{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/17.1-279.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/17.1-279.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/17.1-279.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/17.1-279.html"}],"law_id":69820,"edition_id":1,"section_id":69820,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-279","catch_line":"Additional fee to be assessed by circuit court clerks for information technology","history":"1996, c. 431, \u00a7 14.1-125.2; 1997, c. 675; 1998, c. 872; 2000, cc. 440, 446; 2002, cc. 140, 250, 637; 2003, cc. 205, 865, 981, 1021; 2004, c. 676; 2005, cc. 681, 738; 2006, c. 647; 2007, cc. 548, 626; 2009, cc. 793, 858; 2010, c. 430; 2014, c. 460.","full_text":"A\n\nIn addition to the fees otherwise authorized by this chapter, the clerk of each circuit court shall assess a $5 fee, known as the “Technology Trust Fund Fee,” in each civil action, upon each instrument to be recorded in the deed books, and upon each judgment to be docketed in the judgment lien docket book. Such fee shall be deposited by the State Treasurer into a trust fund. The State Treasurer shall maintain a record of such deposits.B\n\nFour dollars of every $5 fee shall be allocated by the Compensation Board from the trust fund for the purposes of: (i) developing and updating individual land records automation plans for individual circuit court clerks’ offices; (ii) implementing automation plans to modernize land records in individual circuit court clerks’ offices and provide secure remote access to land records throughout the Commonwealth pursuant to § 17.1-294; (iii) obtaining and updating office automation and information technology equipment including software and conversion services; (iv) preserving, maintaining and enhancing court records, including, but not limited to, the costs of repairs, maintenance, land records, consulting services, service contracts, redaction of social security numbers from land records, and system replacements or upgrades; and (v) improving public access to court records. The Compensation Board in consultation with circuit court clerks and other users of court records shall develop and update policies governing the allocation of funds for these purposes. However, such funds shall not be used for personnel costs within the circuit court clerks’ offices. The Compensation Board policies governing the allocation of funds shall require that a clerk submit to the Compensation Board a written certification that the clerk’s proposed technology improvements of his land records will provide secure remote access to those land records on or before July 1, 2008.\n\t\t\tThe annual budget submitted by each circuit court clerk pursuant to § 15.2-1636.7 may include a request for technology improvements in the upcoming fiscal year to be allocated by the Compensation Board from the trust fund. Such request shall not exceed the deposits into the trust fund credited to that locality. The Compensation Board shall allocate the funds requested by the clerks in an amount not to exceed the deposits into the trust fund credited to their respective localities.C\n\nThe remaining $1 of each such fee may be allocated by the Compensation Board from the trust fund (i) for the purposes of funding studies to develop and update individual land-records automation plans for individual circuit court clerks’ offices, at the request of and in consultation with the individual circuit court clerk’s offices, and (ii) for the purposes enumerated in subsection B to implement the plan to modernize land records in individual circuit court clerks’ offices and provide secure remote access to land records throughout the Commonwealth. The allocations pursuant to this subsection may give priority to those individual clerks’ offices whose deposits into the trust fund would not be sufficient to implement its modernization plan. The Compensation Board policies governing the allocation of funds shall require that a clerk submit to the Compensation Board a written certification that the clerk’s proposed technology improvements of his land records will provide secure remote access to those land records on or before July 1, 2008.D\n\n1. Secure remote access to land records shall be by paid subscription service through individual circuit court clerk’s offices pursuant to \u00a7 17.1-276, or through designated application service providers. The clerk may require any entity that is a nonresident of the Commonwealth, prior to becoming a subscriber, to demonstrate that such entity is authorized to do business in Virginia and is in good standing with the State Corporation Commission or other applicable state or federal regulatory agency and that such entity will comply with the secure remote access standards developed by the Virginia Information Technologies Agency pursuant to \u00a7 17.1-294. In the case of an individual, the clerk may require a person who is a nonresident of the Commonwealth to demonstrate that such person has a legal presence in Virginia and will comply with the secure remote access standards developed by the Virginia Information Technologies Agency pursuant to \u00a7 17.1-294. Compliance with secure remote access standards developed by the Virginia Information Technologies Agency pursuant to \u00a7 17.1-294 shall be certified by the individual circuit court clerks’ offices to the Compensation Board. The individual circuit court clerk’s office or its designated application service provider shall certify compliance with such secure remote access standards. