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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>78717</law_id><section_number>16.1-118.1</section_number><catch_line>Destruction of papers in civil cases in certain district courts</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>16.1-69.58</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="16.1">Courts Not of Record</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="6">Venue, Jurisdiction and Procedure in Civil Matters</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="3">Procedure in Civil Cases</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>In Henrico County or Montgomery County, the clerk of any district <span class="dictionary">court</span> in which papers are filed and preserved under &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Retention of case records; limitations on enforcement of judgments; extensions" href="/16.1-69.55/">16.1-69.55</a> may destroy the files, papers and records connected with any civil case in such <span class="dictionary">court</span>, if:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Such case was dismissed without any adjudication of the merits of the controversy, and the <span class="dictionary">final order</span> entered was one of <span class="dictionary">dismissal</span> and one year has elapsed from the date of such <span class="dictionary">dismissal</span>; or <a id="paragraph-282048" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-118.1/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> <span class="dictionary">Judgment</span> was entered in such case but the right to <span class="dictionary">issue</span> an execution or bring a <span class="dictionary">motion</span> to extend the period for enforcing a <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> or an action on such <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> is barred by &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Limitations on enforcement of judgments" href="/8.01-251/">8.01-251</a>; or <a id="paragraph-282049" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-118.1/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> No service of the warrant or <span class="dictionary">motion</span> or other process or <span class="dictionary">summons</span> was had on any <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> and one year has elapsed from the date of such process or <span class="dictionary">summons</span>; and <a id="paragraph-282050" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-118.1/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> The destruction of such papers is authorized and directed by an order of the <span class="dictionary">judge</span> of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> in which they are preserved, which order may refer to such papers by any one or more of the above classifications, or to any group or kind of cases embraced therein, without express reference to any particular case; and <a id="paragraph-282051" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-118.1/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> The audit has been made for the period to which the files, papers and records are applicable. <a id="paragraph-282052" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-118.1/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1966, c. 404; 1973, c. 143; 1977, c. 169; 1982, c. 153; 2007, c. 813.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
