{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/16.1-81.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/16.1-81.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/16.1-81.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/16.1-81.html"}],"law_id":68153,"edition_id":1,"section_id":68153,"structure_id":13176,"section_number":"16.1-81","catch_line":"Actions brought by motion for judgment","history":"1956, c. 555; 1990, c. 762; 2025, c. 349.","full_text":"A civil action in a general district court may be brought by motion for judgment. Such motion shall be in writing, signed by the plaintiff or his attorney, and shall contain a caption setting forth the name of the court and the title of the action, which shall include the names of all parties and the address of each defendant. It shall state the facts on which the plaintiff relies, and shall be sufficient if it clearly informs the defendant or defendants of the true nature of the claim asserted. The motion shall notify the defendant or defendants of the day on which such motion shall be made, which day shall not be more than 90 days from the date of service of the motion.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":246702,"text":"A civil action in a general district court may be brought by motion for judgment. Such motion shall be in writing, signed by the plaintiff or his attorney, and shall contain a caption setting forth the name of the court and the title of the action, which shall include the names of all parties and the address of each defendant. It shall state the facts on which the plaintiff relies, and shall be sufficient if it clearly informs the defendant or defendants of the true nature of the claim asserted. The motion shall notify the defendant or defendants of the day on which such motion shall be made, which day shall not be more than 90 days from the date of service of the motion.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13176,"edition_id":1,"name":"Procedure in Civil Cases","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13175,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:23","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:23","permalink":{"id":162399,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13176,"identifier":"3","token":"16.1\/6\/3","url":"\/16.1\/6\/3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13175,"edition_id":1,"name":"Venue, Jurisdiction and Procedure in Civil Matters","identifier":"6","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12700,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:23","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:23","permalink":{"id":162373,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13175,"identifier":"6","token":"16.1\/6","url":"\/16.1\/6\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12700,"edition_id":1,"name":"Courts Not of Record","identifier":"16.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":160919,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12700,"identifier":"16.1","token":"16.1","url":"\/16.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":73499,"structure_id":13176,"section_number":"16.1-100","catch_line":"Additional executions; by whom issued","url":"\/16.1-100\/","token":"16.1\/6\/3\/16.1-100","metadata":false},{"id":86974,"structure_id":13176,"section_number":"16.1-101","catch_line":"Proceedings against officer failing to make or making improper return","url":"\/16.1-101\/","token":"16.1\/6\/3\/16.1-101","metadata":false},{"id":86518,"structure_id":13176,"section_number":"16.1-102","catch_line":"Officers and sureties liable for money collected after return day","url":"\/16.1-102\/","token":"16.1\/6\/3\/16.1-102","metadata":false},{"id":78448,"structure_id":13176,"section_number":"16.1-103","catch_line":"Proceedings by interrogatories","url":"\/16.1-103\/","token":"16.1\/6\/3\/16.1-103","metadata":false},{"id":54194,"structure_id":13176,"section_number":"16.1-104","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/16.1-104\/","token":"16.1\/6\/3\/16.1-104","metadata":false},{"id":86498,"structure_id":13176,"section_number":"16.1-105","catch_line":"Attachments","url":"\/16.1-105\/","token":"16.1\/6\/3\/16.1-105","metadata":false},{"id":79702,"structure_id":13176,"section_number":"16.1-106","catch_line":"Appeals from courts not of record in civil cases","url":"\/16.1-106\/","token":"16.1\/6\/3\/16.1-106","metadata":false},{"id":77862,"structure_id":13176,"section_number":"16.1-106.1","catch_line":"Withdrawal of appeal in civil cases","url":"\/16.1-106.1\/","token":"16.1\/6\/3\/16.1-106.1","metadata":false},{"id":55864,"structure_id":13176,"section_number":"16.1-107","catch_line":"Requirements for