{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/19.2-56.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/19.2-56.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/19.2-56.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/19.2-56.1.html"}],"law_id":66575,"edition_id":1,"section_id":66575,"structure_id":15295,"section_number":"19.2-56.1","catch_line":"Warrant issued for search of attorney’s office","history":"1986, c. 636.","full_text":"A\n\nAny warrant sought for the search of a premises or the contents thereof belonging to or under the control of any licensed attorney-at-law to search for evidence of any crime solely involving a client of such attorney shall be issued only by a circuit court judge. Any evidence seized pursuant to this section shall be inventoried forthwith by the clerk of the issuing court and sealed by the issuing judge. As soon thereafter as is practicable, the issuing judge shall conduct an in camera inspection of the seized evidence in the presence of the attorney from whom the evidence was seized. Following such inspection the issuing judge shall return any evidence so seized which is determined to be within the scope of the attorney-client privilege and not otherwise subject to seizure.B\n\nNothing herein shall bar the standing of the client to challenge the admissibility of any evidence seized pursuant to this section in any trial or proceeding.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":241573,"text":"Any warrant sought for the search of a premises or the contents thereof belonging to or under the control of any licensed attorney-at-law to search for evidence of any crime solely involving a client of such attorney shall be issued only by a circuit court judge. Any evidence seized pursuant to this section shall be inventoried forthwith by the clerk of the issuing court and sealed by the issuing judge. As soon thereafter as is practicable, the issuing judge shall conduct an in camera inspection of the seized evidence in the presence of the attorney from whom the evidence was seized. Following such inspection the issuing judge shall return any evidence so seized which is determined to be within the scope of the attorney-client privilege and not otherwise subject to seizure.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":241574,"text":"Nothing herein shall bar the standing of the client to challenge the admissibility of any evidence seized pursuant to this section in any trial or proceeding.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15295,"edition_id":1,"name":"Search Warrants","identifier":"5","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12801,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:53:43","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:53:43","permalink":{"id":170799,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15295,"identifier":"5","token":"19.2\/5","url":"\/19.2\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12801,"edition_id":1,"name":"Criminal Procedure","identifier":"19.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","permalink":{"id":168169,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12801,"identifier":"19.2","token":"19.2","url":"\/19.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":68842,"structure_id":15295,"section_number":"19.2-52","catch_line":"When search warrant may issue","url":"\/19.2-52\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-52","metadata":false},{"id":58231,"structure_id":15295,"section_number":"19.2-53","catch_line":"What may be searched and seized","url":"\/19.2-53\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-53","metadata":false},{"id":72318,"structure_id":15295,"section_number":"19.2-53.1","catch_line":"Taking blood samples pursuant to search warrant; immunity","url":"\/19.2-53.1\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-53.1","metadata":false},{"id":78769,"structure_id":15295,"section_number":"19.2-54","catch_line":"Affidavit preliminary to issuance of search warrant; general search warrant prohibited; effect of failure to file affidavit","url":"\/19.2-54\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-54","metadata":false},{"id":77621,"structure_id":15295,"section_number":"19.2-55","catch_line":"Issuing general search warrant or search warrant without affidavit deemed malfeasance","url":"\/19.2-55\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-55","metadata":false},{"id":71614,"structure_id":15295,"section_number":"19.2-56","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) To whom search warrant directed; what it shall command; warrant to show date and time of issuance; copy of affidavit to be part of warrant and served therewith; warrants not executed within 15 days","url":"\/19.2-56\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-56","metadata":false},{"id":66575,"structure_id":15295,"section_number":"19.2-56.1","catch_line":"Warrant issued for search of attorney's office","url":"\/19.2-56.1\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-56.1","metadata":false},{"id":68042,"structure_id":15295,"section_number":"19.2-56.2","catch_line":"Application for and issuance of search warrant for a tracking device; installation and use","url":"\/19.2-56.2\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-56.2","metadata":false},{"id":66408,"structure_id":15295,"section_number":"19.2-57","catch_line":"Execution and return of warrant; list of property