{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/55.1-1601.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/55.1-1601.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/55.1-1601.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/55.1-1601.html"}],"law_id":60361,"edition_id":1,"section_id":60361,"structure_id":13074,"section_number":"55.1-1601","catch_line":"Memoranda of leases and options","history":"1978, c. 628, \u00a7 55-57.1; 1982, c. 365; 1984, c. 573; 2019, c. 712.","full_text":"A\n\nIn lieu of the recording of a lease, a memorandum of such lease may be recorded, executed by the lessor and the lessee in the manner that would entitle a conveyance to be recorded. Such memorandum of lease shall contain at least the following information with respect to the lease:1\n\nThe name of the lessor;2\n\nThe name of the lessee and a reference to the lease;3\n\nThe addresses, if any, set forth in the lease as addresses of such parties;4\n\nThe date of the memorandum of such lease;5\n\nA description of the leased premises; and6\n\nA statement of the term, commencement date or termination date, and rights of extension or renewal, if any, to the extent required to determine the period for which or date to which the lease may be in effect.B\n\nIn lieu of the recording of an option to purchase real estate, a memorandum of such option may be recorded, executed by the grantor of the option in the manner that would entitle a conveyance to be recorded. Such memorandum of option to purchase real estate shall contain at least the following information with respect to the option:1\n\nThe name of the person granting the option;2\n\nThe name of the optionee and a reference to the option;3\n\nThe addresses, if any, set forth in the agreement as addresses of such parties;4\n\nThe date of the memorandum of the option;5\n\nA description of the optioned premises;6\n\nThe option price or reference to the document containing the method with regard to how the option price is computed; and7\n\nThe statement of the term, commencement date or termination date, and rights of extension or renewal, if any, to the extent required to determine the period during which or date to which the option may be in effect.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":220750,"text":"In lieu of the recording of a lease, a memorandum of such lease may be recorded, executed by the lessor and the lessee in the manner that would entitle a conveyance to be recorded. Such memorandum of lease shall contain at least the following information with respect to the lease:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":220751,"text":"The name of the lessor;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":220752,"text":"The name of the lessee and a reference to the lease;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"A3"},"3":{"id":220753,"text":"The addresses, if any, set forth in the lease as addresses of such parties;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"A3","prefix_anchor":"A3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"A4"},"4":{"id":220754,"text":"The date of the memorandum of such lease;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"A4","prefix_anchor":"A4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A3","next_prefix":"A5"},"5":{"id":220755,"text":"A description of the leased premises; and","type":"section","prefixes":["A","5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"A5","prefix_anchor":"A5","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A4","next_prefix":"A6"},"6":{"id":220756,"text":"A statement of the term, commencement date or termination date, and rights of extension or renewal, if any, to the extent required to determine the period for which or date to which the lease may be in effect.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"A6","prefix_anchor":"A6","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A5","next_prefix":"B"},"7":{"id":220757,"text":"In lieu of the recording of an option to purchase real estate, a memorandum of such option may be recorded, executed by the grantor of the option in the manner that would entitle a conveyance to be recorded. Such memorandum of option to purchase real estate shall contain at least the following information with respect to the option:","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A6","next_prefix":"B1"},"8":{"id":220758,"text":"The name of the person granting the option;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"B1","prefix_anchor":"B1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"B2"},"9":{"id":220759,"text":"The name of the optionee and a reference to the option;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"B2","prefix_anchor":"B2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B1","next_prefix":"B3"},"10":{"id":220760,"text":"The addresses, if any, set forth in the agreement as addresses of such parties;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"B3","prefix_anchor":"B3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B2","next_prefix":"B4"},"11":{"id":220761,"text":"The date of the memorandum of the option;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"B4","prefix_anchor":"B4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B3","next_prefix":"B5"},"12":{"id":220762,"text":"A description of the optioned premises;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"B5","prefix_anchor":"B5","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B4","next_prefix":"B6"},"13":{"id":220763,"text":"The option price or reference to the document containing the method with regard to how the option price is computed; and","type":"section","prefixes":["B","6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"B6","prefix_anchor":"B6","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B5","next_prefix":"B7"},"14":{"id":220764,"text":"The statement of the term, commencement date or termination date, and rights of extension or renewal, if any, to the extent required to determine the period during which or date to which the option may be in effect.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"B7","prefix_anchor":"B7","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B6"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13074,"edition_id":1,"name":"Leases","identifier":"16","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13073,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:14","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:14","permalink":{"id":246413,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13074,"identifier":"16","token":"55.1\/III\/16","url":"\/55.1\/III\/16\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13073,"edition_id":1,"name":"Rental Conveyances","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12707,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:14","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:14","permalink":{"id":245883,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13073,"identifier":"III","token":"55.1\/III","url":"\/55.1\/III\/","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":63274,"structure_id":13074,"section_number":"55.1-1600","catch_line":"Form of a lease","url":"\/55.1-1600\/","token":"55.1\/III\/16\/55.1-1600","metadata":false},{"id":60361,"structure_id":13074,"section_number":"55.1-1601","catch_line":"Memoranda of leases and options","url":"\/55.1-1601\/","token":"55.1\/III\/16\/55.1-1601","metadata":false},{"id":78312,"structure_id":13074,"section_number":"55.1-1602","catch_line":"Certain covenants of lessee \"to pay the rent\" and \"to pay the taxes.