Every commissioner shall examine, and report upon, any matters as may be referred to him by any court. The proceedings before a commissioner in chancery shall be conducted as set forth in this chapter and the Rules of Court.
§ 8.01-609.Duties; procedure generally.
Chapter 23. Commissioners in Chancery · Last amended 1992 · Last verified July 16, 2026
In one sentenceThis section states the core function of a commissioner in chancery — to examine and report on whatever matters a court refers to him — and ties the procedure he follows to both this chapter and the Rules of Court.
Full Text of § 8.01-609
Plain-English Summary
After the appointment and referral mechanics in the preceding sections, this section states plainly what a commissioner in chancery does: every commissioner examines and reports upon any matters referred to him by any court.
That description is broad by design. It is not limited to accountings or any single kind of dispute — whatever a court sends a commissioner's way, his job is to examine it and report back. The proceedings he conducts in doing that work are governed both by the rest of this chapter and by the Rules of Court, tying together the statutory framework and the court-adopted procedural rules that fill in the details.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a commissioner in chancery's basic job under this section?
To examine and report upon any matters that may be referred to him by any court.
Who can refer matters to a commissioner in chancery?
Any court.
What governs how a commissioner conducts proceedings before him?
This chapter and the Rules of Court.
Does this section limit the kinds of matters that can be referred to a commissioner?
No, it speaks broadly of any matters that may be referred to him.
Which section sets out who can be appointed a commissioner in chancery?
Section 8.01-607.
Amendment History
Code 1950, § 8-249; 1977, c. 617; 1981, c. 613; 1992, c. 297.
Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Code of Virginia, published by the
Code of Virginia, Virginia Division of Legislative Automated Systems. Last verified July 16, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: commissioner in chancery duties in virginiacommissioner examine and report on referred matters virginia