{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/17.1-253.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/17.1-253.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/17.1-253.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/17.1-253.html"}],"law_id":350021,"edition_id":2,"section_id":350021,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-253","catch_line":"Committee to inquire into necessity of general index; report; plan adopted; locality to cover cost","history":"Code 1919, \u00a7\u00a7 3395, 3396, 3397, 3398, \u00a7\u00a7 17-80, 17-81, 17-82, 17-83; 1948, p. 62; 1998, c. 872.","full_text":"A\n\nWhenever the circuit court, or the judge thereof, finds that there is need of an improved system of general indexing to any of the records kept by the clerk of court, it shall be the duty of the court or judge, in its or his discretion, to appoint a committee to inquire into the necessity for such indexing, and make a report to the court, or the judge thereof.\n\nB\n\nIf the committee reports that the work is needed, the court or judge shall authorize and direct the committee to make a written contract with some responsible and experienced person or persons, but such contract shall be approved by the court or judge before it becomes effective.\n\nC\n\nWhen such index is installed in any clerk’s office the same plan of index to current records shall be adopted and used by the clerk of such court.\n\nD\n\nThe governing body of the county or city wherein such indexing shall be directed by the court or judge to be done shall, if necessary, provide a sufficient sum to pay for such indexing and materials.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1304460,"text":"Whenever the circuit court, or the judge thereof, finds that there is need of an improved system of general indexing to any of the records kept by the clerk of court, it shall be the duty of the court or judge, in its or his discretion, to appoint a committee to inquire into the necessity for such indexing, and make a report to the court, or the judge thereof.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1304461,"text":"If the committee reports that the work is needed, the court or judge shall authorize and direct the committee to make a written contract with some responsible and experienced person or persons, but such contract shall be approved by the court or judge before it becomes effective.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":1304462,"text":"When such index is installed in any clerk’s office the same plan of index to current records shall be adopted and used by the clerk of such court.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":1304463,"text":"The governing body of the county or city wherein such indexing shall be directed by the court or judge to be done shall, if necessary, provide a sufficient sum to pay for such indexing and materials.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":50111,"edition_id":2,"name":"Records, Recordation and Indexing Generally","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":5,"parent_id":50108,"metadata":{"child_laws":33,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:22:25","date_modified":"2026-08-02 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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":349990,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-223","catch_line":"Duty of clerk to record writings, etc., and make index","url":"\/17.1-223\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-223","metadata":false},{"id":349991,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-224","catch_line":"Copy of illegible instrument used for making permanent record","url":"\/17.1-224\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-224","metadata":false},{"id":349992,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-225","catch_line":"Remote access to nonconfidential court records","url":"\/17.1-225\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-225","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":349993,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-226","catch_line":"Remote access to certain agencies from clerk of court","url":"\/17.1-226\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-226","metadata":false},{"id":349995,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-227","catch_line":"Documents to be recorded in deed books; social security numbers","url":"\/17.1-227\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-227","metadata":false},{"id":349994,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-227.1","catch_line":"Use of cover sheets on deeds or other instruments by circuit court clerks","url":"\/17.1-227.1\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-227.1","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":349996,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-228","catch_line":"Recording releases of deeds of trust, partial releases of deeds of trust, court ordered releases, or other liens or assignments in cities and counties using microfilm","url":"\/17.1-228\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-228","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":349997,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-229","catch_line":"Additional documents to be recorded in deed book","url":"\/17.1-229\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-229","metadata":false},{"id":349998,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-230","catch_line":"Documents to be recorded in bond book","url":"\/17.1-230\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-230","metadata":false},{"id":349999,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-231","catch_line":"Documents to be recorded in will book","url":"\/17.1-231\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-231","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":350000,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-232","catch_line":"What to be recorded in judgment docket","url":"\/17.1-232\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-232","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":350001,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-233","catch_line":"What to be recorded in marriage register","url":"\/17.1-233\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-233","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":350002,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-234","catch_line":"Documents to be recorded in \"writings partially proved.\"","url":"\/17.1-234\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-234","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":350003,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-235","catch_line":"Recordation of federal farm loan mortgages","url":"\/17.1-235\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-235","metadata":false},{"id":350004,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-236","catch_line":"Recordation of plats and maps","url":"\/17.1-236\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-236","metadata":false},{"id":350005,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-237","catch_line":"Validation of recordations in certain plat books","url":"\/17.1-237\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-237","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":350006,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-238","catch_line":"State highway plat book","url":"\/17.1-238\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-238","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":350007,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-239","catch_line":"Character of books used for recording; standards for microfilm, etc","url":"\/17.1-239\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-239","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":350008,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-240","catch_line":"Recording by microphotographic or electronic process","url":"\/17.1-240\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-240","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"James C. Howard, Jr. v. Commonwealth of Virginia","case_number":"0820131","citation":"63 Va. App. 580","date":"2014-08-05","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2708335\/james-c-howard-jr-v-commonwealth-of-virginia\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. BUMGARDNER, Judge. .