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Georgetown Law Library

Virginia Resources

This State Guide provides an in-depth look at sources of law in Virginia.

Contents

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Statutes

After their initial chronological publication (check Session Laws section in this Guide), all laws of a general nature passed by the General Assembly are compiled by subject in The Code of Virginia.

Code of Virginia 1950 Annotated (LexisNexis) (Va. Code Ann.)

The Code of Virginia, 1950 Annotated (Va. Code Ann.): Published by LexisNexis, is the official version of The Code. The text of the statute is followed by a brief legislative history of the law. There are cross-references to related statutes and Rules of Court, and annotations containing references to case law, law review articles and other secondary sources.

Database

State Website

Print Code

Code of Virginia , 1950 with Provisions for Subsequent Pocket Parts: Annotated (Va. Code Ann.)
  • Even though the title and call number indicate that The Code is out-of-date, it is updated with annual pocket parts, and with paperback supplements issued three times a year (these are titled Advance Code Service, and should not be confused with the Advance Legislative Service published at the end of each General Assembly session). Entire volumes of the multi-volume set are periodically updated and replaced.
  • Law Library Call Number: State 1st Floor KFV2430 1950 .A2: Currently updated at Law Library.

West's Annotated Code of Virginia (Va. Code Ann. (West))

An unofficial version of the Virginia Code. The text and organization are the same as the official code. However, the annotations and finding aids are different. This Code version was first published in 2001, and includes some advantages such as West key number annotations and a modern index. The text of the statute is followed by a brief legislative history of the law. There are cross-references to related statutes and Rules of Court, and annotations containing references to case law, law review articles and other secondary sources.

Database

Print Code

West's Annotated Code of Virginia (Va. Code Ann. (West))

Other Virginia Code Resource

Historical Statutes

Research Guide

Statutory Research Tutorial

Includes videos covering topics "What are Statutes and Where to Find Them," "Anatomy of a Code," "Finding Statutes Online," "Finding Statutes Using Print," and "Updating and Currency."