reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
VA Code § 57-17 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 57 - Religious and Charitable Matters; Cemeteries|Chapter 2 - Church Property; Benevolent Associations and Objects|§ 57-17. Conveyance of church land held in adverse possession

Whenever any church in the Commonwealth has been in the undisputed possession, for a period of 25 years or more, of any real estate, and for which there is no deed of record, the church, after giving notice once a week for four successive weeks in some newspaper published in, or having general circulation in, the county or city in which such real estate is, may file a petition in the circuit court of such county, or any court of record of such city, duly sworn to, which petition shall set forth the fact that the real estate mentioned therein has been in the undisputed possession of such church for a period of 25 years or more and shall give the true boundaries of such real estate. Upon the hearing of such petition, if the court shall be satisfied that the real estate mentioned has been in the undisputed possession of such church for a period of 25 years or more; that the boundaries mentioned in the petition are the true boundaries of such real estate; and that such petition has been filed by the proper party, it may appoint a special commissioner to make conveyance of such real estate to the church, with covenant of special warranty.1918, p. 94; 1924, p. 498; Michie Code 1942, § 46a; 2005, c. 772.
VA Code § 57-18 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 57 - Religious and Charitable Matters; Cemeteries|Chapter 2 - Church Property; Benevolent Associations and Objects|§ 57-18. Conveyance for charitable purpose to unincorporated bodies or societies

In any case where, since June 18, 1914, there has been, or at any time hereafter there may be, any gift, grant or devise of real estate for charitable purposes to an unincorporated body or society whether such gift, grant or devise be directly to such body or society, or to it in trust for charitable uses, trustees to hold the same may, if such unincorporated body or society so elects, be appointed in accordance with the procedure prescribed by § 57-8, and such trustees shall hold the trust subject in accordance with the provisions of §§ 57-11, 57-13, 57-14 and 57-15, in like manner as if such sections had been made expressly applicable to such unincorporated body or society. For the purposes of this section the words church, society, denomination, congregation, religious congregation, religious body, religious denomination and religious congregation or organization, appearing in the aforesaid sections, shall be interpreted to refer to such unincorporated body or society.1928, p. 25; Michie Code 1942, § 49a.
VA Code § 57-19 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 57 - Religious and Charitable Matters; Cemeteries|Chapter 2 - Church Property; Benevolent Associations and Objects|§ 57-19. Conveyances of land to benevolent and other associations to be subject to certain sections

When any conveyance of land has been or shall be made to trustees for the use of any society of Freemasons, Odd Fellows, Sons of Temperance, posts of Veterans of Foreign Wars or of the American Legion, Spanish War Veterans, Disabled American Veterans and of other associations of veterans of the armed forces of the United States, or any other benevolent or literary associations, or school league, or other groups organized for rural community civic purposes or improvement of farm life or operations of like purposes and not for profit, or if without the intervention of trustees such conveyance has been made since March 31, 1848, or shall be hereafter made for such use, §§ 57-8, 57-11, 57-14 and 57-15 shall be construed as if they were expressly made applicable to such association, post or society. Whenever such association, post or society has been in undisputed possession, for a period of twenty-five years or more, of any real estate, and for which there is no deed of record, § 57-17 shall be construed as if it was expressly made applicable to such association, post or society.Code 1919, § 47; 1946, p. 230; 1954, c. 129; 1956, c. 203.
VA Code § 57-20 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 57 - Religious and Charitable Matters; Cemeteries|Chapter 2 - Church Property; Benevolent Associations and Objects|§ 57-20. Quantity of land benevolent and other associations may hold

Except as otherwise provided in this section, the trustee for the use of any benevolent or other association referred to in § 57-19 shall not hereafter take or hold, at one time, any land exceeding five acres; and the trustees of two or more bodies or societies may hold jointly, land not exceeding five acres; provided that the local governing body of any county or city may by ordinance authorize such trustee or trustees to take and hold in such county or city not exceeding 10 acres of land at any one time. However, a school league may, in addition to the five acres held by such trustees, hold not exceeding 10 acres as a home for the principal of the school for which the league is named. All such holdings heretofore acquired are validated; except holdings that are in litigation prior to or on July 1, 1964.Any lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks or other groups organized for rural community civic purposes or improvement of farm life or operations of like purposes and not for profit may hold not exceeding 35 acres of land. All such holdings heretofore acquired are validated; except holdings that are in litigation on or before July 1, 2002.Any association or post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Spanish War Veterans, Disabled American Veterans, or any similar association of veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States chartered by an act of Congress may hold not exceeding 200 acres of land. Notwithstanding any other provision of law conveyances of land made prior to June 29, 1948, to any such post or association of veterans is validated provided the same is not in excess of 75 acres. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 58.1-3607, for real property owned by an association or post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Spanish War Veterans, Disabled American Veterans, or any similar association of veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States chartered by an act of Congress, that portion of real property owned by such association or post in excess of 75 acres shall be subject to the provisions of § 58.1-3651 and shall not be exempt from taxation unless an ordinance to that effect is adopted by the local governing body.Code 1919, § 48; 1948, p. 634; 1956, c. 454; 1964, c. 553; 1986, c. 63; 2002, c. 638; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 234.
VA Code § 57-21 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 57 - Religious and Charitable Matters; Cemeteries|Chapter 2 - Church Property; Benevolent Associations and Objects|§ 57-21. May hold personal property through trustees

