{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/59.1-491.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/59.1-491.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/59.1-491.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/59.1-491.html"}],"law_id":64820,"edition_id":1,"section_id":64820,"structure_id":13070,"section_number":"59.1-491","catch_line":"Admissibility of evidence","history":"2000, c. 995.","full_text":"a\n\nIn any proceeding, evidence of a record or signature may not be excluded solely because it is in electronic form.b\n\nIn determining the evidentiary weight to be given a particular electronic signature, the trier of fact shall consider whether the electronic signature is: (i) unique to the signer, (ii) capable of verification, (iii) under the signer’s sole control, (iv) linked to the record in such a manner that it can be determined if any data contained in the record was changed subsequent to the electronic signature being affixed to the record, and (v) created by a method appropriately reliable for the purpose for which the electronic signature was used. The trier of fact may consider any other relevant and probative evidence affecting the authenticity and\/or validity of the electronic signature.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":235913,"text":"In any proceeding, evidence of a record or signature may not be excluded solely because it is in electronic form.","type":"section","prefixes":["a"],"prefix":"a","entire_prefix":"a","prefix_anchor":"a","level":1,"next_prefix":"b"},"1":{"id":235914,"text":"In determining the evidentiary weight to be given a particular electronic signature, the trier of fact shall consider whether the electronic signature is: (i) unique to the signer, (ii) capable of verification, (iii) under the signer’s sole control, (iv) linked to the record in such a manner that it can be determined if any data contained in the record was changed subsequent to the electronic signature being affixed to the record, and (v) created by a method appropriately reliable for the purpose for which the electronic signature was used. The trier of fact may consider any other relevant and probative evidence affecting the authenticity and\/or validity of the electronic signature.","type":"section","prefixes":["b"],"prefix":"b","entire_prefix":"b","prefix_anchor":"b","level":1,"prior_prefix":"a"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13070,"edition_id":1,"name":"Uniform Electronic Transactions Act","identifier":"42.1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12809,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:14","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:14","permalink":{"id":261803,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13070,"identifier":"42.1","token":"59.1\/42.1","url":"\/59.1\/42.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12809,"edition_id":1,"name":"Trade and Commerce","identifier":"59.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","permalink":{"id":259521,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12809,"identifier":"59.1","token":"59.1","url":"\/59.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":60668,"structure_id":13070,"section_number":"59.1-479","catch_line":"Title","url":"\/59.1-479\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-479","metadata":false},{"id":69066,"structure_id":13070,"section_number":"59.1-480","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/59.1-480\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-480","metadata":false},{"id":55598,"structure_id":13070,"section_number":"59.1-481","catch_line":"Scope","url":"\/59.1-481\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-481","metadata":false},{"id":78087,"structure_id":13070,"section_number":"59.1-482","catch_line":"Prospective application","url":"\/59.1-482\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-482","metadata":false},{"id":66518,"structure_id":13070,"section_number":"59.1-483","catch_line":"Use of electronic records and electronic signatures; variation by agreement","url":"\/59.1-483\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-483","metadata":false},{"id":71849,"structure_id":13070,"section_number":"59.1-484","catch_line":"Construction and application","url":"\/59.1-484\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-484","metadata":false},{"id":66728,"structure_id":13070,"section_number":"59.1-485","catch_line":"Legal recognition of electronic records, electronic signatures, and electronic contracts","url":"\/59.1-485\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-485","metadata":false},{"id":64043,"structure_id":13070,"section_number":"59.1-486","catch_line":"Provision of information in writing; presentation of records","url":"\/59.1-486\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-486","metadata":false},{"id":61402,"structure_id":13070,"section_number":"59.1-487","catch_line":"Attribution and effect of electronic record and electronic signature","url":"\/59.1-487\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-487","metadata":false},{"id":79682,"structure_id":13070,"section_number":"59.1-488","catch_line":"Effect of change or