{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/59.1-486.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/59.1-486.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/59.1-486.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/59.1-486.html"}],"law_id":373201,"edition_id":2,"section_id":373201,"structure_id":53118,"section_number":"59.1-486","catch_line":"Provision of information in writing; presentation of records","history":"2000, c. 995.","full_text":"a\n\nIf parties have agreed to conduct a transaction by electronic means and a law requires a person to provide, send, or deliver information in writing to another person, the requirement is satisfied if the information is provided, sent, or delivered, as the case may be, in an electronic record capable of retention by the recipient at the time of receipt. An electronic record is not capable of retention by the recipient if the sender or its information processing system inhibits the ability of the recipient to print or store the electronic record.\n\nb\n\nIf a law other than this chapter requires a record (i) to be posted or displayed in a certain manner, (ii) to be sent, communicated, or transmitted by a specified method, or (iii) to contain information that is formatted in a certain manner, the following rules apply:\n\n1\n\nThe record shall be posted or displayed in the manner specified in the other law.\n\n2\n\nExcept as otherwise provided in subsection (d) (2), the record shall be sent, communicated, or transmitted by the method specified in the other law.\n\n3\n\nThe record shall contain the information formatted in the manner specified in the other law.\n\nc\n\nIf a sender inhibits the ability of a recipient to store or print an electronic record, the electronic record is not enforceable against the recipient.\n\nd\n\nThe requirements of this section may not be varied by agreement, except:\n\n1\n\nTo the extent a law other than this chapter requires information to be provided, sent, or delivered in writing but permits that requirement to be varied by agreement, the requirement under subsection (a) that the information be in the form of an electronic record capable of retention may also be varied by agreement; and\n\n2\n\nA requirement under a law other than this chapter to send, communicate, or transmit a record by United States mail, may be varied by agreement to the extent permitted by the other law.\n\ne\n\nNotwithstanding subsections (b) and (d), a governmental agency may by regulation alter requirements governing (i) the method of posting or display, (ii) the manner of communication or transmittal, including First Class or other United States mail requirements, or (iii) formatting requirements, with respect to the matters over which that agency has jurisdiction and with respect to transactions that the parties have agreed to conduct by electronic means.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1392318,"text":"If parties have agreed to conduct a transaction by electronic means and a law requires a person to provide, send, or deliver information in writing to another person, the requirement is satisfied if the information is provided, sent, or delivered, as the case may be, in an electronic record capable of retention by the recipient at the time of receipt. An electronic record is not capable of retention by the recipient if the sender or its information processing system inhibits the ability of the recipient to print or store the electronic record.","type":"section","prefixes":["a"],"prefix":"a","entire_prefix":"a","prefix_anchor":"a","level":1,"next_prefix":"b"},"1":{"id":1392319,"text":"If a law other than this chapter requires a record (i) to be posted or displayed in a certain manner, (ii) to be sent, communicated, or transmitted by a specified method, or (iii) to contain information that is formatted in a certain manner, the following rules apply:","type":"section","prefixes":["b"],"prefix":"b","entire_prefix":"b","prefix_anchor":"b","level":1,"prior_prefix":"a","next_prefix":"b1"},"2":{"id":1392320,"text":"The record shall be posted or displayed in the manner specified in the other law.","type":"section","prefixes":["b","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"b1","prefix_anchor":"b1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"b","next_prefix":"b2"},"3":{"id":1392321,"text":"Except as otherwise provided in subsection (d) (2), the record shall be sent, communicated, or transmitted by the method specified in the other law.","type":"section","prefixes":["b","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"b2","prefix_anchor":"b2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"b1","next_prefix":"b3"},"4":{"id":1392322,"text":"The record shall contain the information formatted in the manner specified in the other law.","type":"section","prefixes":["b","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"b3","prefix_anchor":"b3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"b2","next_prefix":"c"},"5":{"id":1392323,"text":"If a sender inhibits the ability of a recipient to store or print an electronic record, the electronic record is not enforceable against the recipient.","type":"section","prefixes":["c"],"prefix":"c","entire_prefix":"c","prefix_anchor":"c","level":1,"prior_prefix":"b3","next_prefix":"d"},"6":{"id":1392324,"text":"The requirements of this section may not be varied by agreement, except:","type":"section","prefixes":["d"],"prefix":"d","entire_prefix":"d","prefix_anchor":"d","level":1,"prior_prefix":"c","next_prefix":"d1"},"7":{"id":1392325,"text":"To the extent a law other than this chapter requires information to be provided, sent, or delivered in writing but permits that requirement to be varied by agreement, the requirement under subsection (a) that the information be in the form of an electronic record capable of retention may also be varied by agreement; and","type":"section","prefixes":["d","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"d1","prefix_anchor":"d1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"d","next_prefix":"d2"},"8":{"id":1392326,"text":"A requirement under a law other than this chapter to send, communicate, or transmit a record by United States mail, may be varied by agreement to the extent permitted by the other law.","type":"section","prefixes":["d","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"d2","prefix_anchor":"d2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"d1","next_prefix":"e"},"9":{"id":1392327,"text":"Notwithstanding subsections (b) and (d), a governmental agency may by regulation alter requirements governing (i) the method of posting or display, (ii) the manner of communication or transmittal, including First Class or other United States mail requirements, or (iii) formatting requirements, with respect to the matters over which that agency has jurisdiction and with respect to transactions that the parties have agreed to conduct by electronic means.","type":"section","prefixes":["e"],"prefix":"e","entire_prefix":"e","prefix_anchor":"e","level":1,"prior_prefix":"d2"}},"ancestry":[{"id":53118,"edition_id":2,"name":"Uniform Electronic Transactions Act","identifier":"42.1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":79,"parent_id":53010,"metadata":{"child_laws":20,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:11:03","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:36:34","permalink":{"id":1488805,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53118,"identifier":"42.1","token":"59.1\/42.1","url":"\/59.1\/42.