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.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 55.1 - Property and Conveyances
Chapter 6 - Recordation of Documents
§ 55.1-600. When and where writings recorded
§ 55.1-601. Recording and indexing of certain documents showing changes of names
§ 55.1-602. Presumption that recorded writings are in proper form
§ 55.1-603. Deed of real estate investment trust
§ 55.1-604. When clerk may refuse document to be recorded
§ 55.1-605. Power of attorney; where recorded
§ 55.1-606. Standards for writings to be docketed or recorded
§ 55.1-607. When original of writing once recorded is lost, how copy recorded elsewhere
§ 55.1-609. Correcting errors in deeds, deeds of trust, and mortgages; affidavit
§ 55.1-610. Recordation of copy of lost deed previously recorded in what is now West Virginia
§ 55.1-612. Acknowledgment within the United States or its dependencies
§ 55.1-613. Acknowledgments outside of the United States and its dependencies
§ 55.1-615. Acknowledgments taken before commissioned officers in military service
§ 55.1-617. Proof of authority of person performing notarial act
§ 55.1-618. What person taking acknowledgment shall certify
§ 55.1-619. When form of certificate of acknowledgment accepted
§ 55.1-620. Meaning of "acknowledged before me."
§ 55.1-621. Statutory short forms of acknowledgment
§ 55.1-622. Application of article; article cumulative
§ 55.1-623. Uniform interpretation
§ 55.1-624. Deeds of corporations; how to be executed and acknowledged
§ 55.1-625. Acknowledgments on behalf of corporations and others
§ 55.1-626. Corporate acknowledgment taken before officer or stockholder
§ 55.1-627. Acts of notaries public, etc., who have held certain other offices
§ 55.1-628. Validation of acknowledgments when seal not affixed
§ 55.1-629. Acknowledgment taken by trustee in deed of trust
§ 55.1-630. Acknowledgment taken by trustee in deed of trust; later date
§ 55.1-631. Certain acknowledgments taken and certified before July 1, 1995
§ 55.1-632. Acknowledgments taken by certain justices of the peace, mayors, etc.
§ 55.1-633. Acknowledgments taken by officers after expiration of terms
§ 55.1-634. Acknowledgments taken by notaries in service during World War I
§ 55.1-635. Acknowledgments before foreign officials who failed to affix seals
§ 55.1-636. Acknowledgments taken by notaries in foreign countries
§ 55.1-637. Acknowledgments taken by officer who was spouse of grantee
§ 55.1-638. Acknowledgment when notary certifies erroneously as to expiration of commission
§ 55.1-640. Acknowledgments taken before notary whose commission has expired
§ 55.1-644. Deeds defectively executed by corporation
§ 55.1-645. Deeds to which corporate seal not affixed or not attested
§ 55.1-646. Acknowledgments of corporations taken by officers or stockholders
§ 55.1-647. Recordation certificate not signed by clerk
§ 55.1-648. Recordation certificate not signed by clerk; when clerk has died
§ 55.1-649. Recordation of judgments affecting title to land
§ 55.1-650. Judgments of United States courts affecting realty
§ 55.1-651. Orders in bankruptcy
§ 55.1-652. Certificates of commencement of case in bankruptcy
§ 55.1-653. Where notices and certificates affecting liens to be filed
§ 55.1-654. Certification of notices and certificates
§ 55.1-655. Duties of filing officers
§ 55.1-656. Fees of filing officers other than clerk of State Corporation Commission
§ 55.1-657. Fees of clerk of State Corporation Commission
§ 55.1-658. Construction of article
§ 55.1-659. Certificates and notices affecting liens filed on or before July 1, 1970
§ 55.1-660. No action to be brought against the State Corporation Commission or its staff
§ 55.1-662. Validity of electronically filed and recorded land records
§ 55.1-663. Recording of electronic documents among the land records
§ 55.1-665. Uniformity of application and construction
§ 55.1-666. Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act