Any such association may acquire personal property for its use, and hold the same and any such as it may have heretofore acquired, through the intervention of trustees in whom the legal title shall be vested for its benefit; and the circuit court of the county, or the circuit court of the city, in which the meetings of such association are usually held, or the judge of such court in vacation, may, on the application of the proper authorities of the association, from time to time, appoint trustees, either where there were or are none, or in place of former trustees, and change those so appointed, as may seem to the court or judge to be proper; and the legal title to such personal property shall be vested in the trustees, for the time being, and their successors, for the use and benefit of the association.Code 1919, § 49; 2005, c. 772.
VA Code § 57-22 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 57 - Religious and Charitable Matters; Cemeteries|Chapter 3 - Cemeteries|§ 57-22. Conveyance of land to trustees or local governing body for cemetery use

A. Land may be conveyed to trustees, not less than five nor more than nine in number, for the use of any city, town, county, magisterial district, cemetery association, ecclesiastical or other society, as a cemetery. It shall be held by such trustees and their successors for such use and no other.B. Land may also be conveyed to a county, city or town, in the name of the county, city or town, for use as a cemetery. Any perpetual care fund associated with the land or cemetery shall also be transferred upon such conveyance.Code 1919, § 50; 1997, c. 132.
VA Code § 57-23 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 57 - Religious and Charitable Matters; Cemeteries|Chapter 3 - Cemeteries|§ 57-23. Appointment, change or removal of trustees

On the application of the governing body of a city or town, the attorney for the Commonwealth of a county, ten citizens of a magisterial district, or the proper authorities of any such association or society, for whose use such cemetery is held, the circuit court of the county in which the cemetery is situated may, from time to time, appoint, change, and remove the trustees, as provided in § 57-8, whenever it may seem to the court proper to effect or promote the purposes of the trust.Code 1919, § 51.
VA Code § 57-24 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 57 - Religious and Charitable Matters; Cemeteries|Chapter 3 - Cemeteries|§ 57-24. Powers and duties of trustees

Such trustees and their successors shall have power to make such rules and regulations for the burial of the dead, the laying off, assignment and sale of burial lots, and the management, care, preservation and improvement of the grounds, as they may deem proper. They may take and hold personal property and money for the purposes of the trust, and what is so acquired and all money received from the sale of lots shall be accounted for by them and faithfully applied to such purposes.Code 1919, § 52.
VA Code § 57-24.1 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 57 - Religious and Charitable Matters; Cemeteries|Chapter 3 - Cemeteries|§ 57-24.1. Trustee for purpose of suit

In the case of any private or family graveyard, where no trustees have been designated, and it appears that the interest of justice may be served by the appointment of a trustee or trustees for the purpose of suing or being sued, on the petition of any interested party, the court of record wherein deeds are recorded of the county or city in which such cemetery is located, may appoint a trustee or trustees for the purpose of suing or being sued. The petitioner shall bear the expense of such proceedings, provided that in the event a recovery is effected on behalf of such trustee or trustees, costs shall be taxed as provided by law.1970, c. 94.
VA Code § 57-25 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 57 - Religious and Charitable Matters; Cemeteries|Chapter 3 - Cemeteries|§ 57-25. Condemnation of land for cemeteries

If it is desired at any time to establish a cemetery for the use of a city, town, county or magisterial district, or to enlarge any such cemetery already established, and the title to land needed cannot be otherwise acquired, land sufficient for the purpose may be condemned. Application for the condemnation shall be made by the governing body of the city or town, the attorney for the Commonwealth of the county, or any ten citizens of the magisterial district, as the case may be, to the circuit court of the county or city in which the land lies, and the proceedings shall be according to the provisions of Title 25.1 for condemnation of land thereunder, so far as they can be applied to the case. The title to any land acquired under the proceedings, if for the enlargement of an existing cemetery, shall vest in the county, city or town, or in the trustees of such cemetery, as appropriate; and if for the establishment of a new cemetery, the title shall vest in the county, city or town, or in the trustees to be appointed under § 57-23, as appropriate. The land shall be held as provided by § 57-22.Code 1919, § 53; 1997, c. 132.
VA Code § 57-27 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 57 - Religious and Charitable Matters; Cemeteries|Chapter 3 - Cemeteries|§ 57-27. City of Richmond may prohibit burials in certain cemeteries