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":53010,"edition_id":2,"name":"Trade and Commerce","identifier":"59.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":127,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":861,"child_structures":141},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:09:52","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:36:19","permalink":{"id":1486523,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53010,"identifier":"59.1","token":"59.1","url":"\/59.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":373194,"structure_id":53118,"section_number":"59.1-479","catch_line":"Title","url":"\/59.1-479\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-479","metadata":false},{"id":373195,"structure_id":53118,"section_number":"59.1-480","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/59.1-480\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-480","metadata":false},{"id":373196,"structure_id":53118,"section_number":"59.1-481","catch_line":"Scope","url":"\/59.1-481\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-481","metadata":false},{"id":373197,"structure_id":53118,"section_number":"59.1-482","catch_line":"Prospective application","url":"\/59.1-482\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-482","metadata":false},{"id":373198,"structure_id":53118,"section_number":"59.1-483","catch_line":"Use of electronic records and electronic signatures; variation by agreement","url":"\/59.1-483\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-483","metadata":false},{"id":373199,"structure_id":53118,"section_number":"59.1-484","catch_line":"Construction and application","url":"\/59.1-484\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-484","metadata":false},{"id":373200,"structure_id":53118,"section_number":"59.1-485","catch_line":"Legal recognition of electronic records, electronic signatures, and electronic contracts","url":"\/59.1-485\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-485","metadata":false},{"id":373201,"structure_id":53118,"section_number":"59.1-486","catch_line":"Provision of information in writing; presentation of records","url":"\/59.1-486\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-486","metadata":false},{"id":373202,"structure_id":53118,"section_number":"59.1-487","catch_line":"Attribution and effect of electronic record and electronic signature","url":"\/59.1-487\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-487","metadata":false},{"id":373203,"structure_id":53118,"section_number":"59.1-488","catch_line":"Effect of change or error","url":"\/59.1-488\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-488","metadata":false},{"id":373204,"structure_id":53118,"section_number":"59.1-489","catch_line":"Notarization and acknowledgment","url":"\/59.1-489\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-489","metadata":false},{"id":373205,"structure_id":53118,"section_number":"59.1-490","catch_line":"Retention of electronic record","url":"\/59.1-490\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-490","metadata":false},{"id":373206,"structure_id":53118,"section_number":"59.1-491","catch_line":"Admissibility of evidence","url":"\/59.1-491\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-491","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":373207,"structure_id":53118,"section_number":"59.1-492","catch_line":"Automated transactions","url":"\/59.1-492\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-492","metadata":false},{"id":373208,"structure_id":53118,"section_number":"59.1-493","catch_line":"Time and place of sending and receipt","url":"\/59.1-493\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-493","metadata":false},{"id":373209,"structure_id":53118,"section_number":"59.1-494","catch_line":"Transferable records","url":"\/59.1-494\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-494","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":373210,"structure_id":53118,"section_number":"59.1-495","catch_line":"Creation and retention of electronic records and conversion of written records by public bodies of the Commonwealth","url":"\/59.1-495\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-495","metadata":false},{"id":373211,"structure_id":53118,"section_number":"59.1-496","catch_line":"Acceptance and distribution of electronic records by public bodies; electronic filing of information permitted","url":"\/59.1-496\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-496","metadata":false},{"id":373212,"structure_id":53118,"section_number":"59.1-497","catch_line":"Interoperability","url":"\/59.1-497\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-497","metadata":false},{"id":373213,"structure_id":53118,"section_number":"59.1-498","catch_line":"Reserved","url":"\/59.1-498\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-498","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}}],"previous_section":{"id":373200,"structure_id":53118,"section_number":"59.1-485","catch_line":"Legal recognition of electronic records, electronic signatures, and electronic contracts","url":"\/59.1-485\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-485","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":373202,"structure_id":53118,"section_number":"59.1-487","catch_line":"Attribution and effect of electronic record and electronic signature","url":"\/59.1-487\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-487","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/59.1-486\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2000. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 995<\/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":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1488835,"object_type":"law","relational_id":373201,"identifier":"59.1-486","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-486","url":"\/59.1-486\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/59.1-486\/","token":"59.1\/42.1\/59.1-486","dublin_core":{"Title":"Provision of information in writing; presentation of records","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 59.1-486","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

