{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/18.2-126.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/18.2-126.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/18.2-126.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/18.2-126.html"}],"law_id":350296,"edition_id":2,"section_id":350296,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-126","catch_line":"Violation of sepulture; defilement of a dead human body; penalties","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-243; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1995, c. 306.","full_text":"A\n\nIf a person unlawfully disinters or displaces a dead human body, or any part of a dead human body which has been deposited in any vault, grave or other burial place, he is guilty of a Class 4 felony.\n\nB\n\nIf a person willfully and intentionally physically defiles a dead human body he is guilty of a Class 6 felony. For the purposes of this section, the term “defile” shall not include any autopsy or the recovery of organs or tissues for transplantation, or any other lawful purpose.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1305252,"text":"If a person unlawfully disinters or displaces a dead human body, or any part of a dead human body which has been deposited in any vault, grave or other burial place, he is guilty of a Class 4 felony.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1305253,"text":"If a person willfully and intentionally physically defiles a dead human body he is guilty of a Class 6 felony. For the purposes of this section, the term “defile” shall not include any autopsy or the recovery of organs or tissues for transplantation, or any other lawful purpose.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":50138,"edition_id":2,"name":"Trespass to Realty","identifier":"5","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":5,"parent_id":50135,"metadata":{"child_laws":26,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:23:04","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:18","permalink":{"id":1392551,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50138,"identifier":"5","token":"18.2\/5\/5","url":"\/18.2\/5\/5\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50135,"edition_id":2,"name":"Crimes Against Property","identifier":"5","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":5,"parent_id":50131,"metadata":{"child_laws":153,"child_structures":10},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:22:59","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:17","permalink":{"id":1392301,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50135,"identifier":"5","token":"18.2\/5","url":"\/18.2\/5\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50131,"edition_id":2,"name":"Crimes and Offenses Generally","identifier":"18.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":52,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":960,"child_structures":94},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:22:59","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:15","permalink":{"id":1391141,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50131,"identifier":"18.2","token":"18.2","url":"\/18.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":350284,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-119","catch_line":"Trespass after having been forbidden to do so; penalties","url":"\/18.2-119\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-119","metadata":false},{"id":350283,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-119.1","catch_line":"Validity of signs forbidding trespass; penalty","url":"\/18.2-119.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-119.1","metadata":false},{"id":350287,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-120","catch_line":"Instigating, etc., such trespass by others; preventing service to persons not forbidden to trespass","url":"\/18.2-120\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-120","metadata":false},{"id":350291,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-121","catch_line":"Entering property of another for purpose of damaging it, etc.; penalties","url":"\/18.2-121\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-121","metadata":false},{"id":350288,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-121.1","catch_line":"Permitting certain animals to run at large","url":"\/18.2-121.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-121.1","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Village Gate Homeowners Ass'n v. Hales","case_number":"Record No. 770510","citation":"219 Va. 321","date":"1978-08-31","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/6927371\/village-gate-homeowners-assn-v-hales\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COMPTON, J., .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":350289,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-121.2","catch_line":"Trespass by spotlight on agricultural land","url":"\/18.2-121.2\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-121.2","metadata":false},{"id":350290,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-121.3","catch_line":"Trespass with an unmanned aircraft system; penalty","url":"\/18.2-121.3\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-121.3","metadata":false},{"id":350292,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-122","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-122\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-122","metadata":false},{"id":350293,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-123","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-123\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-123","metadata":false},{"id":350294,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-124","catch_line":"Jurisdiction over offenses committed in Capitol Square","url":"\/18.2-124\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-124","metadata":false},{"id":350295,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-125","catch_line":"Trespass at night upon any cemetery","url":"\/18.2-125\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-125","metadata":false},{"id":350296,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-126","catch_line":"Violation of sepulture; defilement of a dead human body; penalties","url":"\/18.2-126\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-126","metadata":false},{"id":350297,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-127","catch_line":"Injuries to churches, church property, cemeteries, burial grounds, etc.; penalty","url":"\/18.2-127\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-127","metadata":false},{"id":350298,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-128","catch_line":"Trespass upon church or school property","url":"\/18.2-128\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-128","metadata":false},{"id":350299,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-129","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-129\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-129","metadata":false},{"id":350302,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-130","catch_line":"Peeping or spying into dwelling or enclosure","url":"\/18.2-130\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-130","metadata":false},{"id":350301,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-130.1","catch_line":"Peeping or spying into dwelling or occupied building by electronic device or unmanned aircraft system; penalty","url":"\/18.2-130.