

2023, cc. 765, 796; 2023, Sp. Sess. I, c. 1.
Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 5.1 (Foreign Entities and Property Ownership)
§ 55.1-508. Foreign adversary acquisition of agricultural land prohibited.
A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of all citizens of the Commonwealth, on and after July 1, 2023, no foreign adversary shall acquire any interest in agricultural land in the Commonwealth.

B. Any acquisition of any interest in agricultural land in violation of this section shall be void, and title to such interest in agricultural land shall be deemed to have vested as of the date of such purported acquisition in the name of the Commonwealth without any payment of consideration of any kind by the Commonwealth. The foreign adversary purporting to acquire such interest in agricultural land shall be barred from making a claim against any party for restitution of the purchase price paid by such foreign adversary in connection with such interest in agricultural land or for any other kind of payment relating to the foreign adversary's loss or lack of title to such interest in agricultural land. Any lien that has attached to such interest in agricultural land during the foreign adversary's purported acquisition or ownership shall remain a valid lien against the interest during such time as the interest is held by the Commonwealth except that such lien shall not be subject to foreclosure during the period of the Commonwealth's ownership nor shall the Commonwealth be subject to the terms of any agreement giving rise to the lien. The Commonwealth may hold or dispose of such interest in agricultural land in any proper manner.

C. Notwithstanding the provisions in subsection B, if the foreign adversary has subsequently sold or transferred the interest in agricultural land to a person or entity that is not a foreign adversary, title to such interest in agricultural land shall be vested in the subsequent non-foreign adversary purchaser or transferee and shall be valid as if the purported acquisition of such interest in agricultural land by a foreign adversary has not occurred.

D. If an interest in agricultural land has been acquired in violation of this section, a county, city, or town attorney for the locality in which the agricultural land is located, the Attorney General, or any non-foreign adversary person that was a party to the void transaction or is a subsequent holder of such interest may file an action (i) to eject the foreign adversary from possession, (ii) to quiet title to such property, or (iii) for any other appropriate action to ratify the nullification of the transaction. Any action brought pursuant to this subsection shall be filed in the circuit court where the subject property is located.

E. This section shall not be applied in a manner inconsistent with any provision of any treaty between the United States and another country.

2023, cc. 765, 796.
Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 5.1 (Foreign Entities and Property Ownership)
§ 55.1-509. Reporting requirements.
A. Based on the reports submitted to it pursuant to the federal Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act, 7 U.S.C. § 3501 et seq., and other information the Department, at its discretion, deems appropriate, the Department shall compile an annual report in consultation with the appropriate state agencies and boards for each calendar year containing all of the following, if available:

1. The total amount of agricultural land that is under foreign ownership;

2. The percentage change in foreign ownership of agricultural land in the Commonwealth for each year over the prior 10 years;

3. The purpose for which foreign-owned agricultural land in the Commonwealth is being used currently. To the extent such information is available, the Department shall also include any significant recent changes or trends in the uses of foreign-owned agricultural land in the Commonwealth;

4. With the assistance of relevant state agencies, information regarding the extent of, and any recent changes in, foreign ownership of energy production, storage, or distribution facilities in the Commonwealth to the extent such information is available; and

5. Any legislative, regulatory, or administrative policy changes the Department recommends in light of the information in this report.

B. The Department shall publish its inaugural report pursuant to subsection A on its website no later than July 1, 2023, and each subsequent report pursuant to subsection A no later than July 1 of each following year. The Department shall also deliver copies of such report to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources and the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources.

2023, cc. 765, 796.
Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 6 (Recordation of Documents)
§ 55.1-600. When and where writings recorded.
Except when it is otherwise provided, the circuit court of any county or city, or the clerk of any such court, or his duly qualified deputy, in his office, shall record any such writing as to any person whose name is signed thereto with an original signature, when it shall have been acknowledged by him, or proved by two witnesses as to him in such court, or before such clerk, or his duly qualified deputy, in his office, or the manner prescribed in Articles 2 (§ 55.1-612 et seq.), 3 (§ 55.1-616 et seq.), and 4 (§ 55.1-624 et seq.). When such writing is signed by a person acting on behalf of another, or in any representative capacity, the signature of such representative may be acknowledged or proved in the same manner.

Code 1919, § 5204; Code 1950, § 55-106; 1972, c. 130; 1994, c. 554; 2014, c. 338; 2019, c. 712.

Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 6 (Recordation of Documents)
§ 55.1-601. Recording and indexing of certain documents showing changes of names.
A duly authenticated copy of a marriage license with the certificate of the person celebrating the marriage or a duly authenticated copy of a final order of divorce showing a change of name of any person shall be entitled to be recorded in the clerk's office in which deeds are recorded of the county or city in which any land, or an interest in any land, that is owned by such person lies and shall be indexed by such clerk in the grantor and grantee indices in his office.

1958, c. 220, § 55-106.1; 2019, c. 712; 2024, c. 711.

Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 6 (Recordation of Documents)
§ 55.1-602. Presumption that recorded writings are in proper form.
A writing that is not properly notarized in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth shall not invalidate the underlying document; however, any such writing shall not be in proper form for recordation. All recorded writings shall be presumed to be in proper form for recording after having been recorded, and conclusively presumed to be in proper form for recording after having been recorded for a period of three years, except in cases of fraud.

1973, c. 161, § 55-106.2; 2008, cc. 117, 814; 2019, c. 712.

Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 6 (Recordation of Documents)
§ 55.1-603. Deed of real estate investment trust.
Every deed that is to be recorded conveying property to or from a trust qualifying as a real estate investment trust shall include the complete address of the principal office of the trust. Failure to comply with the provisions of this section shall not invalidate any such deed.

1984, c. 474, § 55-106.4; 2002, c. 621; 2019, c. 712.
Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 6 (Recordation of Documents)
§ 55.1-604. When clerk may refuse document to be recorded.
A clerk may refuse any document for recording in which the name of the person under which the document is to be indexed does not legibly appear or is not otherwise furnished.

1986, c. 277, § 55-106.5; 2019, c. 712.

Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 6 (Recordation of Documents)
§ 55.1-605. Power of attorney; where recorded.
A power of attorney may be recorded in any county or city.

Code 1919, § 5203; Code 1950, § 55-107; 2019, c. 712.

Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 6 (Recordation of Documents)
§ 55.1-606. Standards for writings to be docketed or recorded.
Except as provided in Article 4.1 (§ 17.1-258.2 et seq.) of Title 17.1 and for electronically signed or electronically notarized documents described in § 17.1-223, all writings that are to be recorded or docketed in the clerk's office of courts of record shall be an original or first generation printed form, or legible copy thereof, pen and ink, or typed ribbon copy and shall meet the standards for instruments as adopted under §§ 17.1-227 and 42.1-82 of the Virginia Public Records Act (§ 42.1-76 et seq.).

If a writing that does not conform to the requirements of this section or the standards for instruments adopted under § 17.1-227 and under § 42.1-82 of the Virginia Public Records Act (§ 42.1-76 et seq.) is accepted for recordation, it shall be deemed validly recorded and the clerk shall have no liability for accepting such a writing that does not meet the enumerated criteria in all the particulars.

The clerk of the circuit court of any jurisdiction shall be immune from suit arising from any acts or omissions relating to recordation of paper copies of electronically notarized documents pursuant to this section unless the clerk was grossly negligent or engaged in willful misconduct.

1924, p. 144; Michie Code 1942, § 5210a; Code 1950, § 55-108; 1983, c. 291; 1986, c. 346; 2005, c. 744; 2019, c. 712; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 78.

Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 6 (Recordation of Documents)
§ 55.1-607. When original of writing once recorded is lost, how copy recorded elsewhere.
If it is proper for any writing that has been recorded in a court of any county or city to be recorded in the court of another county or city and such writing, before being so recorded in such other court, is lost or mislaid, on affidavit of this fact, such court or the clerk of such court may record a copy of such writing from the records of another court, certified by its clerk, and the copy so recorded shall have the same effect as if the original had been recorded at the time the copy was recorded.

Code 1919, § 5212; Code 1950, § 55-109; 2019, c. 712.
Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 6 (Recordation of Documents)
§ 55.1-608. Certifications of recordation upon copies of certain instruments and subsequent recordation in other county or city.
Whenever a mortgage or deed of trust instrument upon real or personal property located in more than one county or city is recorded in one such county or city, the party by whom it is so presented may deliver to the clerk of such court any number of executed and acknowledged copies of such instrument. The clerk shall fix to each such copy his certificate of recordation, certifying thereby the payment of the recordation tax levied by the Commonwealth, and shall return to the party presenting all such instruments all such copies except one, which shall be retained by the clerk for recordation in his office. Such certificate shall be conclusive evidence of the payment of the recordation tax indicated thereby, and the clerk in any other recording office in any other county or city shall accept for recordation in his office any such copy so certified.

