A. At any time after the filing of the petition set out in § 42.1-89 or contemporaneous with such filing, the person seeking the return of the public records may by ex parte petition request the judge or the court in which the action was filed to issue an order directed at the sheriff or other proper officer, as the case may be, commanding him to seize the materials which are the subject of the action and deliver the same to the court under the circumstances hereinafter set forth.
B. The judge aforesaid shall issue an order of seizure upon receipt of an affidavit from the petitioner which alleges that the material at issue may be sold, secreted, removed out of this Commonwealth or otherwise disposed of so as not to be forthcoming to answer the final judgment of the court respecting the same; or that such property may be destroyed or materially damaged or injured if permitted to remain out of the petitioner's possession.
C. The aforementioned order of seizure shall issue without notice to the respondent and without the posting of any bond or other security by the petitioner.
1975, c. 180; 1976, c. 746.
Structure Code of Virginia
Chapter 7 - Virginia Public Records Act
§ 42.1-76. Legislative intent; title of chapter
§ 42.1-76.1. Notice of Chapter
§ 42.1-78. Confidentiality safeguarded
§ 42.1-79. Records management function vested in the Library of Virginia
§ 42.1-82. Duties and powers of Library Board
§ 42.1-85. Records Management Program; agencies to cooperate; agencies to designate records officer
§ 42.1-86. Essential public records; security recovery copies; disaster plans
§ 42.1-86.01. Records may be retained in electronic medium
§ 42.1-86.1. Disposition of public records
§ 42.1-87. Archival public records
§ 42.1-88. Custodians to deliver all records at expiration of term; penalty for noncompliance
§ 42.1-89. Petition and court order for return of public records not in authorized possession
§ 42.1-90. Seizure of public records not in authorized possession
§ 42.1-91.1. Availability of public records created prior to January 1, 1901