{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/18.2-178.2.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/18.2-178.2.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/18.2-178.2.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/18.2-178.2.html"}],"law_id":350398,"edition_id":2,"section_id":350398,"structure_id":50147,"section_number":"18.2-178.2","catch_line":"Financial exploitation by an agent; penalty","history":"2022, cc. 397, 654.","full_text":"A\n\nAs used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Agent” means the same as that term is defined in § 64.2-1600.\n\n\t\t\t“Financial exploitation” means the illegal, unauthorized, or fraudulent use, or deprivation of use, of the property of a vulnerable adult with the intention of benefiting someone other than the vulnerable adult.\n\n\t\t\t“Power of attorney” means a writing or other record that grants authority to an agent to act in the place of the principal, whether or not the term “power of attorney” is used.\n\n\t\t\t“Principal” means an individual who grants authority to an agent in a power of attorney.\n\n\t\t\t“Record” means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.\n\n\t\t\t“Vulnerable adult” means the same as that term is defined in § 18.2-369.\n\nB\n\nAn agent under a power of attorney who knowingly or intentionally engages in financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult who is the principal of that agent is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. A violation of this section shall constitute a separate and distinct offense. If the acts or activities violating this section also violate another provision of law, a prosecution under this section shall not prohibit or bar any prosecution or proceeding under such other provision or the imposition of any penalties provided for thereby.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1305478,"text":"As used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Agent” means the same as that term is defined in § 64.2-1600.\t\t\t“Financial exploitation” means the illegal, unauthorized, or fraudulent use, or deprivation of use, of the property of a vulnerable adult with the intention of benefiting someone other than the vulnerable adult.\t\t\t“Power of attorney” means a writing or other record that grants authority to an agent to act in the place of the principal, whether or not the term “power of attorney” is used.\t\t\t“Principal” means an individual who grants authority to an agent in a power of attorney.\t\t\t“Record” means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.\t\t\t“Vulnerable adult” means the same as that term is defined in § 18.2-369.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1305479,"text":"An agent under a power of attorney who knowingly or intentionally engages in financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult who is the principal of that agent is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. A violation of this section shall constitute a separate and distinct offense. If the acts or activities violating this section also violate another provision of law, a prosecution under this section shall not prohibit or bar any prosecution or proceeding under such other provision or the imposition of any penalties provided for thereby.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":50147,"edition_id":2,"name":"False Pretenses","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":50144,"metadata":{"child_laws":5,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:23:20","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:19","permalink":{"id":1393039,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50147,"identifier":"3","token":"18.2\/6\/3","url":"\/18.2\/6\/3\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50144,"edition_id":2,"name":"Crimes Involving Fraud","identifier":"6","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":6,"parent_id":50131,"metadata":{"child_laws":136,"child_structures":11},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:23:18","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:19","permalink":{"id":1392935,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50144,"identifier":"6","token":"18.2\/6","url":"\/18.2\/6\/","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":350399,"structure_id":50147,"section_number":"18.2-178","catch_line":"Obtaining money or signature, etc., by false pretense","url":"\/18.2-178\/","token":"18.2\/6\/3\/18.2-178","metadata":false},{"id":350397,"structure_id":50147,"section_number":"18.2-178.1","catch_line":"Financial exploitation of vulnerable adults; penalty","url":"\/18.2-178.1\/","token":"18.2\/6\/3\/18.2-178.1","metadata":false},{"id":350398,"structure_id":50147,"section_number":"18.2-178.2","catch_line":"Financial exploitation by an agent; penalty","url":"\/18.2-178.2\/","token":"18.2\/6\/3\/18.2-178.2","metadata":false},{"id":350400,"structure_id":50147,"section_number":"18.2-179","catch_line":"Unlawful operation of coin box telephone, parking meter, vending machine, etc","url":"\/18.2-179\/","token":"18.2\/6\/3\/18.2-179","metadata":false},{"id":350402,"structure_id":50147,"section_number":"18.2-180","catch_line":"Manufacture, etc., of slugs, etc., for such unlawful use","url":"\/18.2-180\/","token":"18.2\/6\/3\/18.2-180","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":350397,"structure_id":50147,"section_number":"18.2-178.1","catch_line":"Financial exploitation of vulnerable adults; penalty","url":"\/18.2-178.1\/","token":"18.2\/6\/3\/18.2-178.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":350400,"structure_id":50147,"section_number":"18.2-179","catch_line":"Unlawful operation of coin box telephone, parking meter, vending machine, etc","url":"\/18.2-179\/","token":"18.2\/6\/3\/18.2-179","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-178.2\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2022. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 397<\/a> and 654<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year.<\/p>","references":[{"id":351434,"section_number":"19.2-215.1","catch_line":"Functions of a multi-jurisdiction grand jury","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-215.1\/"},{"id":375942,"section_number":"64.2-1608","catch_line":"Termination of power of attorney or agent's authority","order_by":null,"url":"\/64.2-1608\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":350857,"section_number":"18.2-369","catch_line":"Abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults; penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-369\/"},{"id":375934,"section_number":"64.2-1600","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/64.2-1600\/"}],"permalink":{"id":1393049,"object_type":"law","relational_id":350398,"identifier":"18.2-178.2","token":"18.2\/6\/3\/18.2-178.2","url":"\/18.2-178.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-178.2\/","token":"18.2\/6\/3\/18.2-178.2","dublin_core":{"Title":"Financial exploitation by an agent; penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-178.2","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> As used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Agent<\/span>” means the same as that term is defined in § 64.2-1600<\/a>.

