-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VygXRUPikwGwSBcYfKNaJdJlSXufssgRaHymEj0MPst/wG5G17qgROvtEKbPythM
 rWwuG8JduilmBLGMnoVI0Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001207950-04-000002.txt : 20041215
<SEC-HEADER>0001207950-04-000002.hdr.sgml : 20041215
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041215171708
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001207950-04-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041209
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041215
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041215

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HICKS RONALD L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001207950

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20293
		FILM NUMBER:		041205639

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O UNION BANKSHARES
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 446
		CITY:			BOWLING GREEN
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22427
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8046335031

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			UNION BANKSHARES CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000883948
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				540412820
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			VA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		212 NORTH MAIN ST
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 446
		CITY:			BOWLING GREEN
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22427
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8046335031

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 446
		STREET 2:		212 NORTH MAIN ST
		CITY:			BOWLING GREEN
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22427

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	UNION BANCORP INC /VA/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930328
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000883948</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UNION BANKSHARES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ubsh</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001207950</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HICKS RONALD L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $2 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>509</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>35.4115</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20398.4</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $2 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5733</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Custodian for Children &amp; As Trustee</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The 20 day average of closing prices during the period ending on December 1, 2004 as provided in the Union Bankshares Corporation Directors' Stock Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Ronald L. Hicks by D. Anthony Peay</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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