\"","url":"\/55.1-1602\/","token":"55.1\/III\/16\/55.1-1602","metadata":false},{"id":54680,"structure_id":13074,"section_number":"55.1-1603","catch_line":"Certain covenants of lessee that \"he will not assign without leave\" and that \"he will leave the premises in good repair.\"","url":"\/55.1-1603\/","token":"55.1\/III\/16\/55.1-1603","metadata":false},{"id":54125,"structure_id":13074,"section_number":"55.1-1604","catch_line":"Covenant of lessor \"for lessee's quiet enjoyment.\"","url":"\/55.1-1604\/","token":"55.1\/III\/16\/55.1-1604","metadata":false},{"id":66034,"structure_id":13074,"section_number":"55.1-1605","catch_line":"Effect of provision for reentry by lessor","url":"\/55.1-1605\/","token":"55.1\/III\/16\/55.1-1605","metadata":false},{"id":82611,"structure_id":13074,"section_number":"55.1-1606","catch_line":"Grantees and assignees have same rights against lessees as lessors","url":"\/55.1-1606\/","token":"55.1\/III\/16\/55.1-1606","metadata":false},{"id":65631,"structure_id":13074,"section_number":"55.1-1607","catch_line":"Lessees have same rights against grantees as against lessors","url":"\/55.1-1607\/","token":"55.1\/III\/16\/55.1-1607","metadata":false},{"id":86793,"structure_id":13074,"section_number":"55.1-1608","catch_line":"What powers to pass to grantee or devisee; when attornment unnecessary","url":"\/55.1-1608\/","token":"55.1\/III\/16\/55.1-1608","metadata":false},{"id":83880,"structure_id":13074,"section_number":"55.1-1609","catch_line":"When attornment void","url":"\/55.1-1609\/","token":"55.1\/III\/16\/55.1-1609","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":63274,"structure_id":13074,"section_number":"55.1-1600","catch_line":"Form of a lease","url":"\/55.1-1600\/","token":"55.1\/III\/16\/55.1-1600","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":78312,"structure_id":13074,"section_number":"55.1-1602","catch_line":"Certain covenants of lessee \"to pay the rent\" and \"to pay the taxes.\"","url":"\/55.1-1602\/","token":"55.1\/III\/16\/55.1-1602","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/55.1-1601\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1978. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 628 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 1978 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 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 1982, chapter 365; in 1984, chapter 573; in 2019, chapter 712<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":246419,"object_type":"law","relational_id":60361,"identifier":"55.1-1601","token":"55.1\/III\/16\/55.1-1601","url":"\/55.1-1601\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/55.1-1601\/","token":"55.1\/III\/16\/55.1-1601","dublin_core":{"Title":"Memoranda of leases and options","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 55.1-1601","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> In lieu of the recording of a lease, a memorandum<\/span> of such lease may be recorded, executed by the lessor and the lessee in the manner that would entitle a conveyance to be recorded. Such memorandum<\/span> of lease shall contain at least the following information with respect to the lease: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> The name of the lessor; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> The name of the lessee and a reference to the lease; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> The addresses, if any, set forth in the lease as addresses of such parties; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> The date of the memorandum<\/span> of such lease; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> A description of the leased premises; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> A statement of the term, commencement date or termination date, and rights of extension or renewal, if any, to the extent required to determine the period for which or date to which the lease may be in effect. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> In lieu of the recording of an option to purchase real estate, a memorandum<\/span> of such option may be recorded, executed by the grantor of the option in the manner that would entitle a conveyance to be recorded. Such memorandum<\/span> of option to purchase real estate shall contain at least the following information with respect to the option: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> The name of the person granting the option; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> The name of the optionee and a reference to the option; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> The addresses, if any, set forth in the agreement as addresses of such parties; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> The date of the memorandum<\/span> of the option; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> A description of the optioned premises; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> The option price or reference to the document containing the method with regard to how the option price is computed; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> The statement of the term, commencement date or termination date, and rights of extension or renewal, if any, to the extent required to determine the period during which or date to which the option may be in effect. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nMEMORANDA OF LEASES AND OPTIONS (\u00a7 55.1-1601)\n\nA. In lieu of the recording of a lease, a memorandum of such lease may be\nrecorded, executed by the lessor and the lessee in the manner that would entitle\na conveyance to be recorded. Such memorandum of lease shall contain at least the\nfollowing information with respect to the lease:\n\n 1. The name of the lessor;\n\n 2. The name of the lessee and a reference to the lease;\n\n 3. The addresses, if any, set forth in the lease as addresses of such parties;\n\n 4. The date of the memorandum of such lease;\n\n 5. A description of the leased premises; and\n\n 6. A statement of the term, commencement date or termination date, and rights\n of extension or renewal, if any, to the extent required to determine the\n period for which or date to which the lease may be in effect.\n\nB. In lieu of the recording of an option to purchase real estate, a memorandum\nof such option may be recorded, executed by the grantor of the option in the\nmanner that would entitle a conveyance to be recorded. Such memorandum of option\nto purchase real estate shall contain at least the following information with\nrespect to the option:\n\n 1. The name of the person granting the option;\n\n 2. The name of the optionee and a reference to the option;\n\n 3. The addresses, if any, set forth in the agreement as addresses of such\n parties;\n\n 4. The date of the memorandum of the option;\n\n 5. A description of the optioned premises;\n\n 6. The option price or reference to the document containing the method with\n regard to how the option price is computed; and\n\n 7. The statement of the term, commencement date or termination date, and\n rights of extension or renewal, if any, to the extent required to determine\n the period during which or date to which the option may be in effect.\n\nHISTORY: 1978, c. 628, \u00a7 55-57.1; 1982, c. 365; 1984, c. 573; 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}}