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the clerk from entering into a subscriber agreement with an agency of the Commonwealth and delegating the responsibility for compliance with such secure remote access standards to such agency. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the Compensation Board from allocating trust fund money to individual circuit court clerks’ offices for the purpose of complying with such secure remote access standards or redaction of social security numbers from land records.2\n\nEvery circuit court clerk shall provide secure remote access to land records pursuant to § 17.1-294 on or before July 1, 2008.E\n\nSuch fee shall not be assessed to any instrument to be recorded in the deed books nor any judgment to be docketed in the judgment lien docket books tendered by any federal, state or local government.F\n\nIf such an application includes automation or technology improvements that would require an interface with the case management system or the financial management system operated and maintained by the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court for the purpose of providing electronic information to state agencies in accordance with § 17.1-502, the circuit court clerk, or the court’s designated application service provider, shall certify to the Compensation Board that such automation or technology improvements will comply with the security and data standards of the systems operated and maintained by the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court.G\n\nInformation regarding the technology programs adopted by the circuit court clerks shall be shared with the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, The Library of Virginia, and the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court.H\n\nNothing in this section shall be construed to diminish the duty of local governing bodies to furnish supplies and equipment to the clerks of the circuit courts pursuant to § 15.2-1656. Revenue raised as a result of this section shall in no way supplant current funding to circuit court clerks’ offices by local governing bodies.I\n\nEffective July 1, 2006, except for transfers pursuant to this section, there shall be no transfers out of the Technology Trust Fund, including transfers to the general fund.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":252343,"text":"In addition to the fees otherwise authorized by this chapter, the clerk of each circuit court shall assess a $5 fee, known as the “Technology Trust Fund Fee,” in each civil action, upon each instrument to be recorded in the deed books, and upon each judgment to be docketed in the judgment lien docket book. Such fee shall be deposited by the State Treasurer into a trust fund. The State Treasurer shall maintain a record of such deposits.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":252344,"text":"Four dollars of every $5 fee shall be allocated by the Compensation Board from the trust fund for the purposes of: (i) developing and updating individual land records automation plans for individual circuit court clerks’ offices; (ii) implementing automation plans to modernize land records in individual circuit court clerks’ offices and provide secure remote access to land records throughout the Commonwealth pursuant to § 17.1-294; (iii) obtaining and updating office automation and information technology equipment including software and conversion services; (iv) preserving, maintaining and enhancing court records, including, but not limited to, the costs of repairs, maintenance, land records, consulting services, service contracts, redaction of social security numbers from land records, and system replacements or upgrades; and (v) improving public access to court records. The Compensation Board in consultation with circuit court clerks and other users of court records shall develop and update policies governing the allocation of funds for these purposes. However, such funds shall not be used for personnel costs within the circuit court clerks’ offices. The Compensation Board policies governing the allocation of funds shall require that a clerk submit to the Compensation Board a written certification that the clerk’s proposed technology improvements of his land records will provide secure remote access to those land records on or before July 1, 2008.\n\t\t\tThe annual budget submitted by each circuit court clerk pursuant to § 15.2-1636.7 may include a request for technology improvements in the upcoming fiscal year to be allocated by the Compensation Board from the trust fund. Such request shall not exceed the deposits into the trust fund credited to that locality. The Compensation Board shall allocate the funds requested by the clerks in an amount not to exceed the deposits into the trust fund credited to their respective localities.