Virginia statute

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-204.1 — Fraudulent use of birth certificates, etc.; penalty

Current through 2026 Regular Session

Part of Article 7: Miscellaneous False and Fraudulent Acts, Code of Virginia.

Criminal charges under this statute

Fraudulent use of birth certificates, etc

Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-204.1

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. § 18.2-204.1Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session

A. Any person who obtains or possesses a fictitious birth certificate or the birth certificate of another for the purpose of establishing a false identity for himself is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Any person who manufactures, sells, or transfers a fictitious birth certificate or the birth certificate of another for the purpose of establishing a false identity for himself or for another person is guilty of a Class 6 felony. B. Except as provided in subsection A, any person who obtains, possesses, sells, or transfers any document for the purpose of establishing a false status, occupation, membership, license or identity for himself or any other person is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. C. Any person who obtains, possesses, sells, or transfers such birth certificate or document with the intent that such certificate or document be used to purchase a firearm is guilty of a Class 6 felony. D. The provisions of this section shall not apply to members of state, federal, county, city or town law-enforcement agencies in the performance of their duties. E. The provisions of this section shall not preclude prosecution under any other statute.

Official sources

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

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is fraudulent use of birth certificates, etc a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

It depends on the circumstances: fraudulent use of birth certificates, etc ranges from a class 1 misdemeanor to a class 6 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-204.1.

Obtaining/possessing fictitious or another's birth certificate for false identity: class 1 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-204.1A) · Manufacturing, selling, or transferring fictitious or another's birth certificate for false identity: class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-204.1A) · Fraudulent use of documents for false status/occupation/membership/license/identity: class 1 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-204.1B) · Use of birth certificate or document to purchase a firearm: class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-204.1C)

Which Virginia statute covers fraudulent use of birth certificates, etc?

Fraudulent use of birth certificates, etc is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-204.1 (Fraudulent use of birth certificates, etc.; penalty).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.