{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/55.1-612.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/55.1-612.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/55.1-612.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/55.1-612.html"}],"law_id":54760,"edition_id":1,"section_id":54760,"structure_id":13754,"section_number":"55.1-612","catch_line":"Acknowledgment within the United States or its dependencies","history":"Code 1919, \u00a7\u00a7 5205, 5207; 1922, p. 868; 1924, p. 474; Code 1950, \u00a7 55-113; 1968, c. 639; 1972, c. 130; 2019, c. 712.","full_text":"A circuit court of any county or city, or the clerk of any such court, shall record any writing as is described in \u00a7 55.1-600 as to any person whose name is signed to such writing, except that acknowledgment of contracts for the sale of real property shall require the seller or grantor of such real property to acknowledge his signature as provided in this section, except for contracts recorded after the death of the seller pursuant to \u00a7 64.2-523.\n\n1\n\nUpon the certificate of such clerk or his deputy, a notary public, a commissioner in chancery, or a clerk of any court of record within the United States or in Puerto Rico or any territory or other dependency or possession of the United States that such writing had been acknowledged before him by such person. Such certificate shall be written upon or attached to such writing and shall be substantially to the following effect:\n\t\t\tI, ________, clerk (or deputy clerk or a commissioner in chancery) of the ________ court, (or a notary public) for the county (or city) aforesaid, in the state (or territory or district) of ________, do certify that E.F., or E.F. and G.H., and so forth, whose name (or names) is (or are) signed to the writing above (or hereto attached) bearing date on the ______ day of ____, has (or have) acknowledged the same before me in my county (or city) aforesaid.\n\t\t\tGiven under my hand this ______ day of ____.2\n\nUpon the certificate of acknowledgment of such person before any commissioner appointed by the Governor, within the United States, so written or attached, substantially to the following effect:\n\t\t\tState (or territory or district) of ________:\n\t\t\tI, __________, a commissioner appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, for such state (or territory or district) of ________, do certify that E.F. (or E.F. and G.H., and so forth) whose name (or names) is (or are) signed to the writing above (or hereto attached) bearing date on the ______ day of ____ has (or have) acknowledged the same before me in my state (or territory or district) aforesaid.\n\t\t\tGiven under my hand this ______ day of ____.3\n\nOr upon the certificate of such clerk or his deputy, a notary public, a commissioner in chancery, or a clerk of any court of record within the United States or in Puerto Rico or any territory or other possession or dependency of the United States, or of a commissioner appointed by the Governor, within the United States, that such writing was proved as to such person, before him, by two subscribing witnesses thereto. Such certificate shall be written upon or attached to such writing and shall be substantially to the following effect:\n\t\t\tState (or territory or district) of ________; county (or city) of ________: I, ________, clerk (or deputy clerk or a commissioner in chancery) of the ________ court, (or a notary public) for the county (or city) aforesaid, in the state (or territory or district) of ________ (or a commissioner appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia for such state (or territory or district) of ________), do certify that the execution of the writing above (or hereto attached) bearing date on the ______ day of ____, by A.B. (or A.B. and C.D., and so forth), whose name (or names) is (or are) signed thereto, was proved before me in my county (or city or state, territory, or district) aforesaid, by the evidence on oath of E.F. and G.H., subscribing witnesses to such writing.\n\t\t\tGiven under my hand this ______ day of ____.\n\t\t\tWhen authority is given in § 55.1-600 or in this section to the clerk of a court in or outside of the Commonwealth, but within the United States, such authority may be exercised by his duly qualified deputy.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":200990,"text":"A circuit court of any county or city, or the clerk of any such court, shall record any writing as is described in \u00a7 55.1-600 as to any person whose name is signed to such writing, except that acknowledgment of contracts for the sale of real property shall require the seller or grantor of such real property to acknowledge his signature as provided in this section, except for contracts recorded after the death of the seller pursuant to \u00a7 64.2-523.