appeal","url":"\/16.1-107\/","token":"16.1\/6\/3\/16.1-107","metadata":false},{"id":67526,"structure_id":13176,"section_number":"16.1-108","catch_line":"Deposit of money in lieu of bond","url":"\/16.1-108\/","token":"16.1\/6\/3\/16.1-108","metadata":false},{"id":58518,"structure_id":13176,"section_number":"16.1-109","catch_line":"Appellate court may require new or additional security","url":"\/16.1-109\/","token":"16.1\/6\/3\/16.1-109","metadata":false},{"id":71245,"structure_id":13176,"section_number":"16.1-110","catch_line":"Bankruptcy of appellant does not release surety","url":"\/16.1-110\/","token":"16.1\/6\/3\/16.1-110","metadata":false},{"id":78313,"structure_id":13176,"section_number":"16.1-111","catch_line":"Court to which appeal sent","url":"\/16.1-111\/","token":"16.1\/6\/3\/16.1-111","metadata":false},{"id":79859,"structure_id":13176,"section_number":"16.1-112","catch_line":"All papers transmitted to appellate court; 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to whom directed","url":"\/16.1-99\/","token":"16.1\/6\/3\/16.1-99","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":73585,"structure_id":13176,"section_number":"16.1-80","catch_line":"Service of warrant and return thereof","url":"\/16.1-80\/","token":"16.1\/6\/3\/16.1-80","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":54713,"structure_id":13176,"section_number":"16.1-81.1","catch_line":"Certain corporations; pro se representation","url":"\/16.1-81.1\/","token":"16.1\/6\/3\/16.1-81.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/16.1-81\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1956. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 555 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1956 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1990, chapter 762; in 2025, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?251+ful+CHAP0349\">349<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":81746,"section_number":"16.1-86","catch_line":"When action deemed brought","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-86\/"},{"id":64837,"section_number":"8.01-329","catch_line":"Service of process or notice; service on Secretary of Commonwealth","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-329\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":162501,"object_type":"law","relational_id":68153,"identifier":"16.1-81","token":"16.1\/6\/3\/16.1-81","url":"\/16.1-81\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/16.1-81\/","token":"16.1\/6\/3\/16.1-81","dublin_core":{"Title":"Actions brought by motion for judgment","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 16.1-81","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>A <span class=\"dictionary\">civil action<\/span> in a general district <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> may be brought by <span class=\"dictionary\">motion for judgment<\/span>. Such motion shall be in writing, signed by the <span class=\"dictionary\">plaintiff<\/span> or his attorney, and shall contain a caption setting forth the name of the <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> and the title of the action, which shall include the names of all parties and the address of each <span class=\"dictionary\">defendant<\/span>. It shall state the <span class=\"dictionary\">facts<\/span> on which the <span class=\"dictionary\">plaintiff<\/span> relies, and shall be sufficient if it clearly informs the <span class=\"dictionary\">defendant<\/span> or <span class=\"dictionary\">defendants<\/span> of the true nature of the claim asserted. The motion shall notify the <span class=\"dictionary\">defendant<\/span> or <span class=\"dictionary\">defendants<\/span> of the day on which such motion shall be made, which day shall not be more than 90 days from the date of service of the motion.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nACTIONS BROUGHT BY MOTION FOR JUDGMENT (\u00a7 16.1-81)\n\nA civil action in a general district court may be brought by motion for\njudgment. Such motion shall be in writing, signed by the plaintiff or his\nattorney, and shall contain a caption setting forth the name of the court and\nthe title of the action, which shall include the names of all parties and the\naddress of each defendant. It shall state the facts on which the plaintiff\nrelies, and shall be sufficient if it clearly informs the defendant or\ndefendants of the true nature of the claim asserted. The motion shall notify the\ndefendant or defendants of the day on which such motion shall be made, which day\nshall not be more than 90 days from the date of service of the motion.\n\nHISTORY: 1956, c. 555; 1990, c. 762; 2025, c. 349.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}