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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>87283</law_id><section_number>13.1-1279</section_number><catch_line>Inspection of records by beneficial owners</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>13.1-1280</reference><reference>13.1-1281</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="13.1">Corporations</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="14">Virginia Business Trust Act</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="13">Reports and Records</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Subject to subsection C of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Scope of inspection right" href="/13.1-1280/">13.1-1280</a>, a <span class="dictionary">beneficial owner</span> of a <span class="dictionary">business trust</span> is entitled to inspect and copy, during regular business hours at the <span class="dictionary">business trust</span>&#x2019;s principal office, any of the records of the <span class="dictionary">business trust</span> described in subsection E of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Trust records" href="/13.1-1278/">13.1-1278</a> if he gives the <span class="dictionary">business trust</span> written notice of his demand at least five business days before the date on which he wishes to inspect and copy. <a id="paragraph-312569" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1279/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A <span class="dictionary">beneficial owner</span> of a <span class="dictionary">business trust</span> is entitled to inspect and copy, during regular business hours at a reasonable location specified by the <span class="dictionary">business trust</span>, any of the following records of the <span class="dictionary">business trust</span> if the <span class="dictionary">beneficial owner</span> meets the requirements of subsection C of this section and gives the <span class="dictionary">business trust</span> written notice of his demand at least five business days before the date on which he wishes to inspect and copy: <a id="paragraph-312570" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1279/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Excerpts from minutes of any meeting of the <span class="dictionary">trustees</span>, records of any action of a committee of the <span class="dictionary">trustees</span> while acting in or on behalf of the <span class="dictionary">business trust</span>, minutes of any meeting of the <span class="dictionary">beneficial owners</span>, and records of action taken by the <span class="dictionary">beneficial owners</span> or <span class="dictionary">trustees</span> without a meeting, to the extent not subject to inspection under subsection A of this section; <a id="paragraph-312571" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1279/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Accounting records of the <span class="dictionary">business trust</span>; and <a id="paragraph-312572" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1279/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The record of <span class="dictionary">beneficial owners</span>. <a id="paragraph-312573" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1279/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> A <span class="dictionary">beneficial owner</span> may inspect and copy the records identified in subsection B of this section only if: <a id="paragraph-312574" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1279/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> He has been a <span class="dictionary">beneficial owner</span> of record for at least six months immediately preceding his demand or is the holder of record of at least five percent of all of the outstanding beneficial interests; <a id="paragraph-312575" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1279/#C1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> His demand is made in good faith and for a proper purpose; <a id="paragraph-312576" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1279/#C2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> He describes with reasonable particularity his purpose and the records he desires to inspect; and <a id="paragraph-312577" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1279/#C3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> The records are directly connected with his purpose. <a id="paragraph-312578" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1279/#C4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The right of inspection granted by this section may not be abolished or limited by a <span class="dictionary">business trust</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">articles of trust</span> or <span class="dictionary">governing instrument</span>. <a id="paragraph-312579" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1279/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> This section shall not affect: <a id="paragraph-312580" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1279/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The right of a <span class="dictionary">beneficial owner</span> to inspect records, if the <span class="dictionary">beneficial owner</span> is in <span class="dictionary">litigation</span> with the <span class="dictionary">business trust</span>, to the same extent as any other <span class="dictionary">litigant</span>; or <a id="paragraph-312581" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1279/#E1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The power of a <span class="dictionary">court</span>, independently of this chapter, to compel the production of trust records for examination. <a id="paragraph-312582" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1279/#E2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2002, c. 621.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
