{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/29.1-733.14.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/29.1-733.14.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/29.1-733.14.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/29.1-733.14.html"}],"law_id":85781,"edition_id":1,"section_id":85781,"structure_id":13228,"section_number":"29.1-733.14","catch_line":"Effect of possession of certificate of title; judicial process; levy; penalty","history":"2013, c. 787.","full_text":"A\n\nPossession of a certificate of title does not by itself provide a right to obtain possession of a watercraft. Garnishment, attachment, levy, replevin, or other judicial process against the certificate is not effective to determine possessory rights to the watercraft. This article does not prohibit enforcement under law of the Commonwealth other than this article of a security interest in, levy on, or foreclosure of a statutory or common-law lien on a watercraft. Absence of an indication of a statutory or common-law lien on a certificate does not invalidate the lien.B\n\nA levy made by virtue of an execution, fieri facias, or other proper court order, upon a watercraft for which a certificate of title has been issued by the Department, shall constitute a lien, when the officer making the levy reports to the Department at its principal office, on forms provided by the Department, that the levy has been made and that the vessel levied upon is in the custody of the officer. Should the lien thereafter be satisfied or should the vessel levied upon and seized thereafter be released by the officer, he shall immediately report that fact to the Department at its principal office. Any owner who, after such levy and seizure by an officer and before the report is made by the officer to the Department, fraudulently assigns or transfers his title to or interest in the watercraft, or causes the certificate of title to be assigned or transferred, or causes a security interest to be shown upon such certificate of title, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":307215,"text":"Possession of a certificate of title does not by itself provide a right to obtain possession of a watercraft. Garnishment, attachment, levy, replevin, or other judicial process against the certificate is not effective to determine possessory rights to the watercraft. This article does not prohibit enforcement under law of the Commonwealth other than this article of a security interest in, levy on, or foreclosure of a statutory or common-law lien on a watercraft. Absence of an indication of a statutory or common-law lien on a certificate does not invalidate the lien.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":307216,"text":"A levy made by virtue of an execution, fieri facias, or other proper court order, upon a watercraft for which a certificate of title has been issued by the Department, shall constitute a lien, when the officer making the levy reports to the Department at its principal office, on forms provided by the Department, that the levy has been made and that the vessel levied upon is in the custody of the officer. Should the lien thereafter be satisfied or should the vessel levied upon and seized thereafter be released by the officer, he shall immediately report that fact to the Department at its principal office. Any owner who, after such levy and seizure by an officer and before the report is made by the officer to the Department, fraudulently assigns or transfers his title to or interest in the watercraft, or causes the certificate of title to be assigned or transferred, or causes a security interest to be shown upon such certificate of title, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13228,"edition_id":1,"name":"Virginia Uniform Certificate of Title for Watercraft Act","identifier":"2.1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13227,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:29","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:29","permalink":{"id":193527,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13228,"identifier":"2.1","token":"29.1\/7\/2.1","url":"\/29.1\/7\/2.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13227,"edition_id":1,"name":"Boating Laws","identifier":"7","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12934,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:29","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:29","permalink":{"id":193453,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13227,"identifier":"7","token":"29.1\/7","url":"\/29.1\/7\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12934,"edition_id":1,"name":"Wildlife, Inland Fisheries and Boating","identifier":"29.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","permalink":{"id":192277,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12934,"identifier":"29.1","token":"29.1","url":"\/29.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":59450,"structure_id":13228,"section_number":"29.1-733.10","catch_line":"Title brand","url":"\/29.1-733.10\/","token":"29.1\/7\/2.1\/29.1-733.10","metadata":false},{"id":66488,"structure_id":13228,"section_number":"29.1-733.11","catch_line":"Maintenance of and access to files","url":"\/29.1-733.11\/","token":"29.1\/7\/2.1\/29.1-733.11","metadata":false},{"id":81845,"structure_id":13228,"section_number":"29.1-733.12","catch_line":"Action required on creation of certificate of title","url":"\/29.1-733.12\/","token":"29.1\/7\/2.1\/29.1-733.12","metadata":false},{"id":84270,"structure_id":13228,"section_number":"29.1-733.13","catch_line":"Effect of certificate of title","url":"\/29.1-733.13\/","token":"29.1\/7\/2.1\/29.1-733.13","metadata":false},{"id":85781,"structure_id":13228,"section_number":"29.1-733.14","catch_line":"Effect of possession of certificate of title; judicial process; levy; penalty","url":"\/29.1-733.14\/","token":"29.1\/7\/2.1\/29.1-733.14","metadata":false},{"id":72201,"structure_id":13228,"section_number":"29.1-733.15","catch_line":"Perfection of security interest","url":"\/29.1-733.15\/","token":"29.1\/7\/2.1\/29.1-733.15","metadata":false},{"id":82562,"structure_id":13228,"section_number":"29.1-733.16","catch_line":"Termination