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":200991,"text":"Upon the certificate of such clerk or his deputy, a notary public, a commissioner in chancery, or a clerk of any court of record within the United States or in Puerto Rico or any territory or other dependency or possession of the United States that such writing had been acknowledged before him by such person. Such certificate shall be written upon or attached to such writing and shall be substantially to the following effect:\n\t\t\tI, ________, clerk (or deputy clerk or a commissioner in chancery) of the ________ court, (or a notary public) for the county (or city) aforesaid, in the state (or territory or district) of ________, do certify that E.F., or E.F. and G.H., and so forth, whose name (or names) is (or are) signed to the writing above (or hereto attached) bearing date on the ______ day of ____, has (or have) acknowledged the same before me in my county (or city) aforesaid.\n\t\t\tGiven under my hand this ______ day of ____.","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":200992,"text":"Upon the certificate of acknowledgment of such person before any commissioner appointed by the Governor, within the United States, so written or attached, substantially to the following effect:\n\t\t\tState (or territory or district) of ________:\n\t\t\tI, __________, a commissioner appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, for such state (or territory or district) of ________, do certify that E.F. (or E.F. and G.H., and so forth) whose name (or names) is (or are) signed to the writing above (or hereto attached) bearing date on the ______ day of ____ has (or have) acknowledged the same before me in my state (or territory or district) aforesaid.\n\t\t\tGiven under my hand this ______ day of ____.","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":200993,"text":"Or upon the certificate of such clerk or his deputy, a notary public, a commissioner in chancery, or a clerk of any court of record within the United States or in Puerto Rico or any territory or other possession or dependency of the United States, or of a commissioner appointed by the Governor, within the United States, that such writing was proved as to such person, before him, by two subscribing witnesses thereto. Such certificate shall be written upon or attached to such writing and shall be substantially to the following effect:\n\t\t\tState (or territory or district) of ________; county (or city) of ________: I, ________, clerk (or deputy clerk or a commissioner in chancery) of the ________ court, (or a notary public) for the county (or city) aforesaid, in the state (or territory or district) of ________ (or a commissioner appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia for such state (or territory or district) of ________), do certify that the execution of the writing above (or hereto attached) bearing date on the ______ day of ____, by A.B. (or A.B. and C.D., and so forth), whose name (or names) is (or are) signed thereto, was proved before me in my county (or city or state, territory, or district) aforesaid, by the evidence on oath of E.F. and G.H., subscribing witnesses to such writing.\n\t\t\tGiven under my hand this ______ day of ____.\n\t\t\tWhen authority is given in § 55.1-600 or in this section to the clerk of a court in or outside of the Commonwealth, but within the United States, such authority may be exercised by his duly qualified deputy.","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13754,"edition_id":1,"name":"Acknowledgments Generally","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13525,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:47","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:47","permalink":{"id":245511,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13754,"identifier":"2","token":"55.1\/II\/6\/2","url":"\/55.1\/II\/6\/2\/","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":54760,"structure_id":13754,"section_number":"55.1-612","catch_line":"Acknowledgment within the United States or its dependencies","url":"\/55.1-612\/","token":"55.1\/II\/6\/2\/55.1-612","metadata":false},{"id":66884,"structure_id":13754,"section_number":"55.1-613","catch_line":"Acknowledgments outside of the United States and its dependencies","url":"\/55.1-613\/","token":"55.1\/II\/6\/2\/55.1-613","metadata":false},{"id":58506,"structure_id":13754,"section_number":"55.1-614","catch_line":"Acknowledgments by persons subject to Uniform Code of Military Justice; validation of certain acknowledgments","url":"\/55.1-614\/","token":"55.1\/II\/6\/2\/55.1-614","metadata":false},{"id":58585,"structure_id":13754,"section_number":"55.1-615","catch_line":"Acknowledgments taken before commissioned officers in military service","url":"\/55.1-615\/","token":"55.1\/II\/6\/2\/55.1-615","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":66884,"structure_id":13754,"section_number":"55.1-613","catch_line":"Acknowledgments outside of the United States and its