Part One: General Rules Applicable to All Proceedings · Last amended 2021 · Last verified July 16, 2026
In one sentenceRule 1:13 requires drafts of orders and decrees to be endorsed by counsel of record, or, for counsel who have not endorsed them, requires reasonable notice of when and where the drafts will be presented to the court, subject to modification by the court and to the electronic procedures of Rule 1:17.
Full Text of Rule 1:13
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Drafts of orders and decrees must be endorsed by counsel of record, or reasonable
notice of the time and place of presenting such drafts together with copies thereof must be served pursuant to Rule 1:12 upon all counsel of record who have not endorsed them.
Compliance with this Rule and with Rule 1:12 may be modified or dispensed with by the court in its discretion. In an Electronically Filed Case, endorsement and specification of any objections to the draft order may be accomplished as provided in Rule 1:17.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 1:13 covers how a draft order or decree gets in front of the judge. Counsel of record must endorse the draft, or, for any counsel who have not endorsed it, the party presenting the draft must give reasonable notice of the time and place it will be presented, along with copies, served under Rule 1:12.
The court may modify or dispense with these requirements in its discretion. In an Electronically Filed Case, endorsement and any objections to the draft order can be handled through the electronic procedures in Rule 1:17 instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all counsel need to sign off on a draft order before it goes to the judge?
Counsel of record should endorse the draft. For any who have not, Rule 1:13 requires reasonable notice of the time and place the draft will be presented, along with copies served under Rule 1:12.
Can a court excuse the endorsement requirement?
Yes. Rule 1:13 says compliance with the rule and with Rule 1:12 may be modified or dispensed with by the court in its discretion.
How do I object to a draft order I have not endorsed?
By responding to the notice of the time and place the draft will be presented, which counsel who have not endorsed the draft are entitled to under Rule 1:13.
How does endorsement work in an electronically filed case?
Rule 1:13 allows endorsement and the specification of objections to a draft order to be handled through the procedures in Rule 1:17, rather than by physical signature.
What has to accompany the notice of presenting a draft order?
Copies of the draft, served pursuant to Rule 1:12 on all counsel of record who have not endorsed the draft.
Amendment History
Last amended by Order dated November 23, 2020; effective March 1, 2021.
Source & verification. Rule text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Rules of Supreme Court of Virginia, published by the
Supreme Court of Virginia. Last verified July 16, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as:endorsing a draft order Virginiadraft order objection VirginiaRule 1:13 Virginiapresenting order to judge Virginianotice of draft order Virginia