{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-1637.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-1637.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-1637.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-1637.html"}],"law_id":55451,"edition_id":1,"section_id":55451,"structure_id":14230,"section_number":"15.2-1637","catch_line":"Sharing of offices; transfer of jurisdiction","history":"1980, c. 592, \u00a7 15.1-994.1; 1987, c. 624; 1997, c. 587.","full_text":"A\n\nAny attorney for the Commonwealth, clerk of a circuit court, or sheriff who performed his duties and had jurisdiction in both a city and a county prior to July 1, 1971, as provided for in Article VII, Section 4 of the Constitution of Virginia, shall continue to serve both political subdivisions until the city is transferred in accordance with the provisions of §§ 16.1-69.6 and 17.1-506 to a judicial circuit and district which is comprised of a county other than the circuit and district where the city was situated. Until such transfer is made, the voters residing in the city shall be entitled to vote for these officers at the general election for county officers.B\n\nUpon the effective date of the transfer referred to in subsection A of this section, the city shall have appointed for it by the judges of the circuit court for the county in the judicial circuit to which the city was transferred an attorney for the Commonwealth, clerk of the circuit court and sheriff, which constitutional officers shall be those of the adjoining county. In cases where the city has an elected sheriff, such sheriff shall be the only sheriff for the city. The city may contract with the county to which it was transferred for jail facilities.\n\t\t\tIn any case where the effective date of the transfer is to take place within 120 days after an election for any of these officers in the county to which the city is transferred, the voters of the city shall be entitled to vote in that election for each officer. The voting wards or precincts of the city shall be treated as precincts of the adjoining county, and no candidate for these offices shall be required to qualify separately in the city. The voters of the city shall thereafter be entitled to vote for these officers.C\n\nIn order to complete the transfer of the jurisdiction of the respective circuit courts when the situation in subsection A occurs, the following shall control:1\n\nAs to any crime occurring or civil cause of action arising in the city before the effective date of the transfer, the circuit court of the former judicial circuit shall have jurisdiction.2\n\nAs to any crime occurring or civil cause of action arising in the city on or after the effective date of the transfer involving a matter required by general law to be located in a circuit court, the circuit court of the judicial circuit to which the city was transferred shall have jurisdiction.D\n\nAll writings authorized by law to be recorded in the circuit court for the city transferred pursuant to subsection A of this section shall be recorded in the circuit court to which the city was transferred beginning on the effective date of the transfer.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":203256,"text":"Any attorney for the Commonwealth, clerk of a circuit court, or sheriff who performed his duties and had jurisdiction in both a city and a county prior to July 1, 1971, as provided for in Article VII, Section 4 of the Constitution of Virginia, shall continue to serve both political subdivisions until the city is transferred in accordance with the provisions of §§ 16.1-69.6 and 17.1-506 to a judicial circuit and district which is comprised of a county other than the circuit and district where the city was situated. Until such transfer is made, the voters residing in the city shall be entitled to vote for these officers at the general election for county officers.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":203257,"text":"Upon the effective date of the transfer referred to in subsection A of this section, the city shall have appointed for it by the judges of the circuit court for the county in the judicial circuit to which the city was transferred an attorney for the Commonwealth, clerk of the circuit court and sheriff, which constitutional officers shall be those of the adjoining county. In cases where the city has an elected sheriff, such sheriff shall be the only sheriff for the city. The city may contract with the county to which it was transferred for jail facilities.\n\t\t\tIn any case where the effective date of the transfer is to take place within 120 days after an election for any of these officers in the county to which the city is transferred, the voters of the city shall be entitled to vote in that election for each officer. The voting wards or precincts of the city shall be treated as precincts of the adjoining county, and no candidate for these offices shall be required to qualify separately in the city. The voters of the city shall thereafter be entitled to vote for these officers.