In Henrico County or Montgomery County, the clerk of any district court in which papers are filed and preserved under § 16.1-69.55 may destroy the files, papers and records connected with any civil case in such court, if:

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

Terms Used In Virginia Code 16.1-118.1

  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
  • Process: includes subpoenas, the summons and complaint in a civil action, and process in statutory actions. See Virginia Code 1-237
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.

(1) Such case was dismissed without any adjudication of the merits of the controversy, and the final order entered was one of dismissal and one year has elapsed from the date of such dismissal; or

(2) Judgment was entered in such case but the right to issue an execution or bring a motion to extend the period for enforcing a judgment or an action on such judgment is barred by § 8.01-251; or

(3) No service of the warrant or motion or other process or summons was had on any defendant and one year has elapsed from the date of such process or summons; and

(4) The destruction of such papers is authorized and directed by an order of the judge of the court in which they are preserved, which order may refer to such papers by any one or more of the above classifications, or to any group or kind of cases embraced therein, without express reference to any particular case; and

(5) The audit has been made for the period to which the files, papers and records are applicable.

1966, c. 404; 1973, c. 143; 1977, c. 169; 1982, c. 153; 2007, c. 813.