1962, c. 301, § 55-109.1; 2019, c. 712.
Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 6 (Recordation of Documents)
§ 55.1-610. Recordation of copy of lost deed previously recorded in what is now West Virginia.
In any case when any deed was duly recorded before the formation of the state of West Virginia in any county or city now within the limits of West Virginia and such deed, after diligent search, cannot be found, upon affidavit of that fact by any party in interest, his agent, or his attorney, any court of the Commonwealth in which, or the clerk's office of which, the original might be recorded, or the clerk of any such court, may record a copy of such deed from the records of the court of West Virginia, or the clerk's office of such court in which such deed is recorded, duly certified by the clerk of such court, under the seal of the court, and the recordation of such copy shall have the same effect as the recordation of the original.

Code 1919, § 5212; Code 1950, § 55-110; 2019, c. 712.

Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 6 (Recordation of Documents)
§ 55.1-611. Repealed.
Repealed by Acts 2019, c. 326, cl. 1 and c. 786, cl. 2.
Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 6 (Recordation of Documents)
§ 55.1-613. Acknowledgments outside of the United States and its dependencies.
A circuit court of any county or city, or the clerk of such court, shall also record any writing as is described in § 55.1-600 as to any person whose name is signed thereto upon the certificate under the official seal of any ambassador, minister plenipotentiary, minister resident, charge d'affaires, consul-general, consul, vice-consul, or commercial agent appointed by the government of the United States to any foreign country, or of the proper officer of any court of record of such country or of the mayor or other chief magistrate of any city, town, or corporation therein, that such writing was acknowledged by such person or proved as to him by two witnesses before any person having such appointment or before such court, mayor, or chief magistrate.

Code 1919, § 5206; Code 1950, § 55-114; 2019, c. 712.

Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 6 (Recordation of Documents)
§ 55.1-614. Acknowledgments by persons subject to Uniform Code of Military Justice; validation of certain acknowledgments.
A circuit court of any county or city, or the clerk of such court, shall also record any writing as is described in § 55.1-600 as to any person whose name is signed thereto and who at the time of such acknowledgment:

1. Was a member of any of the Armed Forces of the United States, wherever they may have been;

2. Was employed by, or accompanying such armed forces outside the United States and outside the Canal Zone, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands; or

3. Was subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice of the United States outside of the United States, upon the certificate of any person authorized to take acknowledgments under 10 U.S.C. § 936(a), as amended.

Such certification shall be in substantially the same form as required by § 55.1-615.

Any acknowledgment taken before July 1, 1995, that is in substantial conformity with this section is hereby ratified, validated, and confirmed.

1964, c. 570, § 55-114.1; 1995, c. 48; 2019, c. 712.
Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 6 (Recordation of Documents)
§ 55.1-615. Acknowledgments taken before commissioned officers in military service.
A circuit court of any county or city, or clerk of such court, shall also record any writing as is described in § 55.1-600 as to any person whose name is signed thereto who at the time of such acknowledgment was in active service in the Armed Forces of the United States, or as to the consort of such person, upon the certificate of any commissioned officer of the army, navy, marine corps, air force, coast guard, space force, any state national guard that is federally recognized, or other branch of the service of which such person is a member, that such writing had been acknowledged before him by such person. Such certificate shall be written upon or attached to such writing and shall be substantially to the following effect:

In the army (or navy, etc.) of the United States.

I, ________, a commissioned officer of the army (or navy, marine corps, air force, coast guard, space force, or other branch of service) of the United States with the rank of lieutenant (or ensign or other appropriate rank) whose home address is ________, do certify that E.F. (or E.F. and G.H., and so forth), whose name (or names) is (or are) signed to the writing above (or hereto attached), bearing date on the __ day of ____, and who, or whose consort, is a private (corporal, seaman, captain, or other grade or rank) in the army (or navy, etc.) of the United States, and whose home address is ________, has (or have) acknowledged the same before me.

Given under my hand this __ day of ____.

Such acknowledgment may be taken at any place where the officer taking the acknowledgment and the person whose name is signed to the writing may be. Such commissioned officer may take the acknowledgment of any person in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States or the consort of such person.

Every acknowledgment executed prior to July 1, 1995, in substantial compliance with the provisions of this section is hereby validated, ratified, and confirmed, notwithstanding any error or omission with respect to any address, grade, or rank.

1942, p. 426; Michie Code 1942, § 5205a; 1944, p. 25; 1948, p. 393; Code 1950, § 55-115; 1964, c. 129; 1972, c. 458; 1995, c. 48; 2019, c. 712; 2024, c. 817.
Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 6 (Recordation of Documents)
§ 55.1-616. "Notarial acts" defined; who may perform notarial acts outside the Commonwealth for use in the Commonwealth.
A. For the purposes of this article, "notarial acts" means acts that the laws and regulations of the Commonwealth authorize notaries public of the Commonwealth to perform, including the administering of oaths and affirmations, taking proof of execution and acknowledgments of instruments, and attesting documents.

