{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/37.2-804.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/37.2-804.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/37.2-804.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/37.2-804.1.html"}],"law_id":77215,"edition_id":1,"section_id":77215,"structure_id":15066,"section_number":"37.2-804.1","catch_line":"Use of electronic communication","history":"2005, cc. 51, 716.","full_text":"A\n\nPetitions and orders for emergency custody and temporary detention pursuant to this chapter may be filed, issued, served, or executed by electronic means, with or without the use of two-way electronic video and audio communication, and returned in the same manner with the same force, effect, and authority as an original document. All signatures thereon shall be treated as original signatures.B\n\nAny judge or special justice may conduct proceedings pursuant to this chapter using any two-way electronic video and audio communication system to provide for the appearance of any parties and witnesses. Any two-way electronic video and audio communication system used to conduct a proceeding shall meet the standards set forth in subsection B of § 19.2-3.1. When a witness whose testimony would be helpful to the conduct of the proceeding is not able to be physically present, his testimony may be received using a telephonic communication system.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":277013,"text":"Petitions and orders for emergency custody and temporary detention pursuant to this chapter may be filed, issued, served, or executed by electronic means, with or without the use of two-way electronic video and audio communication, and returned in the same manner with the same force, effect, and authority as an original document. All signatures thereon shall be treated as original signatures.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":277014,"text":"Any judge or special justice may conduct proceedings pursuant to this chapter using any two-way electronic video and audio communication system to provide for the appearance of any parties and witnesses. Any two-way electronic video and audio communication system used to conduct a proceeding shall meet the standards set forth in subsection B of § 19.2-3.1. When a witness whose testimony would be helpful to the conduct of the proceeding is not able to be physically present, his testimony may be received using a telephonic communication system.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15066,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12890,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:51:56","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:51:56","permalink":{"id":210259,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15066,"identifier":"1","token":"37.2\/III\/8\/1","url":"\/37.2\/III\/8\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12890,"edition_id":1,"name":"Emergency Custody and Voluntary and Involuntary Civil Admissions","identifier":"8","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12889,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:59","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:59","permalink":{"id":210257,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12890,"identifier":"8","token":"37.2\/III\/8","url":"\/37.2\/III\/8\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12889,"edition_id":1,"name":"Admissions and Dispositions","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12843,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:59","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:59","permalink":{"id":210255,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12889,"identifier":"III","token":"37.2\/III","url":"\/37.2\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12843,"edition_id":1,"name":"Behavioral Health and Developmental Services","identifier":"37.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","permalink":{"id":209673,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12843,"identifier":"37.2","token":"37.2","url":"\/37.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":76779,"structure_id":15066,"section_number":"37.2-800","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026). Applicability of chapter","url":"\/37.2-800\/","token":"37.2\/III\/8\/1\/37.2-800","metadata":false},{"id":63295,"structure_id":15066,"section_number":"37.2-801","catch_line":"Admission procedures; forms","url":"\/37.2-801\/","token":"37.2\/III\/8\/1\/37.2-801","metadata":false},{"id":66636,"structure_id":15066,"section_number":"37.2-802","catch_line":"Interpreters in admission or certification proceedings","url":"\/37.2-802\/","token":"37.2\/III\/8\/1\/37.2-802","metadata":false},{"id":84291,"structure_id":15066,"section_number":"37.2-803","catch_line":"Special justices to perform duties of judge","url":"\/37.2-803\/","token":"37.2\/III\/8\/1\/37.2-803","metadata":false},{"id":86844,"structure_id":15066,"section_number":"37.2-804","catch_line":"Fees and expenses","url":"\/37.2-804\/","token":"37.2\/III\/8\/1\/37.2-804","metadata":false},{"id":77215,"structure_id":15066,"section_number":"37.2-804.1","catch_line":"Use of electronic communication","url":"\/37.2-804.1\/","token":"37.2\/III\/8\/1\/37.2-804.1","metadata":false},{"id":57446,"structure_id":15066,"section_number":"37.2-804.2","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Disclosure of records","url":"\/37.2-804.2\/","token":"37.2\/III\/8\/1\/37.2-804.2","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":86844,"structure_id":15066,"section_number":"37.2-804","catch_line":"Fees and expenses","url":"\/37.2-804\/","token":"37.2\/III\/8\/1\/37.2-804","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":57446,"structure_id":15066,"section_number":"37.2-804.2","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Disclosure of records","url":"\/37.2-804.2\/","token":"37.2\/III\/8\/1\/37.2-804.2","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/37.2-804.1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2005. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 51<\/a> and 716<\/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.<\/p>","references":[{"id":74002,"section_number":"19.2-169.6","catch_line":"Inpatient psychiatric hospital admission from local correctional facility","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-169.6\/"},{"id":70156,"section_number":"37.2-809","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Involuntary temporary detention; issuance and execution of order","order_by":null,"url":"\/37.2-809\/"},{"id":63792,"section_number":"37.2-815","catch_line":"Commitment hearing for involuntary admission; examination required","order_by":null,"url":"\/37.2-815\/"},{"id":61292,"section_number":"37.2-817","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Involuntary admission","order_by":null,"url":"\/37.2-817\/"},{"id":75804,"section_number":"37.2-821","catch_line":"Appeal of involuntary admission or certification order","order_by":null,"url":"\/37.2-821\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":84637,"section_number":"19.2-3.1","catch_line":"Personal appearance by two-way electronic video and audio communication; standards","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-3.1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":210281,"object_type":"law","relational_id":77215,"identifier":"37.2-804.1","token":"37.2\/III\/8\/1\/37.2-804.1","url":"\/37.2-804.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/37.2-804.1\/","token":"37.2\/III\/8\/1\/37.2-804.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Use of electronic communication","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 37.2-804.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Petitions<\/span> and orders<\/span> for emergency custody<\/span> and temporary detention pursuant to this chapter may be filed, issued, served, or executed by electronic means, with or without the use of two-way electronic video and audio communication, and returned in the same manner with the same force, effect, and authority<\/span> as an original document. All signatures thereon shall be treated as original signatures. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Any judge<\/span> or special justice<\/span> may conduct proceedings pursuant to this chapter using any two-way electronic video and audio communication system to provide for the appearance<\/span> of any parties and witnesses. Any two-way electronic video and audio communication system used to conduct a proceeding shall meet the standards set forth in subsection B of § 19.2-3.1<\/a>. When a witness<\/span> whose testimony<\/span> would be helpful to the conduct of the proceeding is not able to be physically present, his testimony<\/span> may be received using a telephonic communication system. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nUSE OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION (\u00a7 37.2-804.1)\n\nA. Petitions and orders for emergency custody and temporary detention pursuant\nto this chapter may be filed, issued, served, or executed by electronic means,\nwith or without the use of two-way electronic video and audio communication, and\nreturned in the same manner with the same force, effect, and authority as an\noriginal document. All signatures thereon shall be treated as original\nsignatures.\n\nB. Any judge or special justice may conduct proceedings pursuant to this chapter\nusing any two-way electronic video and audio communication system to provide for\nthe appearance of any parties and witnesses. Any two-way electronic video and\naudio communication system used to conduct a proceeding shall meet the standards\nset forth in subsection B of § 19.2-3.1. When a witness whose testimony\nwould be helpful to the conduct of the proceeding is not able to be physically\npresent, his testimony may be received using a telephonic communication system.\n\nHISTORY: 2005, cc. 51, 716.","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}}