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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>72824</law_id><section_number>15.2-4119</section_number><catch_line>Effect on jurisdiction of courts</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="15.2">Counties, Cities and Towns</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Boundary Adjustments and Changes of Status of Counties, Cities and Towns</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="41">Transition of City to Town Status</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Upon the effective date of the transition from <span class="dictionary">city</span> to <span class="dictionary">town</span> status, all criminal <span class="dictionary">prosecutions</span> then pending therein, whether by <span class="dictionary">indictment</span>, warrant or other complaint, and all suits, actions, <span class="dictionary">motions</span>, warrants, and other proceedings of a civil nature, with all the records of the <span class="dictionary">courts</span> of the <span class="dictionary">city</span>, shall stand ipso facto removed to the <span class="dictionary">courts</span> of concurrent or like <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> of the appropriate <span class="dictionary">county</span>. The <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> and other <span class="dictionary">courts</span> having courthouses and records in and <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> over the <span class="dictionary">city</span> shall, at some convenient time, as closely preceding the period of removal as practicable, by formal <span class="dictionary">orders</span> entered of record, direct the removal of all such causes and proceedings, civil and criminal, to the <span class="dictionary">court</span> or <span class="dictionary">courts</span> of concurrent or like <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> of the <span class="dictionary">county</span>. The clerk of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> or <span class="dictionary">courts</span> to which the causes and proceedings have been removed shall thereupon proceed as in other cases of removal or changes of <span class="dictionary">venue</span> and such matters shall be docketed and handled as though initially filed in such <span class="dictionary">court</span> or <span class="dictionary">courts</span>. At the same time such clerk or clerks shall also deliver to the proper clerk or clerks of the <span class="dictionary">county</span> all the deed books, <span class="dictionary">order</span> or minute books, execution <span class="dictionary">dockets</span>, <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> <span class="dictionary">dockets</span> and other records of his office, of whatever kind or nature. The clerk or clerks of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> or <span class="dictionary">courts</span> to which the records are removed shall take charge of and preserve the records for reference and use in the same manner and with the same effect as though they were original records of his office.</p></section></text><history>1988, c. 881, &#xA7; 15.1-965.26; 1997, c. 587; 2005, c. 681.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
