{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/17.1-210.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/17.1-210.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/17.1-210.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/17.1-210.html"}],"law_id":349975,"edition_id":2,"section_id":349975,"structure_id":50110,"section_number":"17.1-210","catch_line":"Removal of records or papers prohibited; exceptions","history":"Code 1919, \u00a7 3387, \u00a7 17-45; 1973, c. 54; 1998, c. 872.","full_text":"None of the records or papers of a circuit court shall be removed by the clerk nor allowed by him to be removed out of the county or city wherein the clerk’s office is kept, except: (i) on the order of the court or judge; (ii) the clerk, court or judge may allow the records and papers of a pending case to be removed by an attorney of record in that case to any location within the Commonwealth unless the court or judge shall enter an order prohibiting the removal of such records or paper; (iii) on an occasion of invasion or insurrection, when, in the opinion of the court, or, in a very sudden case, of the clerk, the same will be endangered, after which they shall be returned as soon as the danger ceases; and (iv) in such other cases as are specially provided for by law.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1304377,"text":"None of the records or papers of a circuit court shall be removed by the clerk nor allowed by him to be removed out of the county or city wherein the clerk’s office is kept, except: (i) on the order of the court or judge; (ii) the clerk, court or judge may allow the records and papers of a pending case to be removed by an attorney of record in that case to any location within the Commonwealth unless the court or judge shall enter an order prohibiting the removal of such records or paper; (iii) on an occasion of invasion or insurrection, when, in the opinion of the court, or, in a very sudden case, of the clerk, the same will be endangered, after which they shall be returned as soon as the danger ceases; and (iv) in such other cases as are specially provided for by law.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":50110,"edition_id":2,"name":"Other Clerks and Clerks' Offices","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":2,"parent_id":50108,"metadata":{"child_laws":19,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:22:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:10","permalink":{"id":1389995,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50110,"identifier":"2","token":"17.1\/2\/2","url":"\/17.1\/2\/2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50108,"edition_id":2,"name":"Clerks, Clerks' Offices and Records","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":2,"parent_id":50105,"metadata":{"child_laws":125,"child_structures":9},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:22:22","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:10","permalink":{"id":1389963,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50108,"identifier":"2","token":"17.1\/2","url":"\/17.1\/2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50105,"edition_id":2,"name":"Courts of Record","identifier":"17.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":50,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":322,"child_structures":25},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:22:16","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:09","permalink":{"id":1389801,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50105,"identifier":"17.1","token":"17.1","url":"\/17.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":349971,"structure_id":50110,"section_number":"17.1-206","catch_line":"Where offices to be located","url":"\/17.1-206\/","token":"17.1\/2\/2\/17.1-206","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":" .\u202f.\u202f. Daily Press, LLC v. Office of the Exec. Sec'y of the Supreme .\u202f.\u202f. ","case_number":"Record 160889","citation":"800 S.E.2d 822","date":"2017-06-29","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/4404754\/daily-press-llc-v-office-of-the-exec-secy-of-the-supreme-court-of-va\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. OPINION BY JUSTICE STEPHEN R. McCULLOUGH .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":349972,"structure_id":50110,"section_number":"17.1-207","catch_line":"Days of operation of clerks' offices","url":"\/17.1-207\/","token":"17.1\/2\/2\/17.1-207","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Allie v. WHOLE FOODS MARKET GROUP, INC.","case_number":"1:10-cv-00813","citation":"746 F. Supp. 2d 773","date":"2010-10-05","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2469895\/allie-v-whole-foods-market-group-inc\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 746 F.Supp.2d 773 (2010) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, E.D. Virginia"}}}},{"id":349973,"structure_id":50110,"section_number":"17.1-208","catch_line":"Records, etc., open to inspection; copies; exception","url":"\/17.1-208\/","token":"17.1\/2\/2\/17.1-208","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"The Daily Press v. Commonwealth","case_number":"210787","citation":null,"date":"2022-10-20","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/8404409\/the-daily-press-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. PRESENT: Goodwyn, C.J., Powell, Kelsey, McCullough, and Chafin, JJ., and Millette and .