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":203258,"text":"In order to complete the transfer of the jurisdiction of the respective circuit courts when the situation in subsection A occurs, the following shall control:","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"C1"},"3":{"id":203259,"text":"As to any crime occurring or civil cause of action arising in the city before the effective date of the transfer, the circuit court of the former judicial circuit shall have jurisdiction.","type":"section","prefixes":["C","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"C1","prefix_anchor":"C1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"C2"},"4":{"id":203260,"text":"As to any crime occurring or civil cause of action arising in the city on or after the effective date of the transfer involving a matter required by general law to be located in a circuit court, the circuit court of the judicial circuit to which the city was transferred shall have jurisdiction.","type":"section","prefixes":["C","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"C2","prefix_anchor":"C2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"C1","next_prefix":"D"},"5":{"id":203261,"text":"All writings authorized by law to be recorded in the circuit court for the city transferred pursuant to subsection A of this section shall be recorded in the circuit court to which the city was transferred beginning on the effective date of the transfer.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C2"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14230,"edition_id":1,"name":"Sharing of Certain Constitutional Officers","identifier":"7","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12877,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:23","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:23","permalink":{"id":153657,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14230,"identifier":"7","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/7","url":"\/15.2\/II\/16\/7\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12877,"edition_id":1,"name":"Local Constitutional Officers, Courthouses and Supplies","identifier":"16","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12733,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","permalink":{"id":153305,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12877,"identifier":"16","token":"15.2\/II\/16","url":"\/15.2\/II\/16\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12733,"edition_id":1,"name":"Powers of Local Government","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12720,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","permalink":{"id":152369,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12733,"identifier":"II","token":"15.2\/II","url":"\/15.2\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12720,"edition_id":1,"name":"Counties, Cities and Towns","identifier":"15.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":151279,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12720,"identifier":"15.2","token":"15.2","url":"\/15.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":55451,"structure_id":14230,"section_number":"15.2-1637","catch_line":"Sharing of offices; transfer of jurisdiction","url":"\/15.2-1637\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/7\/15.2-1637","metadata":false}],"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-1637\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1980. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 592 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1980 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1987, chapter 624; in 1997, chapter 587<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":69110,"section_number":"58.1-816","catch_line":"(Contingent effective date \u2014 see Acts 2020, cc. 1241 and 1281) Distribution of recordation tax to cities and counties","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-816\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":65606,"section_number":"16.1-69.6","catch_line":"Establishment of districts","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-69.6\/"},{"id":80487,"section_number":"17.1-506","catch_line":"Judicial circuits","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-506\/"}],"permalink":{"id":153659,"object_type":"law","relational_id":55451,"identifier":"15.2-1637","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/7\/15.2-1637","url":"\/15.2-1637\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-1637\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/7\/15.2-1637","dublin_core":{"Title":"Sharing of offices; transfer of jurisdiction","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-1637","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Any attorney for the Commonwealth, clerk of a circuit<\/span> court<\/span>, or sheriff who performed his duties and had jurisdiction<\/span> in both a city<\/span> and a county<\/span> prior to July 1, 1971, as provided for in Article VII, Section 4 of the Constitution of Virginia, shall continue to serve both political subdivisions until the city<\/span> is transferred in accordance with the provisions of §§ 16.1-69.6<\/a> and 17.1-506<\/a> to a judicial circuit<\/span> and district which is comprised of a county<\/span> other than the circuit<\/span> and district where the city<\/span> was situated. Until such transfer is made, the voters<\/span> residing in the city<\/span> shall be entitled to vote for these officers at the general election for county<\/span> officers. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Upon the effective date of the transfer referred to in subsection A of this section, the city<\/span> shall have appointed for it by the judges<\/span> of the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> for the county<\/span> in the judicial circuit<\/span> to which the city<\/span> was transferred an attorney for the Commonwealth, clerk of the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> and sheriff, which constitutional officers<\/span> shall be those of the adjoining county<\/span>. In cases where the city<\/span> has an elected sheriff, such sheriff shall be the only sheriff for the city<\/span>. The city<\/span> may contract<\/span> with the county<\/span> to which it was transferred for jail facilities.\n\t\t\tIn any case where the effective date of the transfer is to take place within 120 days after an election for any of these officers in the county<\/span> to which the city<\/span> is transferred, the voters<\/span> of the city<\/span> shall be entitled to vote in that election for each officer. The voting wards or precincts of the city<\/span> shall be treated as precincts of the adjoining county<\/span>, and no candidate for these offices shall be required to qualify separately in the city<\/span>. The voters<\/span> of the city<\/span> shall thereafter be entitled to vote for these officers. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> In order<\/span> to complete the transfer of the jurisdiction<\/span> of the respective circuit<\/span> courts<\/span> when the situation in subsection A occurs, the following shall control: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> As to any crime<\/span> occurring or civil cause of action<\/span> arising in the city<\/span> before the effective date of the transfer, the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> of the former judicial circuit<\/span> shall have jurisdiction<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> As to any crime<\/span> occurring or civil cause of action<\/span> arising in the city<\/span> on or after the effective date of the transfer involving a matter required by general law<\/span> to be located in a circuit<\/span> court<\/span>, the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> of the judicial circuit<\/span> to which the city<\/span> was transferred shall have jurisdiction<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> All writings authorized by law<\/span> to be recorded in the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> for the city<\/span> transferred pursuant to subsection A of this section shall be recorded in the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> to which the city<\/span> was transferred beginning on the effective date of the transfer. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nSHARING OF OFFICES; TRANSFER OF JURISDICTION (\u00a7 15.2-1637)\n\nA. Any attorney for the Commonwealth, clerk of a circuit court, or sheriff who\nperformed his duties and had jurisdiction in both a city and a county prior to\nJuly 1, 1971, as provided for in Article VII, Section 4 of the Constitution of\nVirginia, shall continue to serve both political subdivisions until the city is\ntransferred in accordance with the provisions of §§ 16.1-69.6 and\n17.1-506 to a judicial circuit and district which is comprised of a county other\nthan the circuit and district where the city was situated. Until such transfer\nis made, the voters residing in the city shall be entitled to vote for these\nofficers at the general election for county officers.\n\nB. Upon the effective date of the transfer referred to in subsection A of this\nsection, the city shall have appointed for it by the judges of the circuit court\nfor the county in the judicial circuit to which the city was transferred an\nattorney for the Commonwealth, clerk of the circuit court and sheriff, which\nconstitutional officers shall be those of the adjoining county. In cases where\nthe city has an elected sheriff, such sheriff shall be the only sheriff for the\ncity. The city may contract with the county to which it was transferred for jail\nfacilities.\n\t\t\tIn any case where the effective date of the transfer is to take place within\n120 days after an election for any of these officers in the county to which the\ncity is transferred, the voters of the city shall be entitled to vote in that\nelection for each officer. The voting wards or precincts of the city shall be\ntreated as precincts of the adjoining county, and no candidate for these offices\nshall be required to qualify separately in the city. The voters of the city\nshall thereafter be entitled to vote for these officers.\n\nC. In order to complete the transfer of the jurisdiction of the respective\ncircuit courts when the situation in subsection A occurs, the following shall\ncontrol:\n\n 1. As to any crime occurring or civil cause of action arising in the city\n before the effective date of the transfer, the circuit court of the former\n judicial circuit shall have jurisdiction.\n\n 2. As to any crime occurring or civil cause of action arising in the city on\n or after the effective date of the transfer involving a matter required by\n general law to be located in a circuit court, the circuit court of the\n judicial circuit to which the city was transferred shall have jurisdiction.\n\nD. All writings authorized by law to be recorded in the circuit court for the\ncity transferred pursuant to subsection A of this section shall be recorded in\nthe circuit court to which the city was transferred beginning on the effective\ndate of the transfer.\n\nHISTORY: 1980, c. 592, \u00a7 15.1-994.1; 1987, c. 624; 1997, c. 587.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}