dependencies","url":"\/55.1-613\/","token":"55.1\/II\/6\/2\/55.1-613","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/55.1-612\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\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 1968, chapter 639; in 1972, chapter 130; in 2019, chapter 712<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":82841,"section_number":"38.2-1219","catch_line":"Organization of reciprocals; what declaration to contain","order_by":null,"url":"\/38.2-1219\/"},{"id":74400,"section_number":"55.1-207","catch_line":"Appointment of attorney-in-fact by married person; effect of writing executed by such attorney","order_by":null,"url":"\/55.1-207\/"},{"id":61518,"section_number":"55.1-600","catch_line":"When and where writings recorded","order_by":null,"url":"\/55.1-600\/"},{"id":80086,"section_number":"55.1-625","catch_line":"Acknowledgments on behalf of corporations and others","order_by":null,"url":"\/55.1-625\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":61518,"section_number":"55.1-600","catch_line":"When and where writings recorded","order_by":null,"url":"\/55.1-600\/"},{"id":62317,"section_number":"64.2-523","catch_line":"Personal representative may execute deed pursuant to written contract of decedent","order_by":null,"url":"\/64.2-523\/"}],"permalink":{"id":245513,"object_type":"law","relational_id":54760,"identifier":"55.1-612","token":"55.1\/II\/6\/2\/55.1-612","url":"\/55.1-612\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/55.1-612\/","token":"55.1\/II\/6\/2\/55.1-612","dublin_core":{"Title":"Acknowledgment within the United States or its dependencies","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 55.1-612","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A circuit<\/span> court<\/span> of any county or city, or the clerk of any such court<\/span>, shall record any writing as is described in \u00a7 55.1-600<\/a> as to any person whose name is signed to such writing, except that acknowledgment of contracts<\/span> for the sale of real property shall require the seller or grantor of such real property to acknowledge his signature as provided in this section, except for contracts<\/span> recorded after the death of the seller pursuant to \u00a7 64.2-523<\/a>.<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Upon the certificate of such clerk or his deputy, a notary public, a commissioner in chancery<\/span>, or a clerk of any court<\/span> of record within the United States or in Puerto Rico or any territory or other dependency or possession<\/span> of the United States that such writing had been acknowledged before him by such person. Such certificate shall be written upon or attached to such writing and shall be substantially to the following effect:\n\t\t\tI, ________, clerk (or deputy clerk or a commissioner in chancery<\/span>) of the ________ court<\/span>, (or a notary public) for the county (or city) aforesaid, in the state (or territory or district) of ________, do certify that E.F., or E.F. and G.H., and so forth, whose name (or names) is (or are) signed to the writing above (or hereto attached) bearing date on the ______ day of ____, has (or have) acknowledged the same before me in my county (or city) aforesaid.\n\t\t\tGiven under my hand this ______ day of ____. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Upon the certificate of acknowledgment of such person before any commissioner appointed by the Governor, within the United States, so written or attached, substantially to the following effect:\n\t\t\tState (or territory or district) of ________:\n\t\t\tI, __________, a commissioner appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, for such state (or territory or district) of ________, do certify that E.F. (or E.F. and G.H., and so forth) whose name (or names) is (or are) signed to the writing above (or hereto attached) bearing date on the ______ day of ____ has (or have) acknowledged the same before me in my state (or territory or district) aforesaid.\n\t\t\tGiven under my hand this ______ day of ____. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Or upon the certificate of such clerk or his deputy, a notary public, a commissioner in chancery<\/span>, or a clerk of any court<\/span> of record within the United States or in Puerto Rico or any territory or other possession<\/span> or dependency of the United States, or of a commissioner appointed by the Governor, within the United States, that such writing was proved as to such person, before him, by two subscribing witnesses thereto. Such certificate shall be written upon or attached to such writing and shall be substantially to the following effect:\n\t\t\tState (or territory or district) of ________; county (or city) of ________: I, ________, clerk (or deputy clerk or a commissioner in chancery<\/span>) of the ________ court<\/span>, (or a notary public) for the county (or city) aforesaid, in the state (or territory or district) of ________ (or a commissioner appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia for such state (or territory or district) of ________), do certify that the execution of the writing above (or hereto attached) bearing date on the ______ day of ____, by A.B. (or A.B. and C.D., and so forth), whose name (or names) is (or are) signed thereto, was proved before me in my county (or city or state, territory, or district) aforesaid, by the evidence<\/span> on oath<\/span> of E.F. and G.H., subscribing witnesses to such writing.