{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-4119.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-4119.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-4119.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-4119.html"}],"law_id":72824,"edition_id":1,"section_id":72824,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4119","catch_line":"Effect on jurisdiction of courts","history":"1988, c. 881, \u00a7 15.1-965.26; 1997, c. 587; 2005, c. 681.","full_text":"Upon the effective date of the transition from city to town status, all criminal prosecutions then pending therein, whether by indictment, warrant or other complaint, and all suits, actions, motions, warrants, and other proceedings of a civil nature, with all the records of the courts of the city, shall stand ipso facto removed to the courts of concurrent or like jurisdiction of the appropriate county. The circuit and other courts having courthouses and records in and jurisdiction over the city shall, at some convenient time, as closely preceding the period of removal as practicable, by formal orders entered of record, direct the removal of all such causes and proceedings, civil and criminal, to the court or courts of concurrent or like jurisdiction of the county. The clerk of the court or courts to which the causes and proceedings have been removed shall thereupon proceed as in other cases of removal or changes of venue and such matters shall be docketed and handled as though initially filed in such court or courts. At the same time such clerk or clerks shall also deliver to the proper clerk or clerks of the county all the deed books, order or minute books, execution dockets, judgment dockets and other records of his office, of whatever kind or nature. The clerk or clerks of the court or courts to which the records are removed shall take charge of and preserve the records for reference and use in the same manner and with the same effect as though they were original records of his office.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":262359,"text":"Upon the effective date of the transition from city to town status, all criminal prosecutions then pending therein, whether by indictment, warrant or other complaint, and all suits, actions, motions, warrants, and other proceedings of a civil nature, with all the records of the courts of the city, shall stand ipso facto removed to the courts of concurrent or like jurisdiction of the appropriate county. The circuit and other courts having courthouses and records in and jurisdiction over the city shall, at some convenient time, as closely preceding the period of removal as practicable, by formal orders entered of record, direct the removal of all such causes and proceedings, civil and criminal, to the court or courts of concurrent or like jurisdiction of the county. The clerk of the court or courts to which the causes and proceedings have been removed shall thereupon proceed as in other cases of removal or changes of venue and such matters shall be docketed and handled as though initially filed in such court or courts. At the same time such clerk or clerks shall also deliver to the proper clerk or clerks of the county all the deed books, order or minute books, execution dockets, judgment dockets and other records of his office, of whatever kind or nature. The clerk or clerks of the court or courts to which the records are removed shall take charge of and preserve the records for reference and use in the same manner and with the same effect as though they were original records of his office.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14654,"edition_id":1,"name":"Transition of City to Town Status","identifier":"41","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13062,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:49:10","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:49:10","permalink":{"id":157807,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14654,"identifier":"41","token":"15.2\/III\/41","url":"\/15.2\/III\/41\/","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":78761,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4100","catch_line":"City may change to town status","url":"\/15.2-4100\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4100","metadata":false},{"id":73202,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4101","catch_line":"Ordinance petitioning court for town status; notice of motion","url":"\/15.2-4101\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4101","metadata":false},{"id":83698,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4102","catch_line":"Citizen petition for town status","url":"\/15.2-4102\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4102","metadata":false},{"id":86293,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4103","catch_line":"Parties","url":"\/15.2-4103\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4103","metadata":false},{"id":78957,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4104","catch_line":"Time limit for intervenors; publication of order","url":"\/15.2-4104\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4104","metadata":false},{"id":59306,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4105","catch_line":"Pretrial conference; matters considered","url":"\/15.2-4105\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4105","metadata":false},{"id":63501,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4106","catch_line":"Hearing and decision by court","url":"\/15.2-4106\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4106","metadata":false},{"id":69319,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4107","catch_line":"Assistance of state agencies","url":"\/15.2-4107\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4107","metadata":false},{"id":57092,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4108","catch_line":"Appeals","url":"\/15.2-4108\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4108","metadata":false},{"id":65172,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4109","catch_line":"Declining a grant of town status","url":"\/15.2-4109\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4109","metadata":false},{"id":81033,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4110","catch_line":"Proceedings final for five years","url":"\/15.2-4110\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4110","metadata":false},{"id":79862,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4111","catch_line":"Effective date of transition","url":"\/15.2-4111\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4111","metadata":false},{"id":81773,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4112","catch_line":"Charter for resulting