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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>373201</law_id><section_number>59.1-486</section_number><catch_line>Provision of information in writing; presentation of records</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="127" identifier="59.1">Trade and Commerce</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="79" identifier="42.1">Uniform Electronic Transactions Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="a"><p><span class="prefix-number">a.</span> If parties have agreed to conduct a <span class="dictionary">transaction</span> by electronic means and a <span class="dictionary">law</span> requires a <span class="dictionary">person</span> to provide, send, or deliver information in writing to another <span class="dictionary">person</span>, the requirement is satisfied if the information is provided, sent, or delivered, as the case may be, in an <span class="dictionary">electronic record</span> capable of retention by the recipient at the time of receipt. An <span class="dictionary">electronic record</span> is not capable of retention by the recipient if the sender or its <span class="dictionary">information processing system</span> inhibits the ability of the recipient to print or store the <span class="dictionary">electronic record</span>. <a id="paragraph-1392318" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-486/#a"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="b"><p><span class="prefix-number">b.</span> If a <span class="dictionary">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: <a id="paragraph-1392319" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-486/#b"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="b1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The record shall be posted or displayed in the manner specified in the other <span class="dictionary">law</span>. <a id="paragraph-1392320" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-486/#b1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="b2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">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 <span class="dictionary">law</span>. <a id="paragraph-1392321" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-486/#b2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="b3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The record shall contain the information formatted in the manner specified in the other <span class="dictionary">law</span>. <a id="paragraph-1392322" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-486/#b3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="c"><p><span class="prefix-number">c.</span> If a sender inhibits the ability of a recipient to store or print an <span class="dictionary">electronic record</span>, the <span class="dictionary">electronic record</span> is not enforceable against the recipient. <a id="paragraph-1392323" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-486/#c"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="d"><p><span class="prefix-number">d.</span> The requirements of this section may not be varied by <span class="dictionary">agreement</span>, except: <a id="paragraph-1392324" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-486/#d"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="d1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> To the extent a <span class="dictionary">law</span> other than this chapter requires information to be provided, sent, or delivered in writing but permits that requirement to be varied by <span class="dictionary">agreement</span>, the requirement under subsection (a) that the information be in the form of an <span class="dictionary">electronic record</span> capable of retention may also be varied by <span class="dictionary">agreement</span>; and <a id="paragraph-1392325" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-486/#d1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="d2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> A requirement under a <span class="dictionary">law</span> other than this chapter to send, communicate, or transmit a record by United <span class="dictionary">States</span> mail, may be varied by <span class="dictionary">agreement</span> to the extent permitted by the other <span class="dictionary">law</span>. <a id="paragraph-1392326" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-486/#d2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="e"><p><span class="prefix-number">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 <span class="dictionary">States</span> mail requirements, or (iii) formatting requirements, with respect to the matters over which that agency has <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> and with respect to <span class="dictionary">transactions</span> that the parties have agreed to conduct by electronic means. <a id="paragraph-1392327" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-486/#e"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2000, c. 995.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
