{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/55.1-1011.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/55.1-1011.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/55.1-1011.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/55.1-1011.html"}],"law_id":84855,"edition_id":1,"section_id":84855,"structure_id":15275,"section_number":"55.1-1011","catch_line":"Record retention requirements","history":"1997, c. 716, \u00a7 6.1-2.24; 2010, c. 794, \u00a7 55-525.27; 2019, c. 712.","full_text":"The settlement agent shall maintain sufficient records of its affairs so that the appropriate licensing authority may adequately ensure that the settlement agent is in compliance with all provisions of this chapter. The settlement agent shall retain records pertaining to each settlement handled for a minimum of five years after the settlement is completed. The appropriate licensing authority may prescribe the specific record entries and documents to be kept.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":304000,"text":"The settlement agent shall maintain sufficient records of its affairs so that the appropriate licensing authority may adequately ensure that the settlement agent is in compliance with all provisions of this chapter. The settlement agent shall retain records pertaining to each settlement handled for a minimum of five years after the settlement is completed. The appropriate licensing authority may prescribe the specific record entries and documents to be kept.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":15275,"edition_id":1,"name":"Real Estate Settlement Agents","identifier":"10","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13524,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:53:31","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:53:31","permalink":{"id":245371,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15275,"identifier":"10","token":"55.1\/II\/10","url":"\/55.1\/II\/10\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13524,"edition_id":1,"name":"Real Estate Settlements and Recordation","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12707,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:07","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:07","permalink":{"id":245369,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13524,"identifier":"II","token":"55.1\/II","url":"\/55.1\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12707,"edition_id":1,"name":"Property and Conveyances","identifier":"55.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":244769,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12707,"identifier":"55.1","token":"55.1","url":"\/55.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":80642,"structure_id":15275,"section_number":"55.1-1000","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/55.1-1000\/","token":"55.1\/II\/10\/55.1-1000","metadata":false},{"id":83132,"structure_id":15275,"section_number":"55.1-1001","catch_line":"Limitation on applicability of chapter","url":"\/55.1-1001\/","token":"55.1\/II\/10\/55.1-1001","metadata":false},{"id":79138,"structure_id":15275,"section_number":"55.1-1002","catch_line":"Scope of chapter; lay real estate settlement agents","url":"\/55.1-1002\/","token":"55.1\/II\/10\/55.1-1002","metadata":false},{"id":77232,"structure_id":15275,"section_number":"55.1-1003","catch_line":"Persons who may act as a settlement agent","url":"\/55.1-1003\/","token":"55.1\/II\/10\/55.1-1003","metadata":false},{"id":68373,"structure_id":15275,"section_number":"55.1-1004","catch_line":"Duties of settlement agents","url":"\/55.1-1004\/","token":"55.1\/II\/10\/55.1-1004","metadata":false},{"id":69907,"structure_id":15275,"section_number":"55.1-1005","catch_line":"Persons prohibited from assisting or being employed by settlement agents","url":"\/55.1-1005\/","token":"55.1\/II\/10\/55.1-1005","metadata":false},{"id":73624,"structure_id":15275,"section_number":"55.1-1006","catch_line":"Choice of settlement agent","url":"\/55.1-1006\/","token":"55.1\/II\/10\/55.1-1006","metadata":false},{"id":58611,"structure_id":15275,"section_number":"55.1-1007","catch_line":"Disclosure","url":"\/55.1-1007\/","token":"55.1\/II\/10\/55.1-1007","metadata":false},{"id":58141,"structure_id":15275,"section_number":"55.1-1008","catch_line":"Conditions for providing escrow, closing, or settlement services and for maintaining escrow accounts","url":"\/55.1-1008\/","token":"55.1\/II\/10\/55.1-1008","metadata":false},{"id":82868,"structure_id":15275,"section_number":"55.1-1009","catch_line":"Falsifying settlement statements