Virginia Law

A. Proceeds of a personal property auction not disbursed to the owner on auction day must be deposited in an auction escrow account by the licensee no later than the next banking day following the date of auction or sale of the goods.

B. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A of this section, proceeds that are paid via credit card, debit card, check card, or any other electronic funds transfer (EFT) method must be deposited into an auction escrow account upon receipt from the originating source.

C. The auction escrow account must be used solely for the preservation and guarantee of auction proceeds until disbursed at settlement. Funds for any other purpose must not be commingled with the auction escrow account. Moneys due to the licensee must not be withdrawn from the auction escrow account until final settlement is made with the owner.

D. Funds to be deposited in the escrow account may include moneys that will ultimately belong to the licensee for incidental expenses per the terms of the contract. Such moneys must be separately identified in the escrow account records and must be paid to the licensee by a check drawn on the escrow account when the funds become due to the licensee. The fact that an escrow account contains money that may ultimately belong to the licensee does not constitute "commingling of funds," provided that the licensee can at all times accurately identify the total funds in that account that belong to the licensee.

E. Auctioneers and auction firms must use federally insured depositories in the Commonwealth of Virginia. All accounts, checks, and bank statements must be labeled "escrow" and the accounts must be designated as "escrow" accounts with the financial institution where such accounts are established.

F. Proceeds due from the sale of goods other than real property must be disbursed to the owner no later than 30 days after the date of each auction.

G. Funds from a real estate auction must be held in escrow until settlement in accordance with the agreement of sale.

H. If the owner's goods are not sold in a single auction, proceeds due must be disbursed to the owner within 30 days after each auction for goods other than real property, or in accordance with the agreement of sale for the sale of real property. Notice must be given to the owner of tentative date of auction, or date of return to the owner, of the remaining goods.

I. The balance in the escrow accounts must be sufficient at all times to account for all funds that are designated to be held by the licensee. A licensee must not disburse or cause to be disbursed moneys from an escrow account unless sufficient money is on deposit in that account to the credit of the individual client or property involved.