{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/17.1-227.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/17.1-227.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/17.1-227.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/17.1-227.1.html"}],"law_id":72471,"edition_id":1,"section_id":72471,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-227.1","catch_line":"Use of cover sheets on deeds or other instruments by circuit court clerks","history":"1999, cc. 363, 369; 2000, cc. 440, 446; 2008, cc. 823, 833; 2014, c. 338.","full_text":"A\n\nCircuit court clerks may require that any deed or other instrument conveying or relating to an interest in real property be submitted for recordation with a cover sheet detailing the information contained in the deed or other instrument necessary for the clerk to properly index such instrument. The cover sheet shall be developed in conjunction with the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia and shall include the following information: (i) the name of each party to be indexed as grantor and the name of each party to be indexed as grantee and, in the case of any individual grantor or grantee, the surname of each individual identified as such; (ii) in the case of a deed or other instrument described in § 58.1-801 or 58.1-807, the amount of the consideration and the actual value of the property conveyed; (iii) the Virginia or federal law under which any exemption from recordation taxes is claimed; (iv) if required under § 17.1-252, the tax map reference number or numbers, or the parcel identification number (PIN) or numbers, of the affected parcel or parcels; and (v) the name and current address of the person to whom the instrument should be returned after recordation.B\n\nIn any clerk’s office that does not require a cover sheet, the attorney or other party presenting a deed or other instrument conveying or relating to an interest in real property may submit a cover sheet with such deed or other instrument containing all of the information required under subsection A, and in such case the deed or other instrument need not contain the information otherwise required to be included under subsection A of § 17.1-223, except that each page thereof shall be numbered consecutively as provided in subsection A of § 17.1-223.C\n\nThe attorney or other party who prepares the cover sheet submitted with any deed or other instrument conveying or relating to an interest in real property for recordation has the responsibility for ensuring the accuracy of the information contained in the cover sheet, and the clerk may rely on the information provided therein.\n\t\t\tThe cover sheet may be recorded with the deed or other instrument with which it is submitted, but it shall not be included as a page for determining the amount of any applicable filing fees pursuant to subdivision A 2 of § 17.1-275 except in the case of a cover sheet submitted pursuant to subsection B. The cover sheet shall be provided only for information purposes to facilitate the recordation of the deed or other instrument with which it is submitted. The cover sheet shall not be construed to convey title to any interest in real property, purport to be a document in the chain of title conveying any interest in real property, or be considered a part of, or affect the interpretation of, the deed or other instrument with which it is submitted, regardless of whether the clerk records the cover sheet with such instrument.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":261025,"text":"Circuit court clerks may require that any deed or other instrument conveying or relating to an interest in real property be submitted for recordation with a cover sheet detailing the information contained in the deed or other instrument necessary for the clerk to properly index such instrument. The cover sheet shall be developed in conjunction with the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia and shall include the following information: (i) the name of each party to be indexed as grantor and the name of each party to be indexed as grantee and, in the case of any individual grantor or grantee, the surname of each individual identified as such; (ii) in the case of a deed or other instrument described in § 58.1-801 or 58.1-807, the amount of the consideration and the actual value of the property conveyed; (iii) the Virginia or federal law under which any exemption from recordation taxes is claimed; (iv) if required under § 17.1-252, the tax map reference number or numbers, or the parcel identification number (PIN) or numbers, of the affected parcel or parcels; and (v) the name and current address of the person to whom the instrument should be returned after recordation.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":261026,"text":"In any clerk’s office that does not require a cover sheet, the attorney or other party presenting a deed or other instrument conveying or relating to an interest in real property may submit a cover sheet with such deed or other instrument containing all of the information required under subsection A, and in such case the deed or other instrument need not contain the information otherwise required to be included under subsection A of § 17.1-223, except that each page thereof shall be numbered consecutively as provided in subsection A of § 17.1-223.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":261027,"text":"The attorney or other party who prepares the cover sheet submitted with any deed or other instrument conveying or relating to an interest in real property for recordation has the responsibility for ensuring the accuracy of the information contained in the cover sheet, and the clerk may rely on the information provided therein.