prohibited","url":"\/55.1-1009\/","token":"55.1\/II\/10\/55.1-1009","metadata":false},{"id":72074,"structure_id":15275,"section_number":"55.1-1009.1","catch_line":"Prohibition against payment or receipt of settlement services kickbacks, rebates, commissions, and other payments","url":"\/55.1-1009.1\/","token":"55.1\/II\/10\/55.1-1009.1","metadata":false},{"id":69513,"structure_id":15275,"section_number":"55.1-1010","catch_line":"Separate charge for reporting transactions limited","url":"\/55.1-1010\/","token":"55.1\/II\/10\/55.1-1010","metadata":false},{"id":84855,"structure_id":15275,"section_number":"55.1-1011","catch_line":"Record retention requirements","url":"\/55.1-1011\/","token":"55.1\/II\/10\/55.1-1011","metadata":false},{"id":71946,"structure_id":15275,"section_number":"55.1-1012","catch_line":"Regulations and orders","url":"\/55.1-1012\/","token":"55.1\/II\/10\/55.1-1012","metadata":false},{"id":59279,"structure_id":15275,"section_number":"55.1-1013","catch_line":"Accounting by title insurance companies","url":"\/55.1-1013\/","token":"55.1\/II\/10\/55.1-1013","metadata":false},{"id":70071,"structure_id":15275,"section_number":"55.1-1014","catch_line":"Settlement agent registration requirements and compliance with unauthorized practice of law guidelines; civil penalty","url":"\/55.1-1014\/","token":"55.1\/II\/10\/55.1-1014","metadata":false},{"id":65576,"structure_id":15275,"section_number":"55.1-1015","catch_line":"Penalties and liabilities","url":"\/55.1-1015\/","token":"55.1\/II\/10\/55.1-1015","metadata":false},{"id":69153,"structure_id":15275,"section_number":"55.1-1015.1","catch_line":"Civil penalties; attorney fees","url":"\/55.1-1015.1\/","token":"55.1\/II\/10\/55.1-1015.1","metadata":false},{"id":79216,"structure_id":15275,"section_number":"55.1-1016","catch_line":"Confidentiality of information obtained by the Commission","url":"\/55.1-1016\/","token":"55.1\/II\/10\/55.1-1016","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":69513,"structure_id":15275,"section_number":"55.1-1010","catch_line":"Separate charge for reporting transactions limited","url":"\/55.1-1010\/","token":"55.1\/II\/10\/55.1-1010","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":71946,"structure_id":15275,"section_number":"55.1-1012","catch_line":"Regulations and orders","url":"\/55.1-1012\/","token":"55.1\/II\/10\/55.1-1012","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/55.1-1011\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1997. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?971+ful+CHAP0716\">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. It has been modified 2 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 2010, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?101+ful+CHAP0794\">794<\/a>; in 2019, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?191+ful+CHAP0712\">712<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":245421,"object_type":"law","relational_id":84855,"identifier":"55.1-1011","token":"55.1\/II\/10\/55.1-1011","url":"\/55.1-1011\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/55.1-1011\/","token":"55.1\/II\/10\/55.1-1011","dublin_core":{"Title":"Record retention requirements","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 55.1-1011","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>The <span class=\"dictionary\">settlement agent<\/span> shall maintain sufficient records of its affairs so that the appropriate <span class=\"dictionary\">licensing authority<\/span> may adequately ensure that the <span class=\"dictionary\">settlement agent<\/span> is in compliance with all provisions of this chapter. The <span class=\"dictionary\">settlement agent<\/span> shall retain records pertaining to each settlement handled for a minimum of five years after the settlement is completed. The appropriate <span class=\"dictionary\">licensing authority<\/span> may prescribe the specific record entries and documents to be kept.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nRECORD RETENTION REQUIREMENTS (\u00a7 55.1-1011)\n\nThe settlement agent shall maintain sufficient records of its affairs so that\nthe appropriate licensing authority may adequately ensure that the settlement\nagent is in compliance with all provisions of this chapter. The settlement agent\nshall retain records pertaining to each settlement handled for a minimum of five\nyears after the settlement is completed. The appropriate licensing authority may\nprescribe the specific record entries and documents to be kept.\n\nHISTORY: 1997, c. 716, \u00a7 6.1-2.24; 2010, c. 794, \u00a7 55-525.27; 2019, c. 712.","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}}