The governing body of the City of Richmond may, by ordinance, prohibit the burial of dead bodies in the cemeteries known as Ham's, Cedarwood, Methodist, Union Mechanics', Ebenezer, and Sycamore cemeteries, respectively, and may by such ordinance provide for penalties for violations of the same by fine not exceeding fifty dollars, or imprisonment in jail not exceeding six months.Code 1919, § 57.
VA Code § 57-27.1 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 57 - Religious and Charitable Matters; Cemeteries|Chapter 3 - Cemeteries|§ 57-27.1. Access to cemeteries located on private property; cause of action for injunctive relief; applicability

A. Owners of private property on which a cemetery or graves are located shall have a duty to allow ingress and egress to the cemetery or graves by (i) family members and descendants of deceased persons buried there; (ii) any cemetery plot owner; and (iii) any person engaging in genealogy research, who has given reasonable notice to the owner of record or to the occupant of the property or both. No landowner shall erect a wall, fence or other structure or device that prevents ingress and egress to the cemetery or grave, unless the wall, fence or other structure or device has a gate or other means by which ingress and egress can be accomplished by persons specified in this subsection. The landowner may designate the frequency of access, hours and duration of the access and the access route if no traditional access route is obviously visible by a view of the property. The landowner, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct, shall be immune from liability in any civil suit, claim, action, or cause of action arising out of the access granted pursuant to this section.B. The right of ingress and egress granted to persons specified in subsection A shall be reasonable and limited to the purposes of visiting graves, maintaining the gravesite or cemetery, or conducting genealogy research. The right of ingress and egress shall not be construed to provide a right to operate motor vehicles on the property for the purpose of accessing a cemetery or gravesite unless there is a road or adequate right-of-way that permits access by a motor vehicle and the owner has given written permission to use the road or right-of-way of necessity.C. Any person entering onto private property to access a gravesite or cemetery shall be responsible for conducting himself in a manner that does not damage the private lands, the cemetery or gravesites and shall be liable to the owner of the property for any damage caused as a result of his access.D. Any person denied reasonable access under the provisions of this section may bring an action in the circuit court where the property is located to enjoin the owner of the property from denying the person reasonable ingress and egress to the cemetery or gravesite. In granting such relief, the court may (i) set the frequency of access, hours and duration of the access and (ii) award reasonable attorney fees and costs to the person denied such access.E. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any deed or other written instrument that creates or reserves a cemetery or gravesite on private property.1993, c. 713; 2004, c. 831; 2008, c. 390; 2011, c. 257.
VA Code § 57-27.2 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 57 - Religious and Charitable Matters; Cemeteries|Chapter 3 - Cemeteries|§ 57-27.2. Correction of interment errors

A. In any instance where the operator of a cemetery is informed or becomes aware that it has interred or permitted the interment of a body or cremains in the wrong burial space, it shall disinter the burial container wrongfully interred, identify the burial container, and reinter it in the proper burial space. The cemetery shall give reasonable notice, in advance of the disinterment, to the nearest known next of kin of the deceased person and, if requested, the owner of such burial space. For the purposes of this section, "interment" means the same as such term is defined in § 54.1-2310.B. At the time specified for the disinterment and reinterment, the cemetery shall permit the nearest known next of kin and, if requested, the owner of such burial space to witness the disinterment and reinterment.C. The cemetery shall bear all costs of the disinterment and reinterment.1997, c. 74.
VA Code § 57-27.3 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 57 - Religious and Charitable Matters; Cemeteries|Chapter 3 - Cemeteries|§ 57-27.3. Authorization for interment

A cemetery may accept the notarized signature of one next of kin of a decedent for the purpose of authorizing the interment or entombment, and for erecting a memorial on the grave, crypt or niche, unless the cemetery is on written notice that there exists a dispute between next of kin over such interment, entombment or memorialization. In the case of such a dispute, the cemetery shall have no obligation to perform the interment, entombment or memorialization until there is agreement of all next of kin, or a court order adjudicating the issue among all necessary parties.For purposes of this section, "next of kin" means any of the following persons, regardless of the relationship to the decedent: any person designated to make arrangements for the disposition of the decedent's remains upon his death pursuant to § 54.1-2825, the legal spouse, child over 18 years of age, custodial parent, noncustodial parent, siblings over 18 years of age, guardian of minor child, guardian of minor siblings, maternal grandparents, paternal grandparents, maternal siblings over 18 years of age and paternal siblings over 18 years of age, or any other relative in the descending order of blood relationship.2004, c. 247.
VA Code § 57-28 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 57 - Religious and Charitable Matters; Cemeteries|Chapter 3 - Cemeteries|§ 57-28. Cities and counties may establish