B. Notarial acts may be performed outside the Commonwealth for use in the Commonwealth with the same effect as if performed by a notary public of the Commonwealth by the following persons authorized pursuant to the laws and regulations of other governments in addition to any other person authorized by the laws and regulations of the Commonwealth:

1. A notary public authorized to perform notarial acts in the place in which the notarial act is performed;

2. A judge, clerk, or deputy clerk of any court of record in the place in which the notarial act is performed;

3. An officer of the foreign service of the United States, a consular agent, or any other person authorized by regulation of the U.S. Department of State to perform notarial acts in the place in which the notarial act is performed;

4. A commissioned officer in active service with the Armed Forces of the United States and any other person authorized by regulation of the armed forces to perform notarial acts if the notarial act is performed for one of the following or his dependents: a merchant seaman of the United States, a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, or any other person serving with or accompanying a member of the Armed Forces of the United States; or

5. Any other person authorized to perform notarial acts in the place in which the notarial act is performed.

1970, c. 719, § 55-118.1; 2019, c. 712.
Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 6 (Recordation of Documents)
§ 55.1-617. Proof of authority of person performing notarial act.
A. If the notarial act is performed by any of the persons described in subdivisions B 1 through 4 of § 55.1-616 other than a person authorized to perform notarial acts by the laws or regulations of a foreign country, the signature, rank, or title and serial number, if any, of the person are sufficient proof of the authority of a holder of that rank or title to perform the notarial act. Further proof of his authority is not required.

B. If the notarial act is performed by a person authorized by the laws or regulations of a foreign country to perform the notarial act, there is sufficient proof of the authority of that person to act if:

1. Either a foreign service officer of the United States resident in the country in which the notarial act is performed or a diplomatic or consular officer of the foreign country resident in the United States certifies that a person holding that office is authorized to perform the notarial act;

2. The official seal of the person performing the notarial act is affixed to the document; or

3. The title and indication of authority to perform notarial acts of the person appears either in a digest of foreign law or in a list customarily used as a source of such information.

C. If the notarial act is performed by a person other than one described in subsections A and B, there is sufficient proof of the authority of that person to act if the clerk of a court of record in the place in which the notarial act is performed certifies to the official character of that person and to his authority to perform the notarial act.

D. The signature and title of the person performing the notarial act are prima facie evidence that he is a person with the designated title and that the signature is genuine.

1970, c. 719, § 55-118.2; 2019, c. 712.

Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 6 (Recordation of Documents)
§ 55.1-618. What person taking acknowledgment shall certify.
The person taking an acknowledgment shall certify that:

1. The person acknowledging appeared before him and acknowledged he executed the instrument; and

2. The person acknowledging was known to the person taking the acknowledgment or that the person taking the acknowledgment had satisfactory evidence that the person acknowledging was the person described in and who executed the instrument.

1970, c. 719, § 55-118.3; 2019, c. 712.
Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 6 (Recordation of Documents)
§ 55.1-619. When form of certificate of acknowledgment accepted.
The form of a certificate of acknowledgment used by a person whose authority is recognized under § 55.1-616 shall be accepted in the Commonwealth if:

1. The certificate is in a form prescribed by the laws or regulations of the Commonwealth;

2. The certificate is in a form prescribed by the laws or regulations applicable in the place in which the acknowledgment is taken; or

3. The certificate contains the words "acknowledged before me" or their substantial equivalent.

1970, c. 719, § 55-118.4; 2019, c. 712.

Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 6 (Recordation of Documents)
§ 55.1-620. Meaning of "acknowledged before me.".
For the purposes of this article, "acknowledged before me" means:

1. That the person acknowledging appeared before the person taking the acknowledgment;

2. That the person acknowledging acknowledged he executed the instrument;

3. That, in the case of:

a. A natural person acknowledging, he executed the instrument for the purposes stated in the instrument;

b. A corporation, the officer or agent acknowledged he held the position or title set forth in the instrument and certificate, he signed the instrument on behalf of the corporation by proper authority, and the instrument was the act of the corporation for the purpose stated in the instrument;

c. A partnership, the partner or agent acknowledged he signed the instrument on behalf of the partnership by proper authority and he executed the instrument as the act of the partnership for the purposes stated in the instrument;

d. A person acknowledging as principal by an attorney-in-fact, he executed the instrument by proper authority as the act of the principal for the purposes stated in the instrument; or

e. A person acknowledging as a public officer, trustee, administrator, guardian, conservator, or other representative, he signed the instrument by proper authority and he executed the instrument in the capacity and for the purposes stated in the instrument; and

4. That the person taking the acknowledgment either knew or had satisfactory evidence that the person acknowledging was the person named in the instrument or certificate.

