{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/8.7-303.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/8.7-303.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/8.7-303.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/8.7-303.html"}],"law_id":73478,"edition_id":1,"section_id":73478,"structure_id":14258,"section_number":"8.7-303","catch_line":"Diversion; reconsignment; change of instructions","history":"1964, c. 219; 2004, c. 200.","full_text":"1\n\nUnless the bill of lading otherwise provides, the carrier may deliver the goods to a person or destination other than that stated in the bill or may otherwise dispose of the goods, without liability for misdelivery, on instructions from:a\n\nthe holder of a negotiable bill; orb\n\nthe consignor on a nonnegotiable bill notwithstanding contrary instructions from the consignee; orc\n\nthe consignee on a nonnegotiable bill in the absence of contrary instructions from the consignor, if the goods have arrived at the billed destination or if the consignee is in possession of the tangible bill or in control of the electronic bill; ord\n\nthe consignee on a nonnegotiable bill if he is entitled as against the consignor to dispose of them.2\n\nUnless such instructions are noted on a negotiable bill of lading, a person to whom the bill is duly negotiated can hold the bailee according to the original terms.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":264389,"text":"Unless the bill of lading otherwise provides, the carrier may deliver the goods to a person or destination other than that stated in the bill or may otherwise dispose of the goods, without liability for misdelivery, on instructions from:","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"next_prefix":"1a"},"1":{"id":264390,"text":"the holder of a negotiable bill; or","type":"section","prefixes":["1","a"],"prefix":"a","entire_prefix":"1a","prefix_anchor":"1a","level":2,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"1b"},"2":{"id":264391,"text":"the consignor on a nonnegotiable bill notwithstanding contrary instructions from the consignee; or","type":"section","prefixes":["1","b"],"prefix":"b","entire_prefix":"1b","prefix_anchor":"1b","level":2,"prior_prefix":"1a","next_prefix":"1c"},"3":{"id":264392,"text":"the consignee on a nonnegotiable bill in the absence of contrary instructions from the consignor, if the goods have arrived at the billed destination or if the consignee is in possession of the tangible bill or in control of the electronic bill; or","type":"section","prefixes":["1","c"],"prefix":"c","entire_prefix":"1c","prefix_anchor":"1c","level":2,"prior_prefix":"1b","next_prefix":"1d"},"4":{"id":264393,"text":"the consignee on a nonnegotiable bill if he is entitled as against the consignor to dispose of them.","type":"section","prefixes":["1","d"],"prefix":"d","entire_prefix":"1d","prefix_anchor":"1d","level":2,"prior_prefix":"1c","next_prefix":"2"},"5":{"id":264394,"text":"Unless such instructions are noted on a negotiable bill of lading, a person to whom the bill is duly negotiated can hold the bailee according to the original terms.","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1d"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14258,"edition_id":1,"name":"Bills of Lading: Special Provisions","identifier":"3","label":"part","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13810,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:29","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:29","permalink":{"id":283503,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14258,"identifier":"3","token":"8.7\/3","url":"\/8.7\/3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13810,"edition_id":1,"name":"Commercial Code \u2014 Warehouse Receipts, Bills of Lading and Other Documents of Title","identifier":"8.7","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:56","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:56","permalink":{"id":283429,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13810,"identifier":"8.7","token":"8.7","url":"\/8.7\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":77753,"structure_id":14258,"section_number":"8.7-301","catch_line":"Liability for nonreceipt or misdescription; \"said to contain\"; \"shipper's load and count\"; improper handling","url":"\/8.7-301\/","token":"8.7\/3\/8.7-301","metadata":false},{"id":75648,"structure_id":14258,"section_number":"8.7-302","catch_line":"Through bills of lading and similar documents","url":"\/8.7-302\/","token":"8.7\/3\/8.7-302","metadata":false},{"id":73478,"structure_id":14258,"section_number":"8.7-303","catch_line":"Diversion; reconsignment; change of instructions","url":"\/8.7-303\/","token":"8.7\/3\/8.7-303","metadata":false},{"id":55501,"structure_id":14258,"section_number":"8.7-304","catch_line":"Bills of lading in a set","url":"\/8.7-304\/","token":"8.7\/3\/8.7-304","metadata":false},{"id":79325,"structure_id":14258,"section_number":"8.7-305","catch_line":"Destination bills","url":"\/8.7-305\/","token":"8.7\/3\/8.7-305","metadata":false},{"id":57302,"structure_id":14258,"section_number":"8.7-306","catch_line":"Altered bills of lading","url":"\/8.7-306\/","token":"8.7\/3\/8.7-306","metadata":false},{"id":85313,"structure_id":14258,"section_number":"8.7-307","catch_line":"Lien of carrier","url":"\/8.7-307\/","token":"8.7\/3\/8.7-307","metadata":false},{"id":65743,"structure_id":14258,"section_number":"8.7-308","catch_line":"Enforcement of carrier's lien","url":"\/8.7-308\/","token":"8.7\/3\/8.7-308","metadata":false},{"id":69108,"structure_id":14258,"section_number":"8.7-309","catch_line":"Duty of care; contractual limitation of carrier's liability","url":"\/8.7-309\/","token":"8.7\/3\/8.7-309","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":75648,"structure_id":14258,"section_number":"8.7-302","catch_line":"Through bills of lading and similar documents","url":"\/8.7-302\/","token":"8.7\/3\/8.7-302","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":55501,"structure_id":14258,"section_number":"8.7-304","catch_line":"Bills of lading in a set","url":"\/8.7-304\/","token":"8.7\/3\/8.7-304","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/8.7-303\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1964. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 219 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 1964 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. 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 2004, chapter 200<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":74675,"section_number":"8.7-403","catch_line":"Obligation of bailee to deliver; excuse","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.7-403\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":283513,"object_type":"law","relational_id":73478,"identifier":"8.7-303","token":"8.7\/3\/8.7-303","url":"\/8.7-303\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/8.7-303\/","token":"8.7\/3\/8.7-303","dublin_core":{"Title":"Diversion; reconsignment; change of instructions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 8.7-303","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Unless the bill of lading otherwise provides, the carrier may deliver the goods to a person or destination other than that stated in the bill or may otherwise dispose of the goods, without liability for misdelivery, on instructions from: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