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"},"1":{"name":"Daily Press, Inc. v. Commonwealth","case_number":"120858","citation":null,"date":"2013-02-28","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1057775\/daily-press-inc-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. PRESENT: All the Justices .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"},"2":{"name":"Perreault v. the Free Lance-Star","case_number":"Record 071978.","citation":"666 S.E.2d 352","date":"2008-09-12","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1058448\/perreault-v-the-free-lance-star\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 666 S.E.2d 352 (2008) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"},"3":{"name":"Daily Press, Inc. v. Commonwealth","case_number":"1005111","citation":"725 S.E.2d 737","date":"2012-05-22","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1061677\/daily-press-inc-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. *224ELDER, J., .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"COA<\/abbr>"},"4":{"name":"Smith v. Richmond Newspapers, Inc.","case_number":"Record 000337","citation":"261 Va. 113","date":"2001-01-12","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1059519\/smith-v-richmond-newspapers-inc\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. JUSTICE KOONTZ .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"},"5":{"name":"Lotz v. Com.","case_number":"Record 081122.","citation":"672 S.E.2d 833","date":"2009-02-27","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1058377\/lotz-v-com\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 672 S.E.2d 833 (2009) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"},"6":{"name":"Shiembob v. Shiembob","case_number":"0135091","citation":"685 S.E.2d 192","date":"2009-11-24","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1062323\/shiembob-v-shiembob\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 685 S.E.2d 192 (2009) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"COA<\/abbr>"},"7":{"name":"Ostergren v. Cuccinelli","case_number":"09-1723, 09-1796","citation":"615 F.3d 263","date":"2010-07-26","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/151545\/ostergren-v-cuccinelli\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. *266Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded by published opinion. Judge DUNCAN wrote the .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"8":{"name":"Ostergren v. Cuccinelli","case_number":"09-1723","citation":null,"date":"2010-08-02","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/152064\/ostergren-v-cuccinelli\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Filed: August 2, 2010 .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"}}}},{"id":349974,"structure_id":50110,"section_number":"17.1-209","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/17.1-209\/","token":"17.1\/2\/2\/17.1-209","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":349975,"structure_id":50110,"section_number":"17.1-210","catch_line":"Removal of records or papers prohibited; exceptions","url":"\/17.1-210\/","token":"17.1\/2\/2\/17.1-210","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":349976,"structure_id":50110,"section_number":"17.1-211","catch_line":"Maintenance and disposition of certain receipt books, cancelled checks and statements","url":"\/17.1-211\/","token":"17.1\/2\/2\/17.1-211","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":349977,"structure_id":50110,"section_number":"17.1-212","catch_line":"Copying of records becoming illegible","url":"\/17.1-212\/","token":"17.1\/2\/2\/17.1-212","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":349978,"structure_id":50110,"section_number":"17.1-213","catch_line":"Disposition of papers in ended cases","url":"\/17.1-213\/","token":"17.1\/2\/2\/17.1-213","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Roe v. Com.","case_number":"Record 050909.","citation":"628 S.E.2d 526","date":"2006-04-21","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1058822\/roe-v-com\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 628 S.E.2d 526 (2006) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":349979,"structure_id":50110,"section_number":"17.1-214","catch_line":"Clerk to deliver or send process to sheriff","url":"\/17.1-214\/","token":"17.1\/2\/2\/17.1-214","metadata":false},{"id":349980,"structure_id":50110,"section_number":"17.1-215","catch_line":"Process