{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/55.1-602.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/55.1-602.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/55.1-602.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/55.1-602.html"}],"law_id":79918,"edition_id":1,"section_id":79918,"structure_id":14286,"section_number":"55.1-602","catch_line":"Presumption that recorded writings are in proper form","history":"1973, c. 161, \u00a7 55-106.2; 2008, cc. 117, 814; 2019, c. 712.","full_text":"A writing that is not properly notarized in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth shall not invalidate the underlying document; however, any such writing shall not be in proper form for recordation. All recorded writings shall be presumed to be in proper form for recording after having been recorded, and conclusively presumed to be in proper form for recording after having been recorded for a period of three years, except in cases of fraud.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":286235,"text":"A writing that is not properly notarized in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth shall not invalidate the underlying document; however, any such writing shall not be in proper form for recordation. All recorded writings shall be presumed to be in proper form for recording after having been recorded, and conclusively presumed to be in proper form for recording after having been recorded for a period of three years, except in cases of fraud.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14286,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13525,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:36","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:36","permalink":{"id":245461,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14286,"identifier":"1","token":"55.1\/II\/6\/1","url":"\/55.1\/II\/6\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13525,"edition_id":1,"name":"Recordation of Documents","identifier":"6","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13524,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:07","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:07","permalink":{"id":245459,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13525,"identifier":"6","token":"55.1\/II\/6","url":"\/55.1\/II\/6\/","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":61518,"structure_id":14286,"section_number":"55.1-600","catch_line":"When and where writings recorded","url":"\/55.1-600\/","token":"55.1\/II\/6\/1\/55.1-600","metadata":false},{"id":67980,"structure_id":14286,"section_number":"55.1-601","catch_line":"Recording and indexing of certain documents showing changes of names","url":"\/55.1-601\/","token":"55.1\/II\/6\/1\/55.1-601","metadata":false},{"id":79918,"structure_id":14286,"section_number":"55.1-602","catch_line":"Presumption that recorded writings are in proper form","url":"\/55.1-602\/","token":"55.1\/II\/6\/1\/55.1-602","metadata":false},{"id":84817,"structure_id":14286,"section_number":"55.1-603","catch_line":"Deed of real estate investment trust","url":"\/55.1-603\/","token":"55.1\/II\/6\/1\/55.1-603","metadata":false},{"id":55556,"structure_id":14286,"section_number":"55.1-604","catch_line":"When clerk may refuse document to be recorded","url":"\/55.1-604\/","token":"55.1\/II\/6\/1\/55.1-604","metadata":false},{"id":64258,"structure_id":14286,"section_number":"55.1-605","catch_line":"Power of attorney; where recorded","url":"\/55.1-605\/","token":"55.1\/II\/6\/1\/55.1-605","metadata":false},{"id":64543,"structure_id":14286,"section_number":"55.1-606","catch_line":"Standards for writings to be docketed or recorded","url":"\/55.1-606\/","token":"55.1\/II\/6\/1\/55.1-606","metadata":false},{"id":68276,"structure_id":14286,"section_number":"55.1-607","catch_line":"When original of writing once recorded is lost, how copy recorded elsewhere","url":"\/55.1-607\/","token":"55.1\/II\/6\/1\/55.1-607","metadata":false},{"id":80177,"structure_id":14286,"section_number":"55.1-608","catch_line":"Certifications of recordation upon copies of certain instruments and subsequent recordation in other county or city","url":"\/55.1-608\/","token":"55.1\/II\/6\/1\/55.1-608","metadata":false},{"id":86981,"structure_id":14286,"section_number":"55.1-609","catch_line":"Correcting errors in deeds, deeds of trust, and mortgages; affidavit","url":"\/55.1-609\/","token":"55.1\/II\/6\/1\/55.1-609","metadata":false},{"id":65784,"structure_id":14286,"section_number":"55.1-610","catch_line":"Recordation of copy of lost deed previously recorded in what is now West Virginia","url":"\/55.1-610\/","token":"55.1\/II\/6\/1\/55.1-610","metadata":false},{"id":75944,"structure_id":14286,"section_number":"55.1-611","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/55.1-611\/","token":"55.1\/II\/6\/1\/55.1-611","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":67980,"structure_id":14286,"section_number":"55.1-601","catch_line":"Recording and indexing of certain documents showing changes of names","url":"\/55.1-601\/","token":"55.1\/II\/6\/1\/55.1-601","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":84817,"structure_id":14286,"section_number":"55.1-603","catch_line":"Deed of real estate investment trust","url":"\/55.1-603\/","token":"55.1\/II\/6\/1\/55.1-603","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/55.1-602\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1973. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 161 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 1973 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. 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 2008, chapters 117<\/a> and 814<\/a>; in 2019, chapter 712<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":54491,"section_number":"55.1-630","catch_line":"Acknowledgment taken by trustee in deed of trust; later date","order_by":null,"url":"\/55.1-630\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":245471,"object_type":"law","relational_id":79918,"identifier":"55.1-602","token":"55.1\/II\/6\/1\/55.1-602","url":"\/55.1-602\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/55.1-602\/","token":"55.1\/II\/6\/1\/55.1-602","dublin_core":{"Title":"Presumption that recorded writings are in proper form","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 55.1-602","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A writing that is not properly notarized in accordance with the laws<\/span> of the Commonwealth shall not invalidate the underlying document; however, any such writing shall not be in proper form for recordation. All recorded writings shall be presumed to be in proper form for recording after having been recorded, and conclusively presumed to be in proper form for recording after having been recorded for a period of three years, except in cases of fraud<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPRESUMPTION THAT RECORDED WRITINGS ARE IN PROPER FORM (\u00a7 55.1-602)\n\nA writing that is not properly notarized in accordance with the laws of the\nCommonwealth shall not invalidate the underlying document; however, any such\nwriting shall not be in proper form for recordation. All recorded writings shall\nbe presumed to be in proper form for recording after having been recorded, and\nconclusively presumed to be in proper form for recording after having been\nrecorded for a period of three years, except in cases of fraud.\n\nHISTORY: 1973, c. 161, \u00a7 55-106.2; 2008, cc. 117, 814; 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}}