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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>378315</law_id><section_number>8.8A-114</section_number><catch_line>Evidentiary rules concerning certificated securities</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="28" identifier="8.8A">Commercial Code &#x2014; Investment Securities</unit><unit label="part" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="1">Short Title and General Matters</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The following rules apply in an action on a certificated security against the issuer:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Unless specifically denied in the <span class="dictionary">pleadings</span>, each signature on a security certificate or in a necessary endorsement is admitted. <a id="paragraph-1411560" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.8A-114/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> If the effectiveness of a signature is put in <span class="dictionary">issue</span>, the burden of establishing effectiveness is on the <span class="dictionary">party</span> claiming under the signature, but the signature is presumed to be genuine or authorized. <a id="paragraph-1411561" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.8A-114/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> If signatures on a security certificate are admitted or established, production of the certificate entitles a holder to recover on it unless the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> establishes a defense or a defect going to the validity of the security. <a id="paragraph-1411562" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.8A-114/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> If it is shown that a defense or defect exists, the <span class="dictionary">plaintiff</span> has the burden of establishing that the <span class="dictionary">plaintiff</span> or some person under whom the <span class="dictionary">plaintiff</span> claims is a person against whom the defense or defect cannot be asserted. <a id="paragraph-1411563" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.8A-114/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1996, c. 216.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