Any city and county, or any number of cities and counties, may jointly purchase or otherwise acquire land for the purpose of improving and establishing a jointly owned cemetery or cemeteries, and the governing bodies of the cities and counties purchasing or acquiring land for joint cemetery purposes shall have the power to plan any such cemetery and amend and revise any plans so made, to determine the perpetual upkeep requirements of such cemetery and of perpetual upkeep lots therein, to fix the purchase price of all lots therein, and to designate pauper lots and lots with and without perpetual care.1944, p. 326; Michie Suppl. 1946, § 53a.
VA Code § 57-29 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 57 - Religious and Charitable Matters; Cemeteries|Chapter 3 - Cemeteries|§ 57-29. Trustees

After acquiring and planning such cemetery or cemeteries, the circuit court of the county wherein the cemetery is located shall appoint not less than five nor more than nine trustees, who shall reside in the city or county, for the purpose of managing and controlling such cemetery. The trustees shall have the power to convey lots in the cemetery in accordance with the plan thereof, without authority of court, and to include in deeds of conveyance such reasonable restrictions and conditions as they deem advisable, and shall have all other powers granted by general law to trustees of cemeteries. Such trustees shall, before entering upon the performance of their duties, give bond with approved security and in such penalty as the court determines for the faithful performance of their duties.1944, p. 326; Michie Suppl. 1946, § 53a.
VA Code § 57-30 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 57 - Religious and Charitable Matters; Cemeteries|Chapter 3 - Cemeteries|§ 57-30. Funds from sale of lots and for perpetual upkeep

The trustees shall, upon delivery of a deed for any lot or portion thereof, except a pauper lot, collect the purchase price and pay it to the designated treasurer of either the county or city establishing the cemetery. The amounts received from the sale of lots or portions thereof as herein determined shall be used by the city and county to pay for the cost of the land and improvements. All funds for perpetual upkeep shall be properly invested under the direction of the governing bodies of the city and county. The balance of the purchase price of lots or portions thereof, and so much of the income from invested perpetual care funds as may be needed, shall be paid annually to the trustees, to be used by them along with all other funds received by them for the maintenance, operation and upkeep of the cemetery and of the perpetual care lots therein.1944, p. 326; Michie Suppl. 1946, § 53a.
VA Code § 57-31 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 57 - Religious and Charitable Matters; Cemeteries|Chapter 3 - Cemeteries|§ 57-31. May be in perpetuity

No disposition of property heretofore or hereafter made for the maintenance or care of any cemetery, burial ground, burial lot in a cemetery, or monument, or other erections about such cemetery or burial lot, shall fail by reason of such disposition having been made in perpetuity, but shall be valid.Code 1919, § 59; 1918, p. 103; 1920, p. 10.
VA Code § 57-32 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 57 - Religious and Charitable Matters; Cemeteries|Chapter 3 - Cemeteries|§ 57-32. Who may hold such property

Any cemetery company chartered under the laws of the Commonwealth, or a church, or any trustees holding title to a cemetery, or burial ground, may take and hold any property granted, bequeathed, devised, or given upon trust to apply its income to the improvement, repair, or embellishment of the cemetery, or any burial lot or monument or tomb or vault or other erections in such cemetery, according to the terms of such grant, bequest, devise, or gift.Code 1919, § 59; 1918, p. 103; 1920, p. 10; 2005, c. 772.
VA Code § 57-34 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 57 - Religious and Charitable Matters; Cemeteries|Chapter 3 - Cemeteries|§ 57-34. Amount to defray original cost not limited

Nothing contained in this article shall be construed as limiting the amount which may be given, bequeathed or devised to defray the original cost of the cemetery, burial lot, monument, vault or other like erection or structure, nor shall this article be construed as affecting any estate that has been distributed or settled on the basis of the law then existing.Code 1919, § 59; 1918, p. 103; 1920, p. 10.
VA Code § 57-35 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 57 - Religious and Charitable Matters; Cemeteries|Chapter 3 - Cemeteries|§ 57-35. Trusteeship for administering funds for perpetual care

The board of directors of any incorporated cemetery company may by bylaw establish a trusteeship for holding and administering all funds paid to such cemetery company for the perpetual care of any lot or lots in the cemetery conducted by the company, and such trusteeship, once established, shall only be revoked, annulled or modified by and with the consent of the circuit court of the county or the corporation court of the city within whose jurisdiction the cemetery is situated.Code 1919, § 59; 1918, p. 103; 1920, p. 10.
VA Code § 57-35.35:1 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 57 - Religious and Charitable Matters; Cemeteries|Chapter 3 - Cemeteries|§ 57-35.35:1. Definitions

As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:"Previously unidentified cemetery" means a cemetery that, notwithstanding the fact that it is known to researchers, members of the community, or descendants of those buried there, has not been identified in the Virginia Cultural Resources Information System or has not been officially located in the land records of the locality.2019, c. 195.