seized","url":"\/19.2-57\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-57","metadata":false},{"id":82680,"structure_id":15295,"section_number":"19.2-58","catch_line":"Disposition of property seized","url":"\/19.2-58\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-58","metadata":false},{"id":84564,"structure_id":15295,"section_number":"19.2-59","catch_line":"Search without warrant prohibited; when search without warrant lawful","url":"\/19.2-59\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-59","metadata":false},{"id":73054,"structure_id":15295,"section_number":"19.2-59.1","catch_line":"Strip searches prohibited; exceptions; how strip searches conducted","url":"\/19.2-59.1\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-59.1","metadata":false},{"id":59469,"structure_id":15295,"section_number":"19.2-60","catch_line":"Motion for return of seized property and to suppress","url":"\/19.2-60\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-60","metadata":false},{"id":82227,"structure_id":15295,"section_number":"19.2-60.1","catch_line":"Use of unmanned aircraft systems by public bodies; search warrant required","url":"\/19.2-60.1\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-60.1","metadata":false},{"id":66247,"structure_id":15295,"section_number":"19.2-60.2","catch_line":"Issuance of search warrant, subpoena, court order, or other process for information related to menstrual health data prohibited","url":"\/19.2-60.2\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-60.2","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":71614,"structure_id":15295,"section_number":"19.2-56","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) To whom search warrant directed; what it shall command; warrant to show date and time of issuance; copy of affidavit to be part of warrant and served therewith; warrants not executed within 15 days","url":"\/19.2-56\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-56","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":68042,"structure_id":15295,"section_number":"19.2-56.2","catch_line":"Application for and issuance of search warrant for a tracking device; installation and use","url":"\/19.2-56.2\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-56.2","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/19.2-56.1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1986. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 636 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 1986 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online.<\/p>","references":[{"id":68842,"section_number":"19.2-52","catch_line":"When search warrant may issue","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-52\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":170825,"object_type":"law","relational_id":66575,"identifier":"19.2-56.1","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-56.1","url":"\/19.2-56.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/19.2-56.1\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-56.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Warrant issued for search of attorney’s office","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 19.2-56.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Any warrant sought for the search of a premises or the contents thereof belonging to or under the control of any licensed attorney-at-law<\/span> to search for evidence<\/span> of any crime<\/span> solely involving a client of such attorney shall be issued only by a circuit<\/span> court<\/span> judge<\/span>. Any evidence<\/span> seized pursuant to this section shall be inventoried forthwith by the clerk of the issuing court<\/span> and sealed<\/span> by the issuing judge<\/span>. As soon thereafter as is practicable, the issuing judge<\/span> shall conduct an in camera<\/span> inspection of the seized evidence<\/span> in the presence of the attorney from whom the evidence<\/span> was seized. Following such inspection the issuing judge<\/span> shall return any evidence<\/span> so seized which is determined to be within the scope of the attorney-client privilege<\/span> and not otherwise subject to seizure. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Nothing herein shall bar the standing of the client to challenge the admissibility of any evidence<\/span> seized pursuant to this section in any trial<\/span> or proceeding. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nWARRANT ISSUED FOR SEARCH OF ATTORNEY’S OFFICE (\u00a7 19.2-56.1)\n\nA. Any warrant sought for the search of a premises or the contents thereof\nbelonging to or under the control of any licensed attorney-at-law to search for\nevidence of any crime solely involving a client of such attorney shall be issued\nonly by a circuit court judge. Any evidence seized pursuant to this section\nshall be inventoried forthwith by the clerk of the issuing court and sealed by\nthe issuing judge. As soon thereafter as is practicable, the issuing judge shall\nconduct an in camera inspection of the seized evidence in the presence of the\nattorney from whom the evidence was seized. Following such inspection the\nissuing judge shall return any evidence so seized which is determined to be\nwithin the scope of the attorney-client privilege and not otherwise subject to\nseizure.\n\nB. Nothing herein shall bar the standing of the client to challenge the\nadmissibility of any evidence seized pursuant to this section in any trial or\nproceeding.\n\nHISTORY: 1986, c. 636.","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}}