§ 16.1-69.53 Definitions; construction of references to period of years
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings: “Court records” shall include case records, financial records and administrative records as defined in this section. “Case records” shall mean all documents, dockets and indices. “Documents” shall mean all motions for judgment, bills of complaint, answers, bills of particulars, other pleadings, interrogatories, motions in writing, warrants, summonses, petitions, proof of service, witness summonses and subpoenas, documents received in evidence, transcripts, orders, judgments, writs, and any other similar case-related records and papers in the possession of the district courts and filed with the pleadings in the case. “Financial records” shall mean all papers and records related to the receipt and disbursement of money by the district court. “Administrative records” shall mean all other court papers and records not otherwise defined. Whenever a reference to a period of years for the retention of documents is made in this section, it shall be construed to commence on January 2 of the first year following (i) the final adjudication of a civil case or (ii) the final disposition in all other cases, unless otherwise specified herein. In foster care cases, the final disposition date is the date of transfer of custody to a local board of social services or a child welfare agency.
History
This law was first created in 1983. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 499 of that year’s edition of “Acts of Assembly,” the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1983 “Acts” aren’t available online. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by “The Acts of Assembly,” a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly’s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 2002, chapter 747.
1983, c. 499; 2002, c. 747.