Skip to main content
US Criminal Defense.org
Menu

Virginia statute

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-472 — False entries or destruction of records by officers

Current through 2026 Regular Session

Part of Article 6: Interference with Administration of Justice, Code of Virginia.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-472

Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the text of the Code of Virginia from the official Virginia Law Portal API published by the Virginia General Assembly's Division of Legislative Automated Systems; it is not the official Code of Virginia.

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-472Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session
If a clerk of any court or other public officer fraudulently make a false entry, or erase, alter, secrete or destroy any record, including a microphotographic copy, in his keeping and belonging to his office, he shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and shall forfeit his office and be forever incapable of holding any office of honor, profit or trust under the Constitution of Virginia.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is false entries or destruction of records by officers a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

False entries or destruction of records by officers is a class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-472.

Which Virginia statute covers false entries or destruction of records by officers?

False entries or destruction of records by officers is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-472 (False entries or destruction of records by officers).

Is providing false information or failing to provide registration information a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

It depends on the circumstances: providing false information or failing to provide registration information ranges from a class 1 misdemeanor to a class 5 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-472.1.

Failure to register/reregister/verify or providing false information - non-Tier III offender (first offense): class 1 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-472.1A) · Failure to register/reregister/verify or providing false information - non-Tier III offender (second or subsequent offense): class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-472.1A) · Failure to register/reregister/verify or providing false information - Tier III/murder offender (first offense): class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-472.1B) · Failure to register/reregister/verify or providing false information - Tier III/murder offender (second or subsequent offense): class 5 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-472.1B)

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.