\n\t\t\tThe cover sheet may be recorded with the deed or other instrument with which it is submitted, but it shall not be included as a page for determining the amount of any applicable filing fees pursuant to subdivision A 2 of § 17.1-275 except in the case of a cover sheet submitted pursuant to subsection B. The cover sheet shall be provided only for information purposes to facilitate the recordation of the deed or other instrument with which it is submitted. The cover sheet shall not be construed to convey title to any interest in real property, purport to be a document in the chain of title conveying any interest in real property, or be considered a part of, or affect the interpretation of, the deed or other instrument with which it is submitted, regardless of whether the clerk records the cover sheet with such instrument.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13894,"edition_id":1,"name":"Records, Recordation and Indexing Generally","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13472,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:13","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:13","permalink":{"id":163071,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13894,"identifier":"3","token":"17.1\/2\/3","url":"\/17.1\/2\/3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13472,"edition_id":1,"name":"Clerks, Clerks' Offices and Records","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12766,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:58","permalink":{"id":162961,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13472,"identifier":"2","token":"17.1\/2","url":"\/17.1\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12766,"edition_id":1,"name":"Courts of Record","identifier":"17.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","permalink":{"id":162799,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12766,"identifier":"17.1","token":"17.1","url":"\/17.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":78488,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-223","catch_line":"Duty of clerk to record writings, etc., and make index","url":"\/17.1-223\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-223","metadata":false},{"id":75760,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-224","catch_line":"Copy of illegible instrument used for making permanent record","url":"\/17.1-224\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-224","metadata":false},{"id":69099,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-225","catch_line":"Remote access to nonconfidential court records","url":"\/17.1-225\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-225","metadata":false},{"id":59592,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-226","catch_line":"Remote access to certain agencies from clerk of court","url":"\/17.1-226\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-226","metadata":false},{"id":54933,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-227","catch_line":"Documents to be recorded in deed books; social security numbers","url":"\/17.1-227\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-227","metadata":false},{"id":72471,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-227.1","catch_line":"Use of cover sheets on deeds or other instruments by circuit court clerks","url":"\/17.1-227.1\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-227.1","metadata":false},{"id":85458,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-228","catch_line":"Recording releases of deeds of trust, partial releases of deeds of trust, court ordered releases, or other liens or assignments in cities and counties using microfilm","url":"\/17.1-228\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-228","metadata":false},{"id":86187,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-229","catch_line":"Additional documents to be recorded in deed book","url":"\/17.1-229\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-229","metadata":false},{"id":77809,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-230","catch_line":"Documents to be recorded in bond book","url":"\/17.1-230\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-230","metadata":false},{"id":72508,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-231","catch_line":"Documents to be recorded in will book","url":"\/17.1-231\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-231","metadata":false},{"id":70937,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-232","catch_line":"What to be recorded in judgment docket","url":"\/17.1-232\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-232","metadata":false},{"id":69816,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-233","catch_line":"What to be recorded in marriage register","url":"\/17.1-233\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-233","metadata":false},{"id":80834,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-234","catch_line":"Documents to be recorded in \"writings partially proved.\"","url":"\/17.1-234\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-234","metadata":false},{"id":73638,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-235","catch_line":"Recordation of federal farm loan mortgages","url":"\/17.1-235\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-235","metadata":false},{"id":77409,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-236","catch_line":"Recordation of plats and maps","url":"\/17.1-236\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-236","metadata":false},{"id":57772,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-237","catch_line":"Validation of recordations in certain plat books","url":"\/17.1-237\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-237","metadata":false},{"id":84039,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-238","catch_line":"State highway plat book","url":"\/17.1-238\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-238","metadata":false},{"id":66342,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-239","catch_line":"Character of books used for recording; standards for microfilm, etc","url":"\/17.1-239\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-239","metadata":false},{"id":82298,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-240","catch_line":"Recording by microphotographic or electronic process","url":"\/17.1-240\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-240","metadata":false},{"id":82024,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-241","catch_line":"Clerks to procure