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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 AYSwV9gDgyppL1EvqRNIaDjmE5IfKiTDvX51LGimwwpq4biJcLL35rEXTq+z3Rrn
 ZEjjSl7L99ToymhozGoUAw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001207969-06-000005.txt : 20060726
<SEC-HEADER>0001207969-06-000005.hdr.sgml : 20060726
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060726165623
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001207969-06-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060724
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060726
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060726

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PEAY D ANTHONY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001207969

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20293
		FILM NUMBER:		06982152

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

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 446
		CITY:			BOWLING GREEN
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22427

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PEAY A ANTHONY
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20021127
</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>2006-07-24</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001207969</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PEAY D ANTHONY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P O BOX 446</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOWLING GREEN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>22427</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP &amp; CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock, $2 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-07-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>41.17</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4208</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee stock options vest @ 200 shares/year</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>20.125</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1999-01-22</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-01-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock, $2 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee stock options vest @ 300 shares/year</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>12.8125</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-01-25</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-01-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock, $2 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee stock options vest @ 400 shares/year</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>16</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-01-02</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-01-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock, $2 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee stock options vest @ 400 shares/year</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>27.87</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-01-23</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-01-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock, $2 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee stock options vest @ 400 shares/year</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>33.98</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-01-29</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-01-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock, $2 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Voluntary purchase by administrator of DRP/SPP</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>D. Anthony Peay</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-07-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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