§ 11-3 — Sealed writings; writings not purporting to be sealed

Any writing to which a natural person, corporation, limited liability company or partnership, whether general or limited, making it affixes a scroll by way of a seal, shall be of the same force as if it were actually sealed. The impression or stamping of a corporate or an official seal on paper or parchment alone shall be as valid as if made on wax or other adhesive substance. And any writing to which a natural person, corporation, limited liability company or partnership, whether general or limited, making it affixes his signature, or their signatures, and which writing in its body says "this deed," or "this indenture," or other words importing a sealed instrument, or recognizes a seal, shall be of the same force as if it were actually sealed by such person, corporation, limited liability company or partnership, although no seal or scroll be attached; and any writing signed by a natural person, corporation, limited liability company or partnership, whether general or limited, and regularly acknowledged before an officer authorized to take acknowledgments of deeds to be recorded in this Commonwealth, in the body of which writing it clearly appears that the person so signing and acknowledging the same intends to and does grant or convey unto the grantee named therein certain real estate as therein described, and in which the writing is not said to be a deed or an indenture, and does not purport to be sealed, and to which no seal or scroll is attached, such writing shall pass the title to such real estate as effectually as if it were written and executed in strict accordance with the provisions of § 55.1-300; and any such writing admitted to record prior to June 19, 1946, shall be of the effect as if made and recorded thereafter, except as to vested rights already attached contrary to such writing.

Legislative History

Code 1919, § 5562; 1934, p. 524; 1946, pp. 59, 426; 1975, c. 500; 1996, c. 265.