The Age of Consent
Va. Code 18.2-63 — a felony under 15, and a misdemeanor for an adult with a child 15 or older
| The situation | The grade |
|---|---|
| The situationCarnal knowledge, without force, of a child thirteen or older but under fifteen | The gradeClass 4 felony, two to 10 years |
| The situationThe same, by a minor, with a consenting child three years or more younger | The gradeClass 6 felony, one to five years |
| The situationThe same, by a minor, with a consenting child less than three years younger | The gradeClass 4 misdemeanor |
| The situationAn adult 18 or older with a child 15 or older, consensual, not a spouse | The gradeClass 1 misdemeanor |
Who handles this in Virginia: legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Virginia directory.
A child under thirteen is never treated as consenting, and the age gap is counted from the actual dates of birth.
Offenses involving force, registration and the consequences of a conviction are in other sections not covered here. A charge, or the worry of one, is a question for a licensed Virginia attorney.
Sources for this section (3)
- Va. Code 18.2-63 — Carnal knowledge of a child between thirteen and fifteen years of age
- Va. Code 18.2-371 — Contributing to the delinquency of a child
- Va. Code 18.2-10 — Punishment for conviction of felony
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Virginia attorney.