a.<\/span> If parties have agreed to conduct a transaction<\/span> by electronic means and a law<\/span> requires a person<\/span> to provide, send, or deliver information in writing to another person<\/span>, the requirement is satisfied if the information is provided, sent, or delivered, as the case may be, in an electronic record<\/span> capable of retention by the recipient at the time of receipt. An electronic record<\/span> is not capable of retention by the recipient if the sender or its information processing system<\/span> inhibits the ability of the recipient to print or store the electronic record<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

b.<\/span> If a law<\/span> other than this chapter requires a record (i) to be posted or displayed in a certain manner, (ii) to be sent, communicated, or transmitted by a specified method, or (iii) to contain information that is formatted in a certain manner, the following rules apply: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> The record shall be posted or displayed in the manner specified in the other law<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Except as otherwise provided in subsection (d) (2), the record shall be sent, communicated, or transmitted by the method specified in the other law<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> The record shall contain the information formatted in the manner specified in the other law<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

c.<\/span> If a sender inhibits the ability of a recipient to store or print an electronic record<\/span>, the electronic record<\/span> is not enforceable against the recipient. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

d.<\/span> The requirements of this section may not be varied by agreement<\/span>, except: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> To the extent a law<\/span> other than this chapter requires information to be provided, sent, or delivered in writing but permits that requirement to be varied by agreement<\/span>, the requirement under subsection (a) that the information be in the form of an electronic record<\/span> capable of retention may also be varied by agreement<\/span>; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> A requirement under a law<\/span> other than this chapter to send, communicate, or transmit a record by United States<\/span> mail, may be varied by agreement<\/span> to the extent permitted by the other law<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

e.<\/span> Notwithstanding subsections (b) and (d), a governmental agency may by regulation alter requirements governing (i) the method of posting or display, (ii) the manner of communication or transmittal, including First Class or other United States<\/span> mail requirements, or (iii) formatting requirements, with respect to the matters over which that agency has jurisdiction<\/span> and with respect to transactions<\/span> that the parties have agreed to conduct by electronic means. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPROVISION OF INFORMATION IN WRITING; PRESENTATION OF RECORDS (\u00a7 59.1-486)\n\na. If parties have agreed to conduct a transaction by electronic means and a law\nrequires a person to provide, send, or deliver information in writing to another\nperson, the requirement is satisfied if the information is provided, sent, or\ndelivered, as the case may be, in an electronic record capable of retention by\nthe recipient at the time of receipt. An electronic record is not capable of\nretention by the recipient if the sender or its information processing system\ninhibits the ability of the recipient to print or store the electronic record.\n\nb. If a law other than this chapter requires a record (i) to be posted or\ndisplayed in a certain manner, (ii) to be sent, communicated, or transmitted by\na specified method, or (iii) to contain information that is formatted in a\ncertain manner, the following rules apply:\n\n 1. The record shall be posted or displayed in the manner specified in the\n other law.\n\n 2. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (d) (2), the record shall be\n sent, communicated, or transmitted by the method specified in the other law.\n\n 3. The record shall contain the information formatted in the manner specified\n in the other law.\n\nc. If a sender inhibits the ability of a recipient to store or print an\nelectronic record, the electronic record is not enforceable against the\nrecipient.\n\nd. The requirements of this section may not be varied by agreement, except:\n\n 1. To the extent a law other than this chapter requires information to be\n provided, sent, or delivered in writing but permits that requirement to be\n varied by agreement, the requirement under subsection (a) that the information\n be in the form of an electronic record capable of retention may also be varied\n by agreement; and\n\n 2. A requirement under a law other than this chapter to send, communicate, or\n transmit a record by United States mail, may be varied by agreement to the\n extent permitted by the other law.\n\ne. Notwithstanding subsections (b) and (d), a governmental agency may by\nregulation alter requirements governing (i) the method of posting or display,\n(ii) the manner of communication or transmittal, including First Class or other\nUnited States mail requirements, or (iii) formatting requirements, with respect\nto the matters over which that agency has jurisdiction and with respect to\ntransactions that the parties have agreed to conduct by electronic means.\n\nHISTORY: 2000, c. 995.","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"}}