book","url":"\/17.1-215\/","token":"17.1\/2\/2\/17.1-215","metadata":false},{"id":349981,"structure_id":50110,"section_number":"17.1-216","catch_line":"Handling fee for service of process","url":"\/17.1-216\/","token":"17.1\/2\/2\/17.1-216","metadata":false},{"id":349982,"structure_id":50110,"section_number":"17.1-217","catch_line":"Power of clerk to administer oath","url":"\/17.1-217\/","token":"17.1\/2\/2\/17.1-217","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":349983,"structure_id":50110,"section_number":"17.1-218","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/17.1-218\/","token":"17.1\/2\/2\/17.1-218","metadata":false},{"id":349985,"structure_id":50110,"section_number":"17.1-219","catch_line":"Clerk to prepare bonds","url":"\/17.1-219\/","token":"17.1\/2\/2\/17.1-219","metadata":false},{"id":349984,"structure_id":50110,"section_number":"17.1-219.1","catch_line":"Transportation orders; authorization for clerk to issue orders to custodian","url":"\/17.1-219.1\/","token":"17.1\/2\/2\/17.1-219.1","metadata":false},{"id":349986,"structure_id":50110,"section_number":"17.1-220","catch_line":"Duplicate certificate of allowance prohibited, unless ordered by court","url":"\/17.1-220\/","token":"17.1\/2\/2\/17.1-220","metadata":false},{"id":349987,"structure_id":50110,"section_number":"17.1-221","catch_line":"Reports by clerks of the business of courts of record","url":"\/17.1-221\/","token":"17.1\/2\/2\/17.1-221","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":349989,"structure_id":50110,"section_number":"17.1-222","catch_line":"Failure to make report","url":"\/17.1-222\/","token":"17.1\/2\/2\/17.1-222","metadata":false},{"id":349988,"structure_id":50110,"section_number":"17.1-222.1","catch_line":"Collection of fees, etc., by court clerks in lieu of money","url":"\/17.1-222.1\/","token":"17.1\/2\/2\/17.1-222.1","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}}],"previous_section":{"id":349974,"structure_id":50110,"section_number":"17.1-209","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/17.1-209\/","token":"17.1\/2\/2\/17.1-209","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},"next_section":{"id":349976,"structure_id":50110,"section_number":"17.1-211","catch_line":"Maintenance and disposition of certain receipt books, cancelled checks and statements","url":"\/17.1-211\/","token":"17.1\/2\/2\/17.1-211","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},"metadata":{"court_decisions":""},"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/17.1-210\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1973, chapter 54; in 1998, chapter 872<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1390013,"object_type":"law","relational_id":349975,"identifier":"17.1-210","token":"17.1\/2\/2\/17.1-210","url":"\/17.1-210\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/17.1-210\/","token":"17.1\/2\/2\/17.1-210","dublin_core":{"Title":"Removal of records or papers prohibited; exceptions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 17.1-210","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

None of the records or papers of a circuit<\/span> court<\/span> shall be removed by the clerk nor allowed by him to be removed out of the county or city wherein the clerk’s office is kept, except: (i) on the order<\/span> of the court<\/span> or judge<\/span>; (ii) the clerk, court<\/span> or judge<\/span> may allow the records and papers of a pending case to be removed by an attorney of record in that case to any location within the Commonwealth unless the court<\/span> or judge<\/span> shall enter an order<\/span> prohibiting the removal of such records or paper; (iii) on an occasion of invasion or insurrection, when, in the opinion<\/span> of the court<\/span>, or, in a very sudden case, of the clerk, the same will be endangered, after which they shall be returned as soon as the danger ceases; and (iv) in such other cases as are specially provided for by law<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nREMOVAL OF RECORDS OR PAPERS PROHIBITED; EXCEPTIONS (\u00a7 17.1-210)\n\nNone of the records or papers of a circuit court shall be removed by the clerk\nnor allowed by him to be removed out of the county or city wherein the\nclerk’s office is kept, except: (i) on the order of the court or judge;\n(ii) the clerk, court or judge may allow the records and papers of a pending\ncase to be removed by an attorney of record in that case to any location within\nthe Commonwealth unless the court or judge shall enter an order prohibiting the\nremoval of such records or paper; (iii) on an occasion of invasion or\ninsurrection, when, in the opinion of the court, or, in a very sudden case, of\nthe clerk, the same will be endangered, after which they shall be returned as\nsoon as the danger ceases; and (iv) in such other cases as are specially\nprovided for by law.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1919, \u00a7 3387, \u00a7 17-45; 1973, c. 54; 1998, c. 872.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}