<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>363641</law_id><section_number>42.1-90</section_number><catch_line>Seizure of public records not in authorized possession</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="93" identifier="42.1">Libraries</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="7" identifier="7">Virginia Public Records Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> At any time after the filing of the <span class="dictionary">petition</span> set out in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Petition and court order for return of public records not in authorized possession" href="/42.1-89/">42.1-89</a> or contemporaneous with such filing, the person seeking the return of the <span class="dictionary">public records</span> may by <span class="dictionary">ex parte</span> <span class="dictionary">petition</span> request the <span class="dictionary">judge</span> or the <span class="dictionary">court</span> in which the action was filed to <span class="dictionary">issue</span> an <span class="dictionary">order</span> directed at the sheriff or other proper officer, as the case may be, commanding him to seize the <span class="dictionary">materials</span> which are the subject of the action and deliver the same to the <span class="dictionary">court</span> under the circumstances hereinafter set forth. <a id="paragraph-1354858" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/42.1-90/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">judge</span> aforesaid shall <span class="dictionary">issue</span> an <span class="dictionary">order</span> of seizure upon receipt of an <span class="dictionary">affidavit</span> from the petitioner which alleges that the <span class="dictionary">material</span> at <span class="dictionary">issue</span> may be sold, secreted, removed out of this Commonwealth or otherwise disposed of so as not to be forthcoming to answer the final <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> respecting the same; or that such property may be destroyed or materially damaged or injured if permitted to remain out of the petitioner&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">possession</span>. <a id="paragraph-1354859" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/42.1-90/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The aforementioned <span class="dictionary">order</span> of seizure shall <span class="dictionary">issue</span> without notice to the respondent and without the posting of any <span class="dictionary">bond</span> or other security by the petitioner. <a id="paragraph-1354860" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/42.1-90/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1975, c. 180; 1976, c. 746.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