a.<\/span> the holder of a negotiable bill; or <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

b.<\/span> the consignor on a nonnegotiable bill notwithstanding contrary instructions from the consignee; or <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

c.<\/span> the consignee on a nonnegotiable bill in the absence of contrary instructions from the consignor, if the goods have arrived at the billed destination or if the consignee is in possession<\/span> of the tangible bill or in control of the electronic bill; or <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

d.<\/span> the consignee on a nonnegotiable bill if he is entitled as against the consignor to dispose of them. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Unless such instructions are noted on a negotiable bill of lading, a person to whom the bill is duly negotiated can hold the bailee according to the original terms. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDIVERSION; RECONSIGNMENT; CHANGE OF INSTRUCTIONS (\u00a7 8.7-303)\n\n1. Unless the bill of lading otherwise provides, the carrier may deliver the\ngoods to a person or destination other than that stated in the bill or may\notherwise dispose of the goods, without liability for misdelivery, on\ninstructions from:\n\n a. the holder of a negotiable bill; or\n\n b. the consignor on a nonnegotiable bill notwithstanding contrary instructions\n from the consignee; or\n\n c. the consignee on a nonnegotiable bill in the absence of contrary\n instructions from the consignor, if the goods have arrived at the billed\n destination or if the consignee is in possession of the tangible bill or in\n control of the electronic bill; or\n\n d. the consignee on a nonnegotiable bill if he is entitled as against the\n consignor to dispose of them.\n\n2. Unless such instructions are noted on a negotiable bill of lading, a person\nto whom the bill is duly negotiated can hold the bailee according to the\noriginal terms.\n\nHISTORY: 1964, c. 219; 2004, c. 200.","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}}