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-130.1","metadata":false},{"id":350303,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-131","catch_line":"Trespass upon licensed shooting preserve","url":"\/18.2-131\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-131","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Village Gate Homeowners Ass'n v. Hales","case_number":"Record No. 770510","citation":"219 Va. 321","date":"1978-08-31","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/6927371\/village-gate-homeowners-assn-v-hales\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COMPTON, J., .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"},"1":{"name":"Anthony Wade Ragland v. Commonwealth of Virginia","case_number":"0294163","citation":"67 Va. App. 519","date":"2017-03-28","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/4378717\/anthony-wade-ragland-v-commonwealth-of-virginia\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. OPINION BY .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"COA<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":350305,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-132","catch_line":"Trespass by hunters and fishers","url":"\/18.2-132\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-132","metadata":false},{"id":350304,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-132.1","catch_line":"Trespass by hunters using dogs; penalty","url":"\/18.2-132.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-132.1","metadata":false},{"id":350306,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-133","catch_line":"Refusal of person on land, etc., of another to identify himself","url":"\/18.2-133\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-133","metadata":false},{"id":350308,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-134","catch_line":"Trespass on posted property","url":"\/18.2-134\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-134","metadata":false},{"id":350307,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-134.1","catch_line":"Method of posting lands","url":"\/18.2-134.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-134.1","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":350309,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-135","catch_line":"Destruction of posted signs; posting land of another","url":"\/18.2-135\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-135","metadata":false},{"id":350311,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-136","catch_line":"Right of certain hunters to go on lands of another; carrying firearms or bows and arrows prohibited","url":"\/18.2-136\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-136","metadata":false},{"id":350310,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-136.1","catch_line":"Enforcement of \u00a7\u00a7 18.2-131 through 18.2-135","url":"\/18.2-136.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-136.1","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":350295,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-125","catch_line":"Trespass at night upon any cemetery","url":"\/18.2-125\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-125","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":350297,"structure_id":50138,"section_number":"18.2-127","catch_line":"Injuries to churches, church property, cemeteries, burial grounds, etc.; penalty","url":"\/18.2-127\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-127","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-126\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 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 1960, chapter 358; in 1975, chapters 14 and 15; in 1995, chapter 306<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":368341,"section_number":"54.1-2817","catch_line":"Funeral service interns","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-2817\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1392597,"object_type":"law","relational_id":350296,"identifier":"18.2-126","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-126","url":"\/18.2-126\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-126\/","token":"18.2\/5\/5\/18.2-126","dublin_core":{"Title":"Violation of sepulture; defilement of a dead human body; penalties","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-126","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> If a person unlawfully disinters or displaces a dead human body, or any part of a dead human body which has been deposited in any vault, grave or other burial place, he is guilty of a Class 4 felony<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> If a person willfully and intentionally physically defiles a dead human body he is guilty of a Class 6 felony<\/span>. For the purposes of this section, the term “defile” shall not include any autopsy or the recovery of organs or tissues for transplantation, or any other lawful purpose. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nVIOLATION OF SEPULTURE; DEFILEMENT OF A DEAD HUMAN BODY; PENALTIES (\u00a7 18.2-126)\n\nA. If a person unlawfully disinters or displaces a dead human body, or any part\nof a dead human body which has been deposited in any vault, grave or other\nburial place, he is guilty of a Class 4 felony.\n\nB. If a person willfully and intentionally physically defiles a dead human body\nhe is guilty of a Class 6 felony. For the purposes of this section, the term\n“defile” shall not include any autopsy or the recovery of organs or\ntissues for transplantation, or any other lawful purpose.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-243; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1995, c. 306.","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"}}