town","url":"\/15.2-4112\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4112","metadata":false},{"id":75673,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4113","catch_line":"Restriction on subsequent change in status","url":"\/15.2-4113\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4113","metadata":false},{"id":56234,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4114","catch_line":"Liabilities and assets of such city","url":"\/15.2-4114\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4114","metadata":false},{"id":58758,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4115","catch_line":"Effect when city becomes town; officers","url":"\/15.2-4115\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4115","metadata":false},{"id":62423,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4115.1","catch_line":"Disposition of police department or sheriff's department motorcycles","url":"\/15.2-4115.1\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4115.1","metadata":false},{"id":63233,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4116","catch_line":"Library aid continued","url":"\/15.2-4116\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4116","metadata":false},{"id":68768,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4117","catch_line":"Temporary restriction on annexation","url":"\/15.2-4117\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4117","metadata":false},{"id":58976,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4118","catch_line":"Effect on pending suits","url":"\/15.2-4118\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4118","metadata":false},{"id":72824,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4119","catch_line":"Effect on jurisdiction of courts","url":"\/15.2-4119\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4119","metadata":false},{"id":63691,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4120","catch_line":"Court granting transition to town status to exist for 10 years","url":"\/15.2-4120\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4120","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":58976,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4118","catch_line":"Effect on pending suits","url":"\/15.2-4118\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4118","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":63691,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4120","catch_line":"Court granting transition to town status to exist for 10 years","url":"\/15.2-4120\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4120","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-4119\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1988. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 881 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 1988 \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 1997, chapter 587<\/a>; in 2005, chapter 681<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":157889,"object_type":"law","relational_id":72824,"identifier":"15.2-4119","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4119","url":"\/15.2-4119\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-4119\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4119","dublin_core":{"Title":"Effect on jurisdiction of courts","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-4119","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Upon the effective date of the transition from city<\/span> to town<\/span> status, all criminal prosecutions<\/span> then pending therein, whether by indictment<\/span>, warrant or other complaint, and all suits, actions, motions<\/span>, warrants, and other proceedings of a civil nature, with all the records of the courts<\/span> of the city<\/span>, shall stand ipso facto removed to the courts<\/span> of concurrent or like jurisdiction<\/span> of the appropriate county<\/span>. The circuit<\/span> and other courts<\/span> having courthouses and records in and jurisdiction<\/span> over the city<\/span> shall, at some convenient time, as closely preceding the period of removal as practicable, by formal orders<\/span> entered of record, direct the removal of all such causes and proceedings, civil and criminal, to the court<\/span> or courts<\/span> of concurrent or like jurisdiction<\/span> of the county<\/span>. The clerk of the court<\/span> or courts<\/span> to which the causes and proceedings have been removed shall thereupon proceed as in other cases of removal or changes of venue<\/span> and such matters shall be docketed and handled as though initially filed in such court<\/span> or courts<\/span>. At the same time such clerk or clerks shall also deliver to the proper clerk or clerks of the county<\/span> all the deed books, order<\/span> or minute books, execution dockets<\/span>, judgment<\/span> dockets<\/span> and other records of his office, of whatever kind or nature. The clerk or clerks of the court<\/span> or courts<\/span> to which the records are removed shall take charge of and preserve the records for reference and use in the same manner and with the same effect as though they were original records of his office.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nEFFECT ON JURISDICTION OF COURTS (\u00a7 15.2-4119)\n\nUpon the effective date of the transition from city to town status, all criminal\nprosecutions then pending therein, whether by indictment, warrant or other\ncomplaint, and all suits, actions, motions, warrants, and other proceedings of a\ncivil nature, with all the records of the courts of the city, shall stand ipso\nfacto removed to the courts of concurrent or like jurisdiction of the\nappropriate county. The circuit and other courts having courthouses and records\nin and jurisdiction over the city shall, at some convenient time, as closely\npreceding the period of removal as practicable, by formal orders entered of\nrecord, direct the removal of all such causes and proceedings, civil and\ncriminal, to the court or courts of concurrent or like jurisdiction of the\ncounty. The clerk of the court or courts to which the causes and proceedings\nhave been removed shall thereupon proceed as in other cases of removal or\nchanges of venue and such matters shall be docketed and handled as though\ninitially filed in such court or courts. At the same time such clerk or clerks\nshall also deliver to the proper clerk or clerks of the county all the deed\nbooks, order or minute books, execution dockets, judgment dockets and other\nrecords of his office, of whatever kind or nature. The clerk or clerks of the\ncourt or courts to which the records are removed shall take charge of and\npreserve the records for reference and use in the same manner and with the same\neffect as though they were original records of his office.\n\nHISTORY: 1988, c. 881, \u00a7 15.1-965.26; 1997, c. 587; 2005, c. 681.","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}}