\n\t\t\tGiven under my hand this ______ day of ____.\n\t\t\tWhen authority is given in § 55.1-600<\/a> or in this section to the clerk of a court<\/span> in or outside of the Commonwealth, but within the United States, such authority may be exercised by his duly qualified deputy. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nACKNOWLEDGMENT WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR ITS DEPENDENCIES (\u00a7 55.1-612)\n\nA circuit court of any county or city, or the clerk of any such court, shall\nrecord any writing as is described in \u00a7 55.1-600 as to any person whose name is\nsigned to such writing, except that acknowledgment of contracts for the sale of\nreal property shall require the seller or grantor of such real property to\nacknowledge his signature as provided in this section, except for contracts\nrecorded after the death of the seller pursuant to \u00a7 64.2-523.\n\n1. Upon the certificate of such clerk or his deputy, a notary public, a\ncommissioner in chancery, or a clerk of any court of record within the United\nStates or in Puerto Rico or any territory or other dependency or possession of\nthe United States that such writing had been acknowledged before him by such\nperson. Such certificate shall be written upon or attached to such writing and\nshall be substantially to the following effect:\n\t\t\tI, ________, clerk (or deputy clerk or a commissioner in chancery) of the\n________ court, (or a notary public) for the county (or city) aforesaid, in the\nstate (or territory or district) of ________, do certify that E.F., or E.F. and\nG.H., and so forth, whose name (or names) is (or are) signed to the writing\nabove (or hereto attached) bearing date on the ______ day of ____, has (or have)\nacknowledged the same before me in my county (or city) aforesaid.\n\t\t\tGiven under my hand this ______ day of ____.\n\n2. Upon the certificate of acknowledgment of such person before any commissioner\nappointed by the Governor, within the United States, so written or attached,\nsubstantially to the following effect:\n\t\t\tState (or territory or district) of ________:\n\t\t\tI, __________, a commissioner appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth\nof Virginia, for such state (or territory or district) of ________, do certify\nthat E.F. (or E.F. and G.H., and so forth) whose name (or names) is (or are)\nsigned to the writing above (or hereto attached) bearing date on the ______ day\nof ____ has (or have) acknowledged the same before me in my state (or territory\nor district) aforesaid.\n\t\t\tGiven under my hand this ______ day of ____.\n\n3. Or upon the certificate of such clerk or his deputy, a notary public, a\ncommissioner in chancery, or a clerk of any court of record within the United\nStates or in Puerto Rico or any territory or other possession or dependency of\nthe United States, or of a commissioner appointed by the Governor, within the\nUnited States, that such writing was proved as to such person, before him, by\ntwo subscribing witnesses thereto. Such certificate shall be written upon or\nattached to such writing and shall be substantially to the following effect:\n\t\t\tState (or territory or district) of ________; county (or city) of ________:\nI, ________, clerk (or deputy clerk or a commissioner in chancery) of the \n________ court, (or a notary public) for the county (or city) aforesaid, in the\nstate (or territory or district) of ________ (or a commissioner appointed by\nthe Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia for such state (or territory or\ndistrict) of ________), do certify that the execution of the writing above (or\nhereto attached) bearing date on the ______ day of ____, by A.B. (or A.B. and\nC.D., and so forth), whose name (or names) is (or are) signed thereto, was\nproved before me in my county (or city or state, territory, or district)\naforesaid, by the evidence on oath of E.F. and G.H., subscribing witnesses to\nsuch writing.\n\t\t\tGiven under my hand this ______ day of ____.\n\t\t\tWhen authority is given in § 55.1-600 or in this section to the clerk of\na court in or outside of the Commonwealth, but within the United States, such\nauthority may be exercised by his duly qualified deputy.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1919, \u00a7\u00a7 5205, 5207; 1922, p. 868; 1924, p. 474; Code 1950, \u00a7\n55-113; 1968, c. 639; 1972, c. 130; 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}}