error","url":"\/59.1-488\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-488","metadata":false},{"id":62569,"structure_id":13070,"section_number":"59.1-489","catch_line":"Notarization and acknowledgment","url":"\/59.1-489\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-489","metadata":false},{"id":71153,"structure_id":13070,"section_number":"59.1-490","catch_line":"Retention of electronic record","url":"\/59.1-490\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-490","metadata":false},{"id":64820,"structure_id":13070,"section_number":"59.1-491","catch_line":"Admissibility of evidence","url":"\/59.1-491\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-491","metadata":false},{"id":54123,"structure_id":13070,"section_number":"59.1-492","catch_line":"Automated transactions","url":"\/59.1-492\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-492","metadata":false},{"id":67829,"structure_id":13070,"section_number":"59.1-493","catch_line":"Time and place of sending and receipt","url":"\/59.1-493\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-493","metadata":false},{"id":71683,"structure_id":13070,"section_number":"59.1-494","catch_line":"Transferable records","url":"\/59.1-494\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-494","metadata":false},{"id":64263,"structure_id":13070,"section_number":"59.1-495","catch_line":"Creation and retention of electronic records and conversion of written records by public bodies of the Commonwealth","url":"\/59.1-495\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-495","metadata":false},{"id":81914,"structure_id":13070,"section_number":"59.1-496","catch_line":"Acceptance and distribution of electronic records by public bodies; electronic filing of information permitted","url":"\/59.1-496\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-496","metadata":false},{"id":85254,"structure_id":13070,"section_number":"59.1-497","catch_line":"Interoperability","url":"\/59.1-497\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-497","metadata":false},{"id":79229,"structure_id":13070,"section_number":"59.1-498","catch_line":"Reserved","url":"\/59.1-498\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-498","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":71153,"structure_id":13070,"section_number":"59.1-490","catch_line":"Retention of electronic record","url":"\/59.1-490\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-490","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":54123,"structure_id":13070,"section_number":"59.1-492","catch_line":"Automated transactions","url":"\/59.1-492\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-492","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/59.1-491\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2000. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 995<\/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":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":261853,"object_type":"law","relational_id":64820,"identifier":"59.1-491","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-491","url":"\/59.1-491\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/59.1-491\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-491","dublin_core":{"Title":"Admissibility of evidence","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 59.1-491","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

a.<\/span> In any proceeding, evidence<\/span> of a record<\/span> or signature may not be excluded solely because it is in electronic<\/span> form. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

b.<\/span> In determining the evidentiary weight to be given a particular electronic signature<\/span>, the trier of fact<\/span> shall consider whether the electronic signature<\/span> is: (i) unique to the signer, (ii) capable of verification, (iii) under the signer’s sole control, (iv) linked to the record<\/span> in such a manner that it can be determined if any data contained in the record<\/span> was changed subsequent to the electronic signature<\/span> being affixed to the record<\/span>, and (v) created by a method appropriately reliable for the purpose for which the electronic signature<\/span> was used. The trier of fact<\/span> may consider any other relevant and probative evidence<\/span> affecting the authenticity and\/or validity of the electronic signature<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nADMISSIBILITY OF EVIDENCE (\u00a7 59.1-491)\n\na. In any proceeding, evidence of a record or signature may not be excluded\nsolely because it is in electronic form.\n\nb. In determining the evidentiary weight to be given a particular electronic\nsignature, the trier of fact shall consider whether the electronic signature is:\n(i) unique to the signer, (ii) capable of verification, (iii) under the\nsigner’s sole control, (iv) linked to the record in such a manner that it\ncan be determined if any data contained in the record was changed subsequent to\nthe electronic signature being affixed to the record, and (v) created by a\nmethod appropriately reliable for the purpose for which the electronic signature\nwas used. The trier of fact may consider any other relevant and probative\nevidence affecting the authenticity and\/or validity of the electronic signature.\n\nHISTORY: 2000, c. 995.","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}}