Va. Code » Title 20. Domestic Relations » Chapter 6. Divorce, Affirmation and Annulment
Virginia Code

Va. Code Ann. § 20-124 (2026)

Sequestration of record

✓ current as of May 2026
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Upon motion of a party to any suit under this chapter, the court may order the record thereof or any agreement of the parties, filed therein, to be sealed and withheld from public inspection and thereafter the same shall only be opened to the parties, their respective attorneys, and to such other persons as the judge of such court at his discretion decides have a proper interest therein.

1978, c. 484; 1990, c. 623.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 10 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1982–2025 · leading case: Shiembob v. Shiembob, 685 S.E.2d 192 (Va. Ct. App. 2009).
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Shiembob v. Shiembob, 685 S.E.2d 192 (Va. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 8× “” Code § 20-124 provides that upon motion of a party in a divorce action, a trial court may order all or part of the record sequestered.”
Williams v. Williams, 501 S.E.2d 417 (Va. 1998). · cites it 4× “Thus, the plurality opinion amends Code § 20-124(B) by adding additional language to the statute.”
Kendish Hassan v. Richard Scott Takacs (Va. Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 4× “Code § 20-124 enumerates the factors that circuit courts must consider in determining the best interest of the children in custody determinations.”
Martinez v. Martinez, 79 Va. Cir. 185 (Fairfax Cir. Ct. 2009). · cites it 5× “Analysis Virginia Code § 20-124 grants the Court authority to seal the record of divorce proceedings.”
William Terrelle Henderson v. Brigitta Henderson (Va. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 2× “He also contends that the court improperly classified 2 The record was sealed by the circuit court pursuant to Code § 20-124. Nevertheless, the appeal necessitates unsealing relevant portions of the record for purposes of resolving the issues raised by the husband.”
Brigitta Henderson v. William Terrelle Henderson (Va. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 2× “Regarding the equitable distribution, the wife argues that the court erred by failing to classify and value the husband’s interest in a partnership. As to the awards of child and spousal support, she suggests that the court erroneously calculated the 2 The record was sealed by…”
Courtney R. Herbert v. Guy R. Joubert (Va. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 2× “He explained that “whatever is leftover [sic] after allocating to those two components would be attributable to” the personal efforts of the husband and wife.”
Rupert Bernard Bonhotel v. Michelle Jane Jones Watts (Va. Ct. App. 2016). “” On the second day of the hearing, father’s attorney stated: “[W]e would ask that the [c]ourt conduct an[] interview pursuant to Virginia Code Section § 20-124 of [the child] in [c]hambers, specifically to ask her essentially to tell you what her preferences are and to address…”
Hawkins v. Hawkins, 82 Va. Cir. 351 (Madison Cir. Ct. 2011). “With regard to the sequestration order, the court acknowledges its authority pursuant to § 20-124 of the Code of Virginia. There are cases where a request of this type might be justified (to protect children, to prevent possible harm to another person, or to safeguard critical…”
In re Geary, 1 Va. Cir. 295 (Rockingham Cir. Ct. 1982). “1 and sequestration of the papers of the "suit" pursuant to § 20-124. The petition is manually signed purportedly by each of the joint petitioners.”
Va. Code Ann. § 20-124(B): 1 case
Williams v. Williams, 501 S.E.2d 417 (Va. 1998). “Thus, the plurality opinion amends Code § 20-124(B) by adding additional language to the statute.”
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