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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>81667</law_id><section_number>33.2-1025</section_number><catch_line>When condemnation proceedings instituted; payment of compensation or damages; order confirming award; recording</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="33.2">Highways and Other Surface Transportation Systems</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Modes of Transportation: Highways, Bridges, Ferries, Rail, and Public Transportation</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="10">Eminent Domain</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Eminent Domain and Damages</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Within 100 days after the recordation of such <span class="dictionary">certificate</span>, if the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner of Highways</span> and the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> of such lands or interest therein taken or damaged by the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner of Highways</span> are unable to agree as to the compensation or <span class="dictionary">damages</span>, if any, caused thereby, or such consent cannot be obtained due to the incapacity of the <span class="dictionary">owner</span>, or because such <span class="dictionary">owner</span> is unknown or cannot with reasonable diligence be found within the Commonwealth, the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner of Highways</span> shall institute condemnation proceedings, as provided in this article, unless said proceedings shall have been instituted prior to the recordation of such <span class="dictionary">certificate</span>. The amount of such compensation and <span class="dictionary">damages</span>, if any, awarded to the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> in such proceedings shall be paid out of the appropriations to the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>. The <span class="dictionary">final order</span> confirming the award of the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner of Highways</span> shall confirm absolute and indefeasible title to the land, or interest therein, in the Commonwealth and shall be recorded in the current deed book. The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner of Highways</span> and the property <span class="dictionary">owner</span> may mutually agree to delay the institution of condemnation proceedings by written agreement between such parties or <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> for such parties.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 33-70.9; 1958, c. 581; 1970, c. 322, &#xA7; 33.1-127; 1993, c. 35; 2003, c. 317; 2014, c. 805; 2015, c. 256; 2025, c. 617.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
