-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 vhkkP/lyuVY/1R0oLFmnfw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001406259-10-000001.txt : 20100108
<SEC-HEADER>0001406259-10-000001.hdr.sgml : 20100108
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100108132002
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001406259-10-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100107
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100108
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100108

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NEAL JOHN C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001207963

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20293
		FILM NUMBER:		10516933

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:		211 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:		211 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>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-01-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001207963</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NEAL JOHN C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>211 N. MAIN STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P.O. BOX 446</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</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>26156</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.67</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-01-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1755</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.67</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-02-20</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-02-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1755</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1755</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 4,729 shares of restricted stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Acquisitions of derivative shares per Incentive Stock Option Agreement.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ John C. Neal</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-01-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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