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"COA<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":350009,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-241","catch_line":"Clerks to procure books for record","url":"\/17.1-241\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-241","metadata":false},{"id":350010,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-242","catch_line":"Custody of books, records, etc","url":"\/17.1-242\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-242","metadata":false},{"id":350011,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-243","catch_line":"Clerks to have land books bound","url":"\/17.1-243\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-243","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":350012,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-244","catch_line":"Books, etc., in clerks' offices rebound, transcribed, microfilmed or digitally reproduced; credit given to transcripts, etc","url":"\/17.1-244\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-244","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":350013,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-245","catch_line":"Books may be taken from clerk's office to be rebound, etc","url":"\/17.1-245\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-245","metadata":false},{"id":350014,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-246","catch_line":"How costs thereof certified and paid","url":"\/17.1-246\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-246","metadata":false},{"id":350015,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-247","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/17.1-247\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-247","metadata":false},{"id":350016,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-248","catch_line":"Clerk to make index to each of his books","url":"\/17.1-248\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-248","metadata":false},{"id":350017,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-249","catch_line":"General indexes for clerks' offices; daily index","url":"\/17.1-249\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-249","metadata":false},{"id":350018,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-250","catch_line":"Correction of indexes","url":"\/17.1-250\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-250","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":350019,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-251","catch_line":"Indexing of certain subdivision plats or maps","url":"\/17.1-251\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-251","metadata":false},{"id":350020,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-252","catch_line":"Indexing by tax map reference number","url":"\/17.1-252\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-252","metadata":false},{"id":350021,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-253","catch_line":"Committee to inquire into necessity of general index; report; plan adopted; locality to cover cost","url":"\/17.1-253\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-253","metadata":false},{"id":350022,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-254","catch_line":"Validation of judgment records in office of clerk of Circuit Court of Norfolk","url":"\/17.1-254\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-254","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":350020,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-252","catch_line":"Indexing by tax map reference number","url":"\/17.1-252\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-252","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":350022,"structure_id":50111,"section_number":"17.1-254","catch_line":"Validation of judgment records in office of clerk of Circuit Court of Norfolk","url":"\/17.1-254\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-254","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/17.1-253\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 1 time. 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. That modification is as follows: in 1998, chapter 872<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1390199,"object_type":"law","relational_id":350021,"identifier":"17.1-253","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-253","url":"\/17.1-253\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/17.1-253\/","token":"17.1\/2\/3\/17.1-253","dublin_core":{"Title":"Committee to inquire into necessity of general index; report; plan adopted; locality to cover cost","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 17.1-253","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Whenever the circuit<\/span> court, or the judge<\/span> thereof, finds that there is need of an improved system of general indexing to any of the records kept by the clerk of court<\/span>, it shall be the duty of the court or judge<\/span>, in its or his discretion, to appoint a committee to inquire into the necessity for such indexing, and make a report to the court, or the judge<\/span> thereof. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> If the committee reports that the work is needed, the court or judge<\/span> shall authorize and direct the committee to make a written contract<\/span> with some responsible and experienced person or persons, but such contract<\/span> shall be approved by the court or judge<\/span> before it becomes effective. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> When such index is installed in any clerk’s office the same plan of index to current records shall be adopted and used by the clerk of such court. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The governing body of the county or city wherein such indexing shall be directed by the court or judge<\/span> to be done shall, if necessary, provide a sufficient sum to pay for such indexing and materials<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCOMMITTEE TO INQUIRE INTO NECESSITY OF GENERAL INDEX; REPORT; PLAN ADOPTED;\nLOCALITY TO COVER COST (\u00a7 17.1-253)\n\nA. Whenever the circuit court, or the judge thereof, finds that there is need of\nan improved system of general indexing to any of the records kept by the clerk\nof court, it shall be the duty of the court or judge, in its or his discretion,\nto appoint a committee to inquire into the necessity for such indexing, and make\na report to the court, or the judge thereof.\n\nB. If the committee reports that the work is needed, the court or judge shall\nauthorize and direct the committee to make a written contract with some\nresponsible and experienced person or persons, but such contract shall be\napproved by the court or judge before it becomes effective.\n\nC. When such index is installed in any clerk’s office the same plan of\nindex to current records shall be adopted and used by the clerk of such court.\n\nD. The governing body of the county or city wherein such indexing shall be\ndirected by the court or judge to be done shall, if necessary, provide a\nsufficient sum to pay for such indexing and materials.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1919, \u00a7\u00a7 3395, 3396, 3397, 3398, \u00a7\u00a7 17-80, 17-81, 17-82,\n17-83; 1948, p. 62; 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"}}