                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

CONVEYANCE OF CHURCH LAND HELD IN ADVERSE POSSESSION (§ 57-17)

Whenever any church in the Commonwealth has been in the undisputed possession,
for a period of 25 years or more, of any real estate, and for which there is no
deed of record, the church, after giving notice once a week for four successive
weeks in some newspaper published in, or having general circulation in, the
county or city in which such real estate is, may file a petition in the circuit
court of such county, or any court of record of such city, duly sworn to, which
petition shall set forth the fact that the real estate mentioned therein has
been in the undisputed possession of such church for a period of 25 years or
more and shall give the true boundaries of such real estate. Upon the hearing of
such petition, if the court shall be satisfied that the real estate mentioned
has been in the undisputed possession of such church for a period of 25 years or
more; that the boundaries mentioned in the petition are the true boundaries of
such real estate; and that such petition has been filed by the proper party, it
may appoint a special commissioner to make conveyance of such real estate to the
church, with covenant of special warranty.

HISTORY: 1918, p. 94; 1924, p. 498; Michie Code 1942, § 46a; 2005, c. 772.