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":252345,"text":"The remaining $1 of each such fee may be allocated by the Compensation Board from the trust fund (i) for the purposes of funding studies to develop and update individual land-records automation plans for individual circuit court clerks’ offices, at the request of and in consultation with the individual circuit court clerk’s offices, and (ii) for the purposes enumerated in subsection B to implement the plan to modernize land records in individual circuit court clerks’ offices and provide secure remote access to land records throughout the Commonwealth. The allocations pursuant to this subsection may give priority to those individual clerks’ offices whose deposits into the trust fund would not be sufficient to implement its modernization plan. The Compensation Board policies governing the allocation of funds shall require that a clerk submit to the Compensation Board a written certification that the clerk’s proposed technology improvements of his land records will provide secure remote access to those land records on or before July 1, 2008.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":252346,"text":"1. Secure remote access to land records shall be by paid subscription service through individual circuit court clerk’s offices pursuant to \u00a7 17.1-276, or through designated application service providers. The clerk may require any entity that is a nonresident of the Commonwealth, prior to becoming a subscriber, to demonstrate that such entity is authorized to do business in Virginia and is in good standing with the State Corporation Commission or other applicable state or federal regulatory agency and that such entity will comply with the secure remote access standards developed by the Virginia Information Technologies Agency pursuant to \u00a7 17.1-294. In the case of an individual, the clerk may require a person who is a nonresident of the Commonwealth to demonstrate that such person has a legal presence in Virginia and will comply with the secure remote access standards developed by the Virginia Information Technologies Agency pursuant to \u00a7 17.1-294. Compliance with secure remote access standards developed by the Virginia Information Technologies Agency pursuant to \u00a7 17.1-294 shall be certified by the individual circuit court clerks’ offices to the Compensation Board. The individual circuit court clerk’s office or its designated application service provider shall certify compliance with such secure remote access standards. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the clerk from entering into a subscriber agreement with an agency of the Commonwealth and delegating the responsibility for compliance with such secure remote access standards to such agency. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the Compensation Board from allocating trust fund money to individual circuit court clerks’ offices for the purpose of complying with such secure remote access standards or redaction of social security numbers from land records.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"D2"},"4":{"id":252347,"text":"Every circuit court clerk shall provide secure remote access to land records pursuant to § 17.1-294 on or before July 1, 2008.","type":"section","prefixes":["D","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"D2","prefix_anchor":"D2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"E"},"5":{"id":252348,"text":"Such fee shall not be assessed to any instrument to be recorded in the deed books nor any judgment to be docketed in the judgment lien docket books tendered by any federal, state or local government.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D2","next_prefix":"F"},"6":{"id":252349,"text":"If such an application includes automation or technology improvements that would require an interface with the case management system or the financial management system operated and maintained by the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court for the purpose of providing electronic information to state agencies in accordance with § 17.1-502, the circuit court clerk, or the court’s designated application service provider, shall certify to the Compensation Board that such automation or technology improvements will comply with the security and data standards of the systems operated and maintained by the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E","next_prefix":"G"},"7":{"id":252350,"text":"Information regarding the technology programs adopted by the circuit court clerks shall be shared with the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, The Library of Virginia, and the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court.","type":"section","prefixes":["G"],"prefix":"G","entire_prefix":"G","prefix_anchor":"G","level":1,"prior_prefix":"F","next_prefix":"H"},"8":{"id":252351,"text":"Nothing in this section shall be construed to diminish the duty of local governing bodies to furnish supplies and equipment to the clerks of the circuit courts pursuant to § 15.2-1656. Revenue raised as a result of this section shall in no way supplant current funding to circuit court clerks’ offices by local governing bodies.","type":"section","prefixes":["H"],"prefix":"H","entire_prefix":"H","prefix_anchor":"H","level":1,"prior_prefix":"G","next_prefix":"I"},"9":{"id":252352,"text":"Effective July 1, 2006, except for transfers pursuant