{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-3822.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-3822.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-3822.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-3822.html"}],"law_id":78502,"edition_id":1,"section_id":78502,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3822","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, 1979, under provisions of this chapter in effect prior to that date, shall continue to serve both localities until (i) the city ceases to share such positions in accordance with the provisions of general law or (ii) 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 declaration or transfer is made, the qualified voters residing in the city may vote for these officers at the general election for county officers.B\n\nUpon the effective date of the transfer referred to in clause (ii) of subsection A, the judges of the circuit court for the county in the judicial circuit to which the city was transferred shall appoint the attorney for the Commonwealth and clerk of the circuit court for that adjoining county. If the city has a locally elected city sheriff, the city sheriff shall be the only sheriff for the city. The city may contract with the county to which it was transferred for jail facilities. If the effective date of the transfer is to take place within 120 days after an election for the clerk of the circuit court or attorney for the Commonwealth in the county to which the city is transferred, the voters of the city shall be entitled to vote in the 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 qualified voters of the city shall thereafter be entitled to vote for these officers.C\n\nIf the situation in either clause (i) or (ii) of subsection A occurs, then: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 for the former judicial circuit shall have jurisdiction; and2\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 for 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 clause (ii) of subsection A 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":281347,"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, 1979, under provisions of this chapter in effect prior to that date, shall continue to serve both localities until (i) the city ceases to share such positions in accordance with the provisions of general law or (ii) 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 declaration or transfer is made, the qualified voters residing in the city may 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":281348,"text":"Upon the effective date of the transfer referred to in clause (ii) of subsection A, the judges of the circuit court for the county in the judicial circuit to which the city was transferred shall appoint the attorney for the Commonwealth and clerk of the circuit court for that adjoining county. If the city has a locally elected city sheriff, the city sheriff shall be the only sheriff for the city. The city may contract with the county to which it was transferred for jail facilities. If the effective date of the transfer is to take place within 120 days after an election for the clerk of the circuit court or attorney for the Commonwealth in the county to which the city is transferred, the voters of the city shall be entitled to vote in the 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 qualified 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":281349,"text":"If the situation in either clause (i) or (ii) of subsection A occurs, then:","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"C1"},"3":{"id":281350,"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 for the former judicial circuit shall have jurisdiction; and","type":"section","prefixes":["C","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"C1","prefix_anchor":"C1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"C2"},"4":{"id":281351,"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 for 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":281352,"text":"All writings authorized by law to be recorded in the circuit court for the city transferred pursuant to clause (ii) of subsection A 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":13063,"edition_id":1,"name":"Transition of Towns to Cities","identifier":"38","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13062,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:12","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:12","permalink":{"id":157557,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13063,"identifier":"38","token":"15.2\/III\/38","url":"\/15.2\/III\/38\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13062,"edition_id":1,"name":"Boundary Adjustments and Changes of Status of Counties, Cities and Towns","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12720,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:12","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:12","permalink":{"id":156919,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13062,"identifier":"III","token":"15.2\/III","url":"\/15.2\/III\/","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":80368,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3800","catch_line":"Ordinance petitioning court for city status; appointment of special court","url":"\/15.2-3800\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3800","metadata":false},{"id":59085,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3801","catch_line":"Referendum","url":"\/15.2-3801\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3801","metadata":false},{"id":80173,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3802","catch_line":"Town and county agreement concerning proposed city","url":"\/15.2-3802\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3802","metadata":false},{"id":66107,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3803","catch_line":"Notice of motion; service and publication; answer or other pleading","url":"\/15.2-3803\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3803","metadata":false},{"id":84061,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3804","catch_line":"Parties","url":"\/15.2-3804\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3804","metadata":false},{"id":72646,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3805","catch_line":"Time limit for intervenors; publication of order","url":"\/15.2-3805\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3805","metadata":false},{"id":71867,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3806","catch_line":"Pretrial conference; matters considered","url":"\/15.2-3806\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3806","metadata":false},{"id":83950,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3807","catch_line":"Hearing and decision by court","url":"\/15.2-3807\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3807","metadata":false},{"id":67826,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3808","catch_line":"Assistance of state agencies","url":"\/15.2-3808\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3808","metadata":false},{"id":62141,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3809","catch_line":"Appeals","url":"\/15.2-3809\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3809","metadata":false},{"id":86663,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3810","catch_line":"Declining of grant of city status","url":"\/15.2-3810\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3810","metadata":false},{"id":68815,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3811","catch_line":"Proceeding final for three years","url":"\/15.2-3811\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3811","metadata":false},{"id":61530,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3812","catch_line":"Effect when town becomes city","url":"\/15.2-3812\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3812","metadata":false},{"id":70595,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3813","catch_line":"Town liabilities and assets","url":"\/15.2-3813\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3813","metadata":false},{"id":69704,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3814","catch_line":"Mayor of town to continue in office","url":"\/15.2-3814\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3814","metadata":false},{"id":59418,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3815","catch_line":"Council of town to continue in office; additional members","url":"\/15.2-3815\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3815","metadata":false},{"id":56370,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3816","catch_line":"Town treasurer to continue in office; appointment where town had no treasurer","url":"\/15.2-3816\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3816","metadata":false},{"id":87034,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3817","catch_line":"Commissioner