Virginia statute

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-181 — Issuing bad checks, etc., larceny

Current through 2026 Regular Session

Part of Article 4: Bad Check Law, Code of Virginia.

Criminal charges under this statute

Issuing bad checks, etc., larceny

Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-181

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. § 18.2-181Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session

Any person who, with intent to defraud, shall make or draw or utter or deliver any check, draft, or order for the payment of money, upon any bank, banking institution, trust company, or other depository, knowing, at the time of such making, drawing, uttering or delivering, that the maker or drawer has not sufficient funds in, or credit with, such bank, banking institution, trust company, or other depository, for the payment of such check, draft or order, although no express representation is made in reference thereto, shall be guilty of larceny; and, if this check, draft, or order has a represented value of $1,000 or more, such person shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony. In cases in which such value is less than $1,000, the person shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The word "credit" as used herein, shall be construed to mean any arrangement or understanding with the bank, trust company, or other depository for the payment of such check, draft or order. Any person making, drawing, uttering or delivering any such check, draft or order in payment as a present consideration for goods or services for the purposes set out in this section shall be guilty as provided herein.

Official sources

Official section text (law.lis.virginia.gov)

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is issuing bad checks, etc., larceny a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

It depends on the circumstances: issuing bad checks, etc., larceny ranges from a class 1 misdemeanor to a class 6 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-181.

Bad check with represented value of $1,000 or more: class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-181) · Bad check with value less than $1,000: class 1 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-181)

Which Virginia statute covers issuing bad checks, etc., larceny?

Issuing bad checks, etc., larceny is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-181 (Issuing bad checks, etc., larceny).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.