{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/59.1-531.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/59.1-531.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/59.1-531.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/59.1-531.html"}],"law_id":74423,"edition_id":1,"section_id":74423,"structure_id":13030,"section_number":"59.1-531","catch_line":"Required disclosures","history":"2005, cc. 269, 303; 2025, c. 629.","full_text":"A\n\nEach gift certificate issued by a merchant in the Commonwealth that has an expiration date shall include either (i) a statement of the expiration date of the certificate or (ii) a telephone number or Internet address where the holder of the certificate may obtain information regarding the expiration date of the certificate.B\n\nEach gift certificate issued by a merchant in the Commonwealth that diminishes in value over time shall include a telephone number or Internet address where the holder of the certificate may obtain information regarding the diminution in the value of the certificate over time.C\n\nNo gift certificate issued by a merchant in the Commonwealth shall impose a dormancy fee, an inactivity charge or fee, or a service fee, unless the gift certificate is distributed pursuant to an award, loyalty, or promotional program, and with respect to which there is no other money or value exchanged.D\n\nThe information required by subsections A and B shall be clearly and permanently imprinted on the certificate.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":267446,"text":"Each gift certificate issued by a merchant in the Commonwealth that has an expiration date shall include either (i) a statement of the expiration date of the certificate or (ii) a telephone number or Internet address where the holder of the certificate may obtain information regarding the expiration date of the certificate.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":267447,"text":"Each gift certificate issued by a merchant in the Commonwealth that diminishes in value over time shall include a telephone number or Internet address where the holder of the certificate may obtain information regarding the diminution in the value of the certificate over time.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":267448,"text":"No gift certificate issued by a merchant in the Commonwealth shall impose a dormancy fee, an inactivity charge or fee, or a service fee, unless the gift certificate is distributed pursuant to an award, loyalty, or promotional program, and with respect to which there is no other money or value exchanged.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":267449,"text":"The information required by subsections A and B shall be clearly and permanently imprinted on the certificate.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13030,"edition_id":1,"name":"Gift Certificate Disclosures","identifier":"47","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12809,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:09","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:09","permalink":{"id":262509,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13030,"identifier":"47","token":"59.1\/47","url":"\/59.1\/47\/","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":54095,"structure_id":13030,"section_number":"59.1-530","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/59.1-530\/","token":"59.1\/47\/59.1-530","metadata":false},{"id":74423,"structure_id":13030,"section_number":"59.1-531","catch_line":"Required disclosures","url":"\/59.1-531\/","token":"59.1\/47\/59.1-531","metadata":false},{"id":78306,"structure_id":13030,"section_number":"59.1-532","catch_line":"Enforcement; penalties","url":"\/59.1-532\/","token":"59.1\/47\/59.1-532","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":54095,"structure_id":13030,"section_number":"59.1-530","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/59.1-530\/","token":"59.1\/47\/59.1-530","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":78306,"structure_id":13030,"section_number":"59.1-532","catch_line":"Enforcement; penalties","url":"\/59.1-532\/","token":"59.1\/47\/59.1-532","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/59.1-531\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2005. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 269<\/a> and 303<\/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 1 time. 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. That modification is as follows: in 2025, chapter 629<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":262515,"object_type":"law","relational_id":74423,"identifier":"59.1-531","token":"59.1\/47\/59.1-531","url":"\/59.1-531\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/59.1-531\/","token":"59.1\/47\/59.1-531","dublin_core":{"Title":"Required disclosures","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 59.1-531","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Each gift certificate<\/span> issued by a merchant<\/span> in the Commonwealth that has an expiration date shall include either (i) a statement of the expiration date of the certificate or (ii) a telephone number or Internet address where the holder of the certificate may obtain information regarding the expiration date of the certificate. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Each gift certificate<\/span> issued by a merchant<\/span> in the Commonwealth that diminishes in value over time shall include a telephone number or Internet address where the holder of the certificate may obtain information regarding the diminution in the value of the certificate over time. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> No gift certificate<\/span> issued by a merchant<\/span> in the Commonwealth shall impose a dormancy fee<\/span>, an inactivity charge or fee<\/span>, or a service fee<\/span>, unless the gift certificate<\/span> is distributed pursuant to an award, loyalty, or promotional program, and with respect to which there is no other money or value exchanged. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The information required by subsections A and B shall be clearly and permanently imprinted on the certificate. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nREQUIRED DISCLOSURES (\u00a7 59.1-531)\n\nA. Each gift certificate issued by a merchant in the Commonwealth that has an\nexpiration date shall include either (i) a statement of the expiration date of\nthe certificate or (ii) a telephone number or Internet address where the holder\nof the certificate may obtain information regarding the expiration date of the\ncertificate.\n\nB. Each gift certificate issued by a merchant in the Commonwealth that\ndiminishes in value over time shall include a telephone number or Internet\naddress where the holder of the certificate may obtain information regarding the\ndiminution in the value of the certificate over time.\n\nC. No gift certificate issued by a merchant in the Commonwealth shall impose a\ndormancy fee, an inactivity charge or fee, or a service fee, unless the gift\ncertificate is distributed pursuant to an award, loyalty, or promotional\nprogram, and with respect to which there is no other money or value exchanged.\n\nD. The information required by subsections A and B shall be clearly and\npermanently imprinted on the certificate.\n\nHISTORY: 2005, cc. 269, 303; 2025, c. 629.","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}}