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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>79293</law_id><section_number>25.1-307</section_number><catch_line>Content of certificates; recordation of certificates</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>25.1-309</reference><reference>25.1-312</reference><reference>33.2-1022</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="25.1">Eminent Domain</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="3">Transferring Defeasible Title by Certificate</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> A <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> shall set forth the description of the <span class="dictionary">property</span> and rights being taken or damaged, and the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> or <span class="dictionary">owners</span>, if known, of such <span class="dictionary">property</span>. A <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> through which easement rights are acquired shall describe the rights and purposes for which the easement is being acquired. <a id="paragraph-283896" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/25.1-307/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> shall include a plat, drawing, or plan, in sufficient detail to disclose fairly the nature of such work or improvements, including specifications, elevations, and grade changes, if any, so as to enable the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> of such <span class="dictionary">property</span> to be reasonably informed of the nature, extent, and effect of such taking. The <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> shall specify the size of the fee or easement area being taken and, if multiple overlapping easements are taken, the sizes of the overlapping and non-overlapping areas. The <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> shall also state the public use project for which the <span class="dictionary">property</span> is being taken. <a id="paragraph-283897" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/25.1-307/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> If a temporary construction easement is being acquired, the <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> shall set forth the calendar date on which it shall expire if that date is known to the <span class="dictionary">condemnor</span>. If the <span class="dictionary">condemnor</span> certifies that such date is not known, at such time the <span class="dictionary">condemnor</span> ascertains the date, the <span class="dictionary">condemnor</span> shall file certification of the information as provided by subsection D and shall simultaneously provide the landowner or the landowner&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">counsel</span>, if any, a copy of such certification. <a id="paragraph-283898" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/25.1-307/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The <span class="dictionary">authorized condemnor</span> shall record a <span class="dictionary">certificate of take</span> or a <span class="dictionary">certificate of deposit</span> in the clerk&#x2019;s office of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> where deeds are recorded. The clerk shall record the certificate in the deed book and index it in the names of both (i) the <span class="dictionary">person</span> or <span class="dictionary">persons</span> who owned the <span class="dictionary">land</span> before the recordation of the certificate and (ii) the <span class="dictionary">authorized condemnor</span>. <a id="paragraph-283899" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/25.1-307/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2003, c. 940; 2022, c. 735; 2025, c. 617.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