books for record","url":"\/17.1-241\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-241","metadata":false},{"id":63003,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-242","catch_line":"Custody of books, records, etc","url":"\/17.1-242\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-242","metadata":false},{"id":71474,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-243","catch_line":"Clerks to have land books bound","url":"\/17.1-243\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-243","metadata":false},{"id":83594,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-244","catch_line":"Books, etc., in clerks' offices rebound, transcribed, microfilmed or digitally reproduced; credit given to transcripts, etc","url":"\/17.1-244\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-244","metadata":false},{"id":84190,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-245","catch_line":"Books may be taken from clerk's office to be rebound, etc","url":"\/17.1-245\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-245","metadata":false},{"id":70521,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-246","catch_line":"How costs thereof certified and paid","url":"\/17.1-246\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-246","metadata":false},{"id":61759,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-247","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/17.1-247\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-247","metadata":false},{"id":70377,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-248","catch_line":"Clerk to make index to each of his books","url":"\/17.1-248\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-248","metadata":false},{"id":64098,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-249","catch_line":"General indexes for clerks' offices; daily index","url":"\/17.1-249\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-249","metadata":false},{"id":78069,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-250","catch_line":"Correction of indexes","url":"\/17.1-250\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-250","metadata":false},{"id":72247,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-251","catch_line":"Indexing of certain subdivision plats or maps","url":"\/17.1-251\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-251","metadata":false},{"id":54968,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-252","catch_line":"Indexing by tax map reference number","url":"\/17.1-252\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-252","metadata":false},{"id":85314,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-253","catch_line":"Committee to inquire into necessity of general index; report; plan adopted; locality to cover cost","url":"\/17.1-253\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-253","metadata":false},{"id":77546,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-254","catch_line":"Validation of judgment records in office of clerk of Circuit Court of Norfolk","url":"\/17.1-254\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-254","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":54933,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-227","catch_line":"Documents to be recorded in deed books; social security numbers","url":"\/17.1-227\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-227","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":85458,"structure_id":13894,"section_number":"17.1-228","catch_line":"Recording releases of deeds of trust, partial releases of deeds of trust, court ordered releases, or other liens or assignments in cities and counties using microfilm","url":"\/17.1-228\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-228","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/17.1-227.1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1999. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 363<\/a> and 369<\/a> 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. It has been modified 3 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 2000, chapters 440<\/a> and 446<\/a>; in 2008, chapters 823<\/a> and 833<\/a>; in 2014, chapter 338<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":78488,"section_number":"17.1-223","catch_line":"Duty of clerk to record writings, etc., and make index","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-223\/"},{"id":64098,"section_number":"17.1-249","catch_line":"General indexes for clerks' offices; daily index","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-249\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":78488,"section_number":"17.1-223","catch_line":"Duty of clerk to record writings, etc., and make index","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-223\/"},{"id":54968,"section_number":"17.1-252","catch_line":"Indexing by tax map reference number","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-252\/"},{"id":71931,"section_number":"17.1-275","catch_line":"Fees collected by clerks of circuit courts; generally","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-275\/"},{"id":72560,"section_number":"58.1-801","catch_line":"Deeds generally; charter amendments","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-801\/"},{"id":71823,"section_number":"58.1-807","catch_line":"Contracts generally; leases","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-807\/"}],"permalink":{"id":163093,"object_type":"law","relational_id":72471,"identifier":"17.1-227.1","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-227.1","url":"\/17.1-227.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/17.1-227.1\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-227.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Use of cover sheets on deeds or other instruments by circuit court clerks","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 17.1-227.