1970, c. 719, § 55-118.5; 1997, c. 801; 2019, c. 712.
Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 6 (Recordation of Documents)
§ 55.1-621. Statutory short forms of acknowledgment.
The forms of acknowledgment set forth in this section may be used and are sufficient for their respective purposes under any law of the Commonwealth. The following forms shall be known as "Statutory Short Forms of Acknowledgment" and may be referred to by that name. The authorization of the forms in this section does not preclude the use of other forms.

1. For an individual acting in his own right:

State of ________

County or city of ________

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this (date) by (name of person acknowledged).

(Signature of Person Taking Acknowledgment)

(Title or Rank)

(Serial Number, if any)

2. For a corporation:

State of ________

County or city of ________

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this (date) by (name of officer or agent, title of officer or agent) of (name of corporation acknowledging) a (state or place of incorporation) corporation, on behalf of the corporation.

(Signature of Person Taking Acknowledgment)

(Title or Rank)

(Serial Number, if any)

3. For a partnership:

State of ________

County or city of ________

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this (date) by (name of acknowledging partner or agent), partner (or agent) on behalf of (name of partnership), a partnership.

(Signature of Person Taking Acknowledgment)

(Title or Rank)

(Serial Number, if any)

4. For an individual acting as principal by an attorney-in-fact:

State of ________

County or city of ________

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this (date) by (name of attorney-in-fact) as attorney-in-fact on behalf of (name of principal).

(Signature of Person Taking Acknowledgment)

(Title or Rank)

(Serial Number, if any)

5. By any public officer, trustee, or personal representative:

State of ________

County or city of ________

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this (date) by (name and title of position).

(Signature of Person Taking Acknowledgment)

(Title or Rank)

(Serial Number, if any)

1970, c. 719, § 55-118.6; 2019, c. 712.

Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 6 (Recordation of Documents)
§ 55.1-622. Application of article; article cumulative.
A notarial act performed prior to June 26, 1970, is not affected by this article. This article provides an additional method of proving notarial acts. Nothing in this article diminishes or invalidates the recognition accorded to notarial acts by other laws or regulations of the Commonwealth.

1970, c. 719, § 55-118.7; 2019, c. 712.

Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 6 (Recordation of Documents)
§ 55.1-623. Uniform interpretation.
This article shall be so interpreted as to make uniform the laws of those states that enact it.

1970, c. 719, § 55-118.8; 2019, c. 712.
Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 6 (Recordation of Documents)
§ 55.1-624. Deeds of corporations; how to be executed and acknowledged.
All deeds made by corporations shall be signed in the name of the corporation by the president or acting president, or any vice-president, or by such other person as may be authorized to do so by the board of directors of such corporation, and, if such deed is to be recorded, the person signing the name of the corporation shall acknowledge such authority in the manner provided by § 55.1-625.

Code 1919, § 5208; 1920, p. 586; Code 1950, § 55-119; 1959, Ex. Sess., c. 41; 1975, c. 500; 2019, c. 712.

Code of Virginia — Title 55.1 (Property and Conveyances), Chapter 6 (Recordation of Documents)
§ 55.1-625. Acknowledgments on behalf of corporations and others.
When any writing purports to have been signed on behalf or by authority of any person or corporation, or in any representative capacity whatsoever, the certificate of the acknowledgment by the person so signing the writing shall be sufficient for the purposes of this and §§ 55.1-600, 55.1-612, 55.1-613, and 55.1-615, and for the recordation of such writing as to the person or corporation on whose behalf it is signed, or as to the representative character of the person so signing the writing, as the case may be, without expressing that such acknowledgment was on behalf or by authority of such other person or corporation or was in a representative capacity. In the case of a writing signed on behalf or by authority of any person or corporation or in any representative capacity, a certificate to the following effect shall be sufficient:

State (or territory or district) of ________, county (or city) of ________,: I, ________, a ________ (here insert the official title of the person certifying the acknowledgment) in and for the state (or territory or district) and county (or city) aforesaid, do certify that ________ (here insert the name or names of the persons signing the writing on behalf of the person or corporation, or the name of the person signing the writing in a representative capacity), whose name (or names) is (or are) signed to the writing above, bearing date on the ____ day of ____, has (or have) acknowledged the same before me in my county (or city) aforesaid. Given under my hand this ____ day of ____.

Code 1919, § 5207; Code 1950, § 55-120; 2019, c. 712.