of revenue or assessor to continue in office; appointment where town had no commissioner or assessor","url":"\/15.2-3817\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3817","metadata":false},{"id":74687,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3818","catch_line":"Town sergeant to continue in office","url":"\/15.2-3818\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3818","metadata":false},{"id":84553,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3819","catch_line":"Election and terms of office of mayor and councilmen after town becomes city","url":"\/15.2-3819\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3819","metadata":false},{"id":54116,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3820","catch_line":"Election and terms of other city officers","url":"\/15.2-3820\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3820","metadata":false},{"id":58702,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3821","catch_line":"Qualification of officers; vacancies","url":"\/15.2-3821\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3821","metadata":false},{"id":78502,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3822","catch_line":"Sharing of offices; transfer of jurisdiction","url":"\/15.2-3822\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3822","metadata":false},{"id":71166,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3823","catch_line":"Tenure and reelection of county officer whose homesite becomes part of city","url":"\/15.2-3823\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3823","metadata":false},{"id":66773,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3824","catch_line":"Town officers","url":"\/15.2-3824\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3824","metadata":false},{"id":71501,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3825","catch_line":"Courts","url":"\/15.2-3825\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3825","metadata":false},{"id":66417,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3826","catch_line":"Appointment of electoral board, sheriff, attorney for the Commonwealth and circuit court clerk","url":"\/15.2-3826\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3826","metadata":false},{"id":78169,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3827","catch_line":"Transfer of assessments to city books","url":"\/15.2-3827\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3827","metadata":false},{"id":61596,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3828","catch_line":"State, county and district taxes accruing before transition; county sales and use tax becomes city sales and use tax","url":"\/15.2-3828\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3828","metadata":false},{"id":61008,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3829","catch_line":"Assumption of debt; adjustment","url":"\/15.2-3829\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3829","metadata":false},{"id":69691,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3830","catch_line":"Certain costs and expenses to be apportioned between city and county","url":"\/15.2-3830\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3830","metadata":false},{"id":62813,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3831","catch_line":"Registrars and their duties","url":"\/15.2-3831\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3831","metadata":false},{"id":72807,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3832","catch_line":"Authority to city to provide by condemnation, etc., water, light, power and fuel","url":"\/15.2-3832\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3832","metadata":false},{"id":80329,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3833","catch_line":"Chapter not applicable to cities already existing","url":"\/15.2-3833\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3833","metadata":false},{"id":69864,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3834","catch_line":"Congressional, etc., districts and judicial circuit not changed","url":"\/15.2-3834\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3834","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":58702,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3821","catch_line":"Qualification of officers; vacancies","url":"\/15.2-3821\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3821","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":71166,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3823","catch_line":"Tenure and reelection of county officer whose homesite becomes part of city","url":"\/15.2-3823\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3823","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-3822\/","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":157647,"object_type":"law","relational_id":78502,"identifier":"15.2-3822","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3822","url":"\/15.2-3822\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-3822\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3822","dublin_core":{"Title":"Sharing of offices; transfer of jurisdiction","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-3822","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, 1979, under provisions of this chapter in effect prior to that date, shall continue to serve both localities until (i) the city<\/span> ceases to share such positions in accordance with the provisions of general law<\/span> or (ii) 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 declaration or transfer is made, the qualified voters<\/span> residing in the city<\/span> may 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 clause (ii) of subsection A, 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 shall appoint the attorney for the Commonwealth and clerk of the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> for that adjoining county<\/span>. If the city<\/span> has a locally elected city<\/span> sheriff, the city<\/span> 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. If the effective date of the transfer is to take place within 120 days after an election for the clerk of the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> or attorney for the Commonwealth in the county<\/span> to which the city<\/span> is transferred, the voters<\/span> of the city<\/span> shall be entitled to vote in the 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 qualified 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> If the situation in either clause (i) or (ii) of subsection A occurs, then: <\/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> for the former judicial circuit<\/span> shall have jurisdiction<\/span>; and <\/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> for 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 clause (ii) of subsection A 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 15.2-3822)\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, 1979, under provisions of this chapter in effect prior to that date,\nshall continue to serve both localities until (i) the city ceases to share such\npositions in accordance with the provisions of general law or (ii) 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\ndeclaration or transfer is made, the qualified voters residing in the city may\nvote for these officers at the general election for county officers.\n\nB. Upon the effective date of the transfer referred to in clause (ii) of\nsubsection A, the judges of the circuit court for the county in the judicial\ncircuit to which the city was transferred shall appoint the attorney for the\nCommonwealth and clerk of the circuit court for that adjoining county. If the\ncity has a locally elected city sheriff, the city sheriff shall be the only\nsheriff for the city. The city may contract with the county to which it was\ntransferred for jail facilities. If the effective date of the transfer is to\ntake place within 120 days after an election for the clerk of the circuit court\nor attorney for the Commonwealth in the county to which the city is transferred,\nthe voters of the city shall be entitled to vote in the election for each\nofficer. The voting wards or precincts of the city shall be treated as precincts\nof the adjoining county and no candidate for these offices shall be required to\nqualify separately in the city. The qualified voters of the city shall\nthereafter be entitled to vote for these officers.\n\nC. If the situation in either clause (i) or (ii) of subsection A occurs, then:\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 for the former\n judicial circuit shall have jurisdiction; and\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 for 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 clause (ii) of subsection A 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}}