to this section, there shall be no transfers out of the Technology Trust Fund, including transfers to the general fund.","type":"section","prefixes":["I"],"prefix":"I","entire_prefix":"I","prefix_anchor":"I","level":1,"prior_prefix":"H"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13880,"edition_id":1,"name":"Fees","identifier":"7","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13472,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:09","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:09","permalink":{"id":163289,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13880,"identifier":"7","token":"17.1\/2\/7","url":"\/17.1\/2\/7\/","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":83818,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-266","catch_line":"Services rendered in Commonwealth's cases","url":"\/17.1-266\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-266","metadata":false},{"id":63126,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-267","catch_line":"Services for which clerks may not charge","url":"\/17.1-267\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-267","metadata":false},{"id":68160,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-268","catch_line":"Fee for effort to serve when person cannot be found","url":"\/17.1-268\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-268","metadata":false},{"id":71647,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-269","catch_line":"To whom fees charged","url":"\/17.1-269\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-269","metadata":false},{"id":56555,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-270","catch_line":"Officer to state fees, etc., on affidavit, deposition or report","url":"\/17.1-270\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-270","metadata":false},{"id":54909,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-271","catch_line":"Deposit of money in bank","url":"\/17.1-271\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-271","metadata":false},{"id":85531,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-272","catch_line":"Process and service fees generally","url":"\/17.1-272\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-272","metadata":false},{"id":61224,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-273","catch_line":"Establishment and disposition of fees collected by certain high constable","url":"\/17.1-273\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-273","metadata":false},{"id":70312,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-274","catch_line":"Commission on forthcoming bond","url":"\/17.1-274\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-274","metadata":false},{"id":71931,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-275","catch_line":"Fees collected by clerks of circuit courts; 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use by Virginia State Bar","url":"\/17.1-278\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-278","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":64013,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-279.1","catch_line":"Additional assessment for electronic summons system","url":"\/17.1-279.1\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-279.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/17.1-279\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1996. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 431<\/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 12 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 675<\/a>; in 1998, chapter 872<\/a>; in 2000, chapters 440<\/a> and 446<\/a>; in 2002, chapters 140<\/a>, 250<\/a>, and 637<\/a>; in 2003, chapters 205<\/a>, 865<\/a>, 981<\/a>, and 1021<\/a>; in 2004, chapter 676<\/a>; in 2005, chapters 681<\/a> and 738<\/a>; in 2006, chapter 647<\/a>; in 2007, chapters 548<\/a> and 626<\/a>; in 2009, chapters 793<\/a> and 858<\/a>; in 2010, chapter 430<\/a>; in 2014, chapter 460<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":75030,"section_number":"15.2-1636.7","catch_line":"Filing requests for salaries","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1636.7\/"},{"id":55931,"section_number":"15.2-1656","catch_line":"Supplies and equipment to be furnished to clerks of courts of record","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1656\/"},{"id":59820,"section_number":"17.1-276","catch_line":"Fee allowed for providing secure remote access to land records","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-276\/"},{"id":57189,"section_number":"17.1-294","catch_line":"Secure remote access to land records","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-294\/"},{"id":79916,"section_number":"17.1-502","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Administrator of circuit court system","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-502\/"}],"permalink":{"id":163403,"object_type":"law","relational_id":69820,"identifier":"17.1-279","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-279","url":"\/17.1-279\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/17.1-279\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-279","dublin_core":{"Title":"Additional fee to be assessed by circuit court clerks for information technology","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 17.1-279","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> In addition to the fees otherwise authorized by this chapter, the clerk of each circuit<\/span> court<\/span> shall assess a $5 fee, known as the “Technology Trust Fund Fee,” in each civil action<\/span>, upon each instrument to be recorded in the deed books, and upon each judgment to be docketed in the judgment lien docket<\/span> book. Such fee shall be deposited by the State Treasurer into a trust fund. The State Treasurer shall maintain a record of such deposits. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Four dollars of every $5 fee shall be allocated by the Compensation Board from the trust fund for the purposes of: (i) developing and updating individual land records automation plans for individual circuit<\/span> court<\/span> clerks’ offices; (ii) implementing automation plans to modernize land records in individual circuit<\/span> court<\/span> clerks’ offices and provide secure remote access to land records<\/span> throughout the Commonwealth pursuant to § 17.1-294<\/a>; (iii) obtaining and updating office automation and information technology equipment including software and conversion services; (iv) preserving, maintaining and enhancing court<\/span> records, including, but not limited to, the costs of repairs, maintenance, land records, consulting services, service contracts<\/span>, redaction of social security numbers from land records, and system replacements or upgrades; and (v) improving public access<\/span> to court<\/span> records. The Compensation Board in consultation with circuit<\/span> court<\/span> clerks and other users of court<\/span> records shall develop and update policies governing the allocation of funds for these purposes. However, such funds shall not be used for personnel costs within the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> clerks’ offices. The Compensation Board policies governing the allocation of funds shall require that a clerk submit to the Compensation Board a written certification that the clerk’s proposed technology improvements of his land records will provide secure remote access to those land records on or before July 1, 2008.\n\t\t\tThe annual budget submitted by each circuit<\/span> court<\/span> clerk pursuant to § 15.2-1636.7<\/a> may include a request for technology improvements in the upcoming fiscal year to be allocated by the Compensation Board from the trust fund. Such request shall not exceed the deposits into the trust fund credited to that locality. The Compensation Board shall allocate the funds requested by the clerks in an amount not to exceed the deposits into the trust fund credited to their respective localities. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The remaining $1 of each such fee may be allocated by the Compensation Board from the trust fund (i) for the purposes of funding studies to develop and update individual land-records automation plans for individual circuit<\/span> court<\/span> clerks’ offices, at the request of and in consultation with the individual circuit<\/span> court<\/span> clerk’s offices, and (ii) for the purposes enumerated in subsection B to implement the plan to modernize land records in individual circuit<\/span> court<\/span> clerks’ offices and provide secure remote access to land records<\/span> throughout the Commonwealth. The allocations pursuant to this subsection may give priority to those individual clerks’ offices whose deposits into the trust fund would not be sufficient to implement its modernization plan. The Compensation Board policies governing the allocation of funds shall require that a clerk submit to the Compensation Board a written certification that the clerk’s proposed technology improvements of his land records will provide secure remote access to those land records on or before July 1, 2008. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> 1. Secure remote access to land records<\/span> shall be by paid subscription service through individual circuit<\/span> court<\/span> clerk’s offices pursuant to \u00a7 17.1-276<\/a>, or through designated application service providers. The clerk may require any entity that is a nonresident of the Commonwealth, prior to becoming a subscriber<\/span>, to demonstrate that such entity is authorized to do business in Virginia and is in good standing with the State Corporation Commission or other applicable state or federal regulatory agency and that such entity will comply with the secure remote access standards developed by the Virginia Information Technologies Agency pursuant to \u00a7 17.1-294<\/a>. In the case of an individual, the clerk may require a person who is a nonresident of the Commonwealth to demonstrate that such person has a legal presence in Virginia and will comply with the secure remote access standards developed by the Virginia Information Technologies Agency pursuant to \u00a7 17.1-294<\/a>. Compliance with secure remote access standards developed by the Virginia Information Technologies Agency pursuant to \u00a7 17.1-294<\/a> shall be certified by the individual circuit<\/span> court<\/span> clerks’ offices to the Compensation Board. The individual circuit<\/span> court<\/span> clerk’s office or its designated application service provider shall certify compliance with such secure remote access standards. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the clerk from entering into a subscriber<\/span> agreement with an agency of the Commonwealth and delegating the responsibility for compliance with such secure remote access standards to such agency. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the Compensation Board from allocating trust fund money to individual circuit<\/span> court<\/span> clerks’ offices for the purpose of complying with such secure remote access standards or redaction of social security numbers from land records. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Every circuit<\/span> court<\/span> clerk shall provide secure remote access to land records<\/span> pursuant to § 17.1-294<\/a> on or before July 1, 2008. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> Such fee shall not be assessed to any instrument to be recorded in the deed books nor any judgment to be docketed in the judgment lien docket<\/span> books tendered by any federal, state or local government. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> If such an application includes automation or technology improvements that would require an interface with the case management system or the financial management system operated and maintained by the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court<\/span> for the purpose of providing electronic information to state agencies in accordance with § 17.1-502<\/a>, the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> clerk, or the court<\/span>’s designated application service provider, shall certify to the Compensation Board that such automation or technology improvements will comply with the security and data standards of the systems operated and maintained by the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

G.<\/span> Information regarding the technology programs adopted by the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> clerks shall be shared with the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, The Library of Virginia, and the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

H.<\/span> Nothing in this section shall be construed to diminish the duty of local governing bodies to furnish supplies and equipment to the clerks of the circuit<\/span> courts<\/span> pursuant to § 15.2-1656<\/a>. Revenue raised as a result of this section shall in no way supplant current funding to circuit<\/span> court<\/span> clerks’ offices by local governing bodies. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

I.<\/span> Effective July 1, 2006, except for transfers pursuant to this section, there shall be no transfers out of the Technology Trust Fund, including transfers to the general fund. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nADDITIONAL FEE TO BE ASSESSED BY CIRCUIT COURT CLERKS FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY\n(\u00a7 17.1-279)\n\nA. In addition to the fees otherwise authorized by this chapter, the clerk of\neach circuit court shall assess a $5 fee, known as the “Technology Trust\nFund Fee,” in each civil action, upon each instrument to be recorded in\nthe deed books, and upon each judgment to be docketed in the judgment lien\ndocket book. Such fee shall be deposited by the State Treasurer into a trust\nfund. The State Treasurer shall maintain a record of such deposits.\n\nB. Four dollars of every $5 fee shall be allocated by the Compensation Board\nfrom the trust fund for the purposes of: (i) developing and updating individual\nland records automation plans for individual circuit court clerks’\noffices; (ii) implementing automation plans to modernize land records in\nindividual circuit court clerks’ offices and provide secure remote access\nto land records throughout the Commonwealth pursuant to § 17.1-294; (iii)\nobtaining and updating office automation and information technology equipment\nincluding software and conversion services; (iv) preserving, maintaining and\nenhancing court records, including, but not limited to, the costs of repairs,\nmaintenance, land records, consulting services, service contracts, redaction of\nsocial security numbers from land records, and system replacements or upgrades;\nand (v) improving public access to court records. The Compensation Board in\nconsultation with circuit court clerks and other users of court records shall\ndevelop and update policies governing the allocation of funds for these\npurposes. However, such funds shall not be used for personnel costs within the\ncircuit court clerks’ offices. The Compensation Board policies governing\nthe allocation of funds shall require that a clerk submit to the Compensation\nBoard a written certification that the clerk’s proposed technology\nimprovements of his land records will provide secure remote access to those land\nrecords on or before July 1, 2008.\n\t\t\tThe annual budget submitted by each circuit court clerk pursuant to §\n15.2-1636.7 may include a request for technology improvements in the upcoming\nfiscal year to be allocated by the Compensation Board from the trust fund. Such\nrequest shall not exceed the deposits into the trust fund credited to that\nlocality. The Compensation Board shall allocate the funds requested by the\nclerks in an amount not to exceed the deposits into the trust fund credited to\ntheir respective localities.