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Circuit<\/span> court<\/span> clerks may require that any deed or other instrument conveying or relating to an interest in real property be submitted for recordation with a cover sheet detailing the information contained in the deed or other instrument necessary for the clerk to properly index such instrument. The cover sheet shall be developed in conjunction with the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court<\/span> of Virginia and shall include the following information: (i) the name of each party<\/span> to be indexed as grantor and the name of each party<\/span> to be indexed as grantee and, in the case of any individual grantor or grantee, the surname of each individual identified as such; (ii) in the case of a deed or other instrument described in § 58.1-801<\/a> or 58.1-807<\/a>, the amount of the consideration and the actual value of the property conveyed; (iii) the Virginia or federal law<\/span> under which any exemption from recordation taxes is claimed; (iv) if required under § 17.1-252<\/a>, the tax map reference number or numbers, or the parcel identification number (PIN) or numbers, of the affected parcel or parcels; and (v) the name and current address of the person to whom the instrument should be returned after recordation. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> In any clerk’s office that does not require a cover sheet, the attorney or other party<\/span> presenting a deed or other instrument conveying or relating to an interest in real property may submit a cover sheet with such deed or other instrument containing all of the information required under subsection A, and in such case the deed or other instrument need not contain the information otherwise required to be included under subsection A of § 17.1-223<\/a>, except that each page thereof shall be numbered consecutively as provided in subsection A of § 17.1-223<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The attorney or other party<\/span> who prepares the cover sheet submitted with any deed or other instrument conveying or relating to an interest in real property for recordation has the responsibility for ensuring the accuracy of the information contained in the cover sheet, and the clerk may rely on the information provided therein.\n\t\t\tThe cover sheet may be recorded with the deed or other instrument with which it is submitted, but it shall not be included as a page for determining the amount of any applicable filing fees pursuant to subdivision A 2 of § 17.1-275<\/a> except in the case of a cover sheet submitted pursuant to subsection B. The cover sheet shall be provided only for information purposes to facilitate the recordation of the deed or other instrument with which it is submitted. The cover sheet shall not be construed to convey title to any interest in real property, purport to be a document in the chain of title conveying any interest in real property, or be considered a part of, or affect the interpretation of, the deed or other instrument with which it is submitted, regardless of whether the clerk records the cover sheet with such instrument. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nUSE OF COVER SHEETS ON DEEDS OR OTHER INSTRUMENTS BY CIRCUIT COURT CLERKS (\u00a7\n17.1-227.1)\n\nA. Circuit court clerks may require that any deed or other instrument conveying\nor relating to an interest in real property be submitted for recordation with a\ncover sheet detailing the information contained in the deed or other instrument\nnecessary for the clerk to properly index such instrument. The cover sheet shall\nbe developed in conjunction with the Office of the Executive Secretary of the\nSupreme Court of Virginia and shall include the following information: (i) the\nname of each party to be indexed as grantor and the name of each party to be\nindexed as grantee and, in the case of any individual grantor or grantee, the\nsurname of each individual identified as such; (ii) in the case of a deed or\nother instrument described in § 58.1-801 or 58.1-807, the amount of the\nconsideration and the actual value of the property conveyed; (iii) the Virginia\nor federal law under which any exemption from recordation taxes is claimed; (iv)\nif required under § 17.1-252, the tax map reference number or numbers, or\nthe parcel identification number (PIN) or numbers, of the affected parcel or\nparcels; and (v) the name and current address of the person to whom the\ninstrument should be returned after recordation.\n\nB. In any clerk’s office that does not require a cover sheet, the attorney\nor other party presenting a deed or other instrument conveying or relating to an\ninterest in real property may submit a cover sheet with such deed or other\ninstrument containing all of the information required under subsection A, and in\nsuch case the deed or other instrument need not contain the information\notherwise required to be included under subsection A of § 17.1-223, except\nthat each page thereof shall be numbered consecutively as provided in subsection\nA of § 17.1-223.\n\nC. The attorney or other party who prepares the cover sheet submitted with any\ndeed or other instrument conveying or relating to an interest in real property\nfor recordation has the responsibility for ensuring the accuracy of the\ninformation contained in the cover sheet, and the clerk may rely on the\ninformation provided therein.\n\t\t\tThe cover sheet may be recorded with the deed or other instrument with which\nit is submitted, but it shall not be included as a page for determining the\namount of any applicable filing fees pursuant to subdivision A 2 of §\n17.1-275 except in the case of a cover sheet submitted pursuant to subsection B.\nThe cover sheet shall be provided only for information purposes to facilitate\nthe recordation of the deed or other instrument with which it is submitted. The\ncover sheet shall not be construed to convey title to any interest in real\nproperty, purport to be a document in the chain of title conveying any interest\nin real property, or be considered a part of, or affect the interpretation of,\nthe deed or other instrument with which it is submitted, regardless of whether\nthe clerk records the cover sheet with such instrument.\n\nHISTORY: 1999, cc. 363, 369; 2000, cc. 440, 446; 2008, cc. 823, 833; 2014, c.\n338.","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}}