{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/17.1-258.3.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/17.1-258.3.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/17.1-258.3.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/17.1-258.3.html"}],"law_id":67866,"edition_id":1,"section_id":67866,"structure_id":15352,"section_number":"17.1-258.3","catch_line":"Electronic filing in civil or criminal proceedings","history":"2005, c. 744; 2008, cc. 823, 833; 2010, cc. 430, 717, 760; 2013, cc. 74, 77; 2014, c. 460; 2015, c. 317.","full_text":"Any clerk of circuit court may establish and operate a system for electronic filing in civil or criminal proceedings that shall be governed by the Rules of Supreme Court of Virginia. The circuit court clerk may require each person whom the clerk authorizes to file documents electronically to provide proof of identity to the clerk and to enter into an agreement specifying the electronic filing procedures to be followed, including, but not limited to, security procedures, as defined in the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (\u00a7 59.1-479 et seq.), for transmitting signed or notarized documents. The clerk may charge copy fees per page, as provided in subdivision A 8 of \u00a7 17.1-275, and obtain reimbursement for fees paid by subscribers to its designated application service providers for the technology systems used to operate electronic filing in civil and criminal cases in the clerk’s office. The fees and reimbursements collected shall be deposited by the clerk into the clerk’s nonreverting local fund to be used to cover operational expenses as defined in \u00a7 17.1-295. Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the clerk from entering into agreements with designated application service providers to provide all or part of the network or system for electronic filing of civil or criminal records as provided herein. Further, nothing herein shall be construed to require the electronic filing of any civil or criminal record, and such records may continue to be filed in paper form.\n\t\tAny clerk of circuit court with an electronic filing system established in accordance with the Rules of Supreme Court of Virginia may charge an additional $5 fee for every civil case initially filed by paper, except that a person who is determined to be indigent pursuant to \u00a7 19.2-159 shall be exempt from the payment of such fee. The fee shall be paid to the clerk’s office and deposited by the clerk into the clerk’s nonreverting local fund to be exclusively used to cover the operational expenses as defined in \u00a7 17.1-295.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":245787,"text":"Any clerk of circuit court may establish and operate a system for electronic filing in civil or criminal proceedings that shall be governed by the Rules of Supreme Court of Virginia. The circuit court clerk may require each person whom the clerk authorizes to file documents electronically to provide proof of identity to the clerk and to enter into an agreement specifying the electronic filing procedures to be followed, including, but not limited to, security procedures, as defined in the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (\u00a7 59.1-479 et seq.), for transmitting signed or notarized documents. The clerk may charge copy fees per page, as provided in subdivision A 8 of \u00a7 17.1-275, and obtain reimbursement for fees paid by subscribers to its designated application service providers for the technology systems used to operate electronic filing in civil and criminal cases in the clerk’s office. The fees and reimbursements collected shall be deposited by the clerk into the clerk’s nonreverting local fund to be used to cover operational expenses as defined in \u00a7 17.1-295. Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the clerk from entering into agreements with designated application service providers to provide all or part of the network or system for electronic filing of civil or criminal records as provided herein. Further, nothing herein shall be construed to require the electronic filing of any civil or criminal record, and such records may continue to be filed in paper form.\n\t\tAny clerk of circuit court with an electronic filing system established in accordance with the Rules of Supreme Court of Virginia may charge an additional $5 fee for every civil case initially filed by paper, except that a person who is determined to be indigent pursuant to \u00a7 19.2-159 shall be exempt from the payment of such fee. The fee shall be paid to the clerk’s office and deposited by the clerk into the clerk’s nonreverting local fund to be exclusively used to cover the operational expenses as defined in \u00a7 17.1-295.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":15352,"edition_id":1,"name":"Electronic Filing","identifier":"4.1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13472,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:54:11","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:54:11","permalink":{"id":163223,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15352,"identifier":"4.1","token":"17.1\/2\/4.1","url":"\/17.1\/2\/4.1\/","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":58438,"structure_id":15352,"section_number":"17.1-258.2","catch_line":"Definition","url":"\/17.1-258.2\/","token":"17.1\/2\/4.1\/17.1-258.2","metadata":false},{"id":67866,"structure_id":15352,"section_number":"17.1-258.3","catch_line":"Electronic filing in civil or criminal proceedings","url":"\/17.1-258.3\/","token":"17.1\/2\/4.1\/17.1-258.3","metadata":false},{"id":78198,"structure_id":15352,"section_number":"17.1-258.3:1","catch_line":"Electronic filing of land records; paper form","url":"\/17.1-258.3_1\/","token":"17.1\/2\/4.1\/17.1-258.3_1","metadata":false},{"id":65365,"structure_id":15352,"section_number":"17.1-258.3:2","catch_line":"Official certificates and certified records in digital form","url":"\/17.1-258.3_2\/","token":"17.1\/2\/4.1\/17.1-258.3_2","metadata":false},{"id":85704,"structure_id":15352,"section_number":"17.1-258.3:3","catch_line":"Submission of records as electronic documents","url":"\/17.1-258.3_3\/","token":"17.1\/2\/4.1\/17.1-258.3_3","metadata":false},{"id":72881,"structure_id":15352,"section_number":"17.1-258.4","catch_line":"Signature; when effective as original; notarization; seal","url":"\/17.1-258.4\/","token":"17.1\/2\/4.1\/17.1-258.4","metadata":false},{"id":79549,"structure_id":15352,"section_number":"17.1-258.5","catch_line":"Application","url":"\/17.1-258.5\/","token":"17.1\/2\/4.1\/17.1-258.5","metadata":false},{"id":68491,"structure_id":15352,"section_number":"17.1-258.6","catch_line":"Acceptability of electronic medium; submission of trial court record to appellate court","url":"\/17.1-258.6\/","token":"17.1\/2\/4.1\/17.1-258.6","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":58438,"structure_id":15352,"section_number":"17.1-258.2","catch_line":"Definition","url":"\/17.1-258.2\/","token":"17.1\/2\/4.1\/17.1-258.2","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":78198,"structure_id":15352,"section_number":"17.1-258.3:1","catch_line":"Electronic filing of land records; paper form","url":"\/17.1-258.3_1\/","token":"17.1\/2\/4.1\/17.1-258.3_1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/17.1-258.3\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2005. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 744<\/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 5 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 2008, chapters 823<\/a> and 833<\/a>; in 2010, chapters 430<\/a>, 717<\/a>, and 760<\/a>; in 2013, chapters 74<\/a> and 77<\/a>; in 2014, chapter 460<\/a>; in 2015, chapter 317<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":71931,"section_number":"17.1-275","catch_line":"Fees collected by clerks of circuit courts; generally","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-275\/"}],"refers_to":[{"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":63862,"section_number":"17.1-295","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-295\/"},{"id":57328,"section_number":"19.2-159","catch_line":"Determination of indigency; guidelines; statement of indigence; appointment of counsel","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-159\/"},{"id":60668,"section_number":"59.1-479","catch_line":"Title","order_by":null,"url":"\/59.1-479\/"}],"permalink":{"id":163229,"object_type":"law","relational_id":67866,"identifier":"17.1-258.3","token":"17.1\/2\/4.1\/17.1-258.3","url":"\/17.1-258.3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/17.1-258.3\/","token":"17.1\/2\/4.1\/17.1-258.3","dublin_core":{"Title":"Electronic filing in civil or criminal proceedings","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 17.1-258.3","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Any clerk of circuit<\/span> court<\/span> may establish and operate a system for electronic filing in civil or criminal proceedings that shall be governed by the Rules of Supreme Court<\/span> of Virginia. The circuit<\/span> court<\/span> clerk may require each person whom the clerk authorizes to file documents electronically to provide proof of identity to the clerk and to enter into an agreement specifying the electronic filing procedures to be followed, including, but not limited to, security procedures, as defined in the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (\u00a7 59.1-479<\/a> et seq.), for transmitting signed or notarized documents. The clerk may charge copy fees per page, as provided in subdivision A 8 of \u00a7 17.1-275<\/a>, and obtain reimbursement for fees paid by subscribers<\/span> to its designated application service providers for the technology systems used to operate electronic filing in civil and criminal cases in the clerk’s office. The fees and reimbursements collected shall be deposited by the clerk into the clerk’s nonreverting local fund to be used to cover operational expenses<\/span> as defined in \u00a7 17.1-295<\/a>. Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the clerk from entering into agreements with designated application service providers to provide all or part of the network or system for electronic filing of civil or criminal records as provided herein. Further, nothing herein shall be construed to require the electronic filing of any civil or criminal record, and such records may continue to be filed in paper form.\n\t\tAny clerk of circuit<\/span> court<\/span> with an electronic filing system established in accordance with the Rules of Supreme Court<\/span> of Virginia may charge an additional $5 fee for every civil case initially filed by paper, except that a person who is determined to be indigent<\/span> pursuant to \u00a7 19.2-159<\/a> shall be exempt from the payment of such fee. The fee shall be paid to the clerk’s office and deposited by the clerk into the clerk’s nonreverting local fund to be exclusively used to cover the operational expenses<\/span> as defined in \u00a7 17.1-295<\/a>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nELECTRONIC FILING IN CIVIL OR CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS (\u00a7 17.1-258.3)\n\nAny clerk of circuit court may establish and operate a system for electronic\nfiling in civil or criminal proceedings that shall be governed by the Rules of\nSupreme Court of Virginia. The circuit court clerk may require each person whom\nthe clerk authorizes to file documents electronically to provide proof of\nidentity to the clerk and to enter into an agreement specifying the electronic\nfiling procedures to be followed, including, but not limited to, security\nprocedures, as defined in the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (\u00a7 59.1-479\net seq.), for transmitting signed or notarized documents. The clerk may charge\ncopy fees per page, as provided in subdivision A 8 of \u00a7 17.1-275, and obtain\nreimbursement for fees paid by subscribers to its designated application service\nproviders for the technology systems used to operate electronic filing in civil\nand criminal cases in the clerk’s office. The fees and reimbursements\ncollected shall be deposited by the clerk into the clerk’s nonreverting\nlocal fund to be used to cover operational expenses as defined in \u00a7 17.1-295.\nNothing herein shall be construed to prevent the clerk from entering into\nagreements with designated application service providers to provide all or part\nof the network or system for electronic filing of civil or criminal records as\nprovided herein. Further, nothing herein shall be construed to require the\nelectronic filing of any civil or criminal record, and such records may continue\nto be filed in paper form.\n\t\tAny clerk of circuit court with an electronic filing system established in\naccordance with the Rules of Supreme Court of Virginia may charge an additional\n$5 fee for every civil case initially filed by paper, except that a person who\nis determined to be indigent pursuant to \u00a7 19.2-159 shall be exempt from the\npayment of such fee. The fee shall be paid to the clerk’s office and\ndeposited by the clerk into the clerk’s nonreverting local fund to be\nexclusively used to cover the operational expenses as defined in \u00a7 17.1-295.\n\nHISTORY: 2005, c. 744; 2008, cc. 823, 833; 2010, cc. 430, 717, 760; 2013, cc.\n74, 77; 2014, c. 460; 2015, c. 317.","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}}