\t\t\t“Financial exploitation<\/span>” means the illegal, unauthorized, or fraudulent use, or deprivation of use, of the property of a vulnerable adult<\/span> with the intention of benefiting someone other than the vulnerable adult<\/span>.

\t\t\t“Power of attorney<\/span>” means a writing or other record<\/span> that grants authority to an agent<\/span> to act in the place of the principal<\/span>, whether or not the term “power of attorney<\/span>” is used.

\t\t\t“Principal<\/span>” means an individual who grants authority to an agent<\/span> in a power of attorney<\/span>.

\t\t\t“Record<\/span>” means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.

\t\t\t“Vulnerable adult<\/span>” means the same as that term is defined in § 18.2-369<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> An agent<\/span> under a power of attorney<\/span> who knowingly or intentionally engages in financial exploitation<\/span> of a vulnerable adult<\/span> who is the principal<\/span> of that agent<\/span> is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>. A violation of this section shall constitute a separate and distinct offense<\/span>. If the acts or activities violating this section also violate another provision of law<\/span>, a prosecution<\/span> under this section shall not prohibit or bar any prosecution<\/span> or proceeding under such other provision or the imposition of any penalties provided for thereby. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nFINANCIAL EXPLOITATION BY AN AGENT; PENALTY (\u00a7 18.2-178.2)\n\nA. As used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Agent” means the same as that term is defined in §\n64.2-1600.\t\t\t“Financial exploitation” means the illegal,\nunauthorized, or fraudulent use, or deprivation of use, of the property of a\nvulnerable adult with the intention of benefiting someone other than the\nvulnerable adult.\t\t\t“Power of attorney” means a writing or other\nrecord that grants authority to an agent to act in the place of the principal,\nwhether or not the term “power of attorney” is\nused.\t\t\t“Principal” means an individual who grants authority to an\nagent in a power of attorney.\t\t\t“Record” means information that is\ninscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other\nmedium and is retrievable in perceivable form.\t\t\t“Vulnerable adult”\nmeans the same as that term is defined in § 18.2-369.\n\nB. An agent under a power of attorney who knowingly or intentionally engages in\nfinancial exploitation of a vulnerable adult who is the principal of that agent\nis guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. A violation of this section shall constitute\na separate and distinct offense. If the acts or activities violating this\nsection also violate another provision of law, a prosecution under this section\nshall not prohibit or bar any prosecution or proceeding under such other\nprovision or the imposition of any penalties provided for thereby.\n\nHISTORY: 2022, cc. 397, 654.","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"}}