\n\nC. The remaining $1 of each such fee may be allocated by the Compensation Board\nfrom the trust fund (i) for the purposes of funding studies to develop and\nupdate individual land-records automation plans for individual circuit court\nclerks’ offices, at the request of and in consultation with the individual\ncircuit court clerk’s offices, and (ii) for the purposes enumerated in\nsubsection B to implement the plan to modernize land records in individual\ncircuit court clerks’ offices and provide secure remote access to land\nrecords throughout the Commonwealth. The allocations pursuant to this subsection\nmay give priority to those individual clerks’ offices whose deposits into\nthe trust fund would not be sufficient to implement its modernization plan. The\nCompensation Board policies governing the allocation of funds shall require that\na clerk submit to the Compensation Board a written certification that the\nclerk’s proposed technology improvements of his land records will provide\nsecure remote access to those land records on or before July 1, 2008.\n\nD. 1. Secure remote access to land records shall be by paid subscription service\nthrough individual circuit court clerk’s offices pursuant to \u00a7 17.1-276,\nor through designated application service providers. The clerk may require any\nentity that is a nonresident of the Commonwealth, prior to becoming a\nsubscriber, to demonstrate that such entity is authorized to do business in\nVirginia and is in good standing with the State Corporation Commission or other\napplicable state or federal regulatory agency and that such entity will comply\nwith the secure remote access standards developed by the Virginia Information\nTechnologies Agency pursuant to \u00a7 17.1-294. In the case of an individual, the\nclerk may require a person who is a nonresident of the Commonwealth to\ndemonstrate that such person has a legal presence in Virginia and will comply\nwith the secure remote access standards developed by the Virginia Information\nTechnologies Agency pursuant to \u00a7 17.1-294. Compliance with secure remote\naccess standards developed by the Virginia Information Technologies Agency\npursuant to \u00a7 17.1-294 shall be certified by the individual circuit court\nclerks’ offices to the Compensation Board. The individual circuit court\nclerk’s office or its designated application service provider shall\ncertify compliance with such secure remote access standards. Nothing in this\nsection shall prohibit the clerk from entering into a subscriber agreement with\nan agency of the Commonwealth and delegating the responsibility for compliance\nwith such secure remote access standards to such agency. Nothing in this section\nshall prohibit the Compensation Board from allocating trust fund money to\nindividual circuit court clerks’ offices for the purpose of complying with\nsuch secure remote access standards or redaction of social security numbers from\nland records.\n\n 2. Every circuit court clerk shall provide secure remote access to land\n records pursuant to § 17.1-294 on or before July 1, 2008.\n\nE. Such fee shall not be assessed to any instrument to be recorded in the deed\nbooks nor any judgment to be docketed in the judgment lien docket books tendered\nby any federal, state or local government.\n\nF. If such an application includes automation or technology improvements that\nwould require an interface with the case management system or the financial\nmanagement system operated and maintained by the Executive Secretary of the\nSupreme Court for the purpose of providing electronic information to state\nagencies in accordance with § 17.1-502, the circuit court clerk, or the\ncourt’s designated application service provider, shall certify to the\nCompensation Board that such automation or technology improvements will comply\nwith the security and data standards of the systems operated and maintained by\nthe Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court.\n\nG. Information regarding the technology programs adopted by the circuit court\nclerks shall be shared with the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, The\nLibrary of Virginia, and the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme\nCourt.\n\nH. Nothing in this section shall be construed to diminish the duty of local\ngoverning bodies to furnish supplies and equipment to the clerks of the circuit\ncourts pursuant to § 15.2-1656. Revenue raised as a result of this section\nshall in no way supplant current funding to circuit court clerks’ offices\nby local governing bodies.\n\nI. Effective July 1, 2006, except for transfers pursuant to this section, there\nshall be no transfers out of the Technology Trust Fund, including transfers to\nthe general fund.\n\nHISTORY: 1996, c. 431, \u00a7 14.1-125.2; 1997, c. 675; 1998, c. 872; 2000, cc. 440,\n446; 2002, cc. 140, 250, 637; 2003, cc. 205, 865, 981, 1021; 2004, c. 676; 2005,\ncc. 681, 738; 2006, c. 647; 2007, cc. 548, 626; 2009, cc. 793, 858; 2010, c.\n430; 2014, c. 460.","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}}