statement; delivery of certificate of title; penalty","url":"\/29.1-733.16\/","token":"29.1\/7\/2.1\/29.1-733.16","metadata":false},{"id":72284,"structure_id":13228,"section_number":"29.1-733.17","catch_line":"Transfer of ownership","url":"\/29.1-733.17\/","token":"29.1\/7\/2.1\/29.1-733.17","metadata":false},{"id":64392,"structure_id":13228,"section_number":"29.1-733.18","catch_line":"Effect of missing or incorrect information","url":"\/29.1-733.18\/","token":"29.1\/7\/2.1\/29.1-733.18","metadata":false},{"id":64029,"structure_id":13228,"section_number":"29.1-733.19","catch_line":"Transfer of ownership by secured party's transfer statement","url":"\/29.1-733.19\/","token":"29.1\/7\/2.1\/29.1-733.19","metadata":false},{"id":76938,"structure_id":13228,"section_number":"29.1-733.2","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/29.1-733.2\/","token":"29.1\/7\/2.1\/29.1-733.2","metadata":false},{"id":54234,"structure_id":13228,"section_number":"29.1-733.20","catch_line":"Transfer by operation of law","url":"\/29.1-733.20\/","token":"29.1\/7\/2.1\/29.1-733.20","metadata":false},{"id":80512,"structure_id":13228,"section_number":"29.1-733.21","catch_line":"Application for transfer of ownership or termination of security interest without certificate of title","url":"\/29.1-733.21\/","token":"29.1\/7\/2.1\/29.1-733.21","metadata":false},{"id":59034,"structure_id":13228,"section_number":"29.1-733.22","catch_line":"Replacement certificate of title","url":"\/29.1-733.22\/","token":"29.1\/7\/2.1\/29.1-733.22","metadata":false},{"id":82240,"structure_id":13228,"section_number":"29.1-733.23","catch_line":"Rights of purchaser other than secured party","url":"\/29.1-733.23\/","token":"29.1\/7\/2.1\/29.1-733.23","metadata":false},{"id":70415,"structure_id":13228,"section_number":"29.1-733.24","catch_line":"Rights of secured party","url":"\/29.1-733.24\/","token":"29.1\/7\/2.1\/29.1-733.24","metadata":false},{"id":55510,"structure_id":13228,"section_number":"29.1-733.25","catch_line":"Acquiring title to an abandoned watercraft","url":"\/29.1-733.25\/","token":"29.1\/7\/2.1\/29.1-733.25","metadata":false},{"id":58657,"structure_id":13228,"section_number":"29.1-733.26","catch_line":"Duties and operation of the Department","url":"\/29.1-733.26\/","token":"29.1\/7\/2.1\/29.1-733.26","metadata":false},{"id":74341,"structure_id":13228,"section_number":"29.1-733.27","catch_line":"Uniformity of application and construction","url":"\/29.1-733.27\/","token":"29.1\/7\/2.1\/29.1-733.27","metadata":false},{"id":80225,"structure_id":13228,"section_number":"29.1-733.28","catch_line":"Relationship to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act","url":"\/29.1-733.28\/","token":"29.1\/7\/2.1\/29.1-733.28","metadata":false},{"id":66326,"structure_id":13228,"section_number":"29.1-733.29","catch_line":"Savings clause","url":"\/29.1-733.29\/","token":"29.1\/7\/2.1\/29.1-733.29","metadata":false},{"id":83150,"structure_id":13228,"section_number":"29.1-733.3","catch_line":"Applicability","url":"\/29.1-733.3\/","token":"29.1\/7\/2.1\/29.1-733.3","metadata":false},{"id":67036,"structure_id":13228,"section_number":"29.1-733.4","catch_line":"Supplemental principles of law and equity","url":"\/29.1-733.4\/","token":"29.1\/7\/2.1\/29.1-733.4","metadata":false},{"id":73968,"structure_id":13228,"section_number":"29.1-733.5","catch_line":"Law governing watercraft covered by certificate of title","url":"\/29.1-733.5\/","token":"29.1\/7\/2.1\/29.1-733.5","metadata":false},{"id":87192,"structure_id":13228,"section_number":"29.1-733.6","catch_line":"Certificate of title required","url":"\/29.1-733.6\/","token":"29.1\/7\/2.1\/29.1-733.6","metadata":false},{"id":68953,"structure_id":13228,"section_number":"29.1-733.7","catch_line":"Application for certificate of title","url":"\/29.1-733.7\/","token":"29.1\/7\/2.1\/29.1-733.7","metadata":false},{"id":57724,"structure_id":13228,"section_number":"29.1-733.8","catch_line":"Creation and cancellation of certificate of title","url":"\/29.1-733.8\/","token":"29.1\/7\/2.1\/29.1-733.8","metadata":false},{"id":83895,"structure_id":13228,"section_number":"29.1-733.9","catch_line":"Content of certificate of title","url":"\/29.1-733.9\/","token":"29.1\/7\/2.1\/29.1-733.9","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":84270,"structure_id":13228,"section_number":"29.1-733.13","catch_line":"Effect of certificate of title","url":"\/29.1-733.13\/","token":"29.1\/7\/2.1\/29.1-733.13","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":72201,"structure_id":13228,"section_number":"29.1-733.15","catch_line":"Perfection of security interest","url":"\/29.1-733.15\/","token":"29.1\/7\/2.1\/29.1-733.15","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/29.1-733.14\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 2013. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?131+ful+CHAP0787\">787<\/a> 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.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":193545,"object_type":"law","relational_id":85781,"identifier":"29.1-733.14","token":"29.1\/7\/2.1\/29.1-733.14","url":"\/29.1-733.14\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/29.1-733.14\/","token":"29.1\/7\/2.1\/29.1-733.14","dublin_core":{"Title":"Effect of possession of certificate of title; judicial process; levy; penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 29.1-733.14","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">A.<\/span> <span class=\"dictionary\">Possession<\/span> of a <span class=\"dictionary\">certificate of title<\/span> does not by itself provide a right to obtain <span class=\"dictionary\">possession<\/span> of a <span class=\"dictionary\">watercraft<\/span>. <span class=\"dictionary\">Garnishment<\/span>, <span class=\"dictionary\">attachment<\/span>, <span class=\"dictionary\">levy<\/span>, replevin, or other judicial process against the certificate is not effective to determine possessory rights to the <span class=\"dictionary\">watercraft<\/span>. This article does not prohibit enforcement under <span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span> of the Commonwealth other than this article of a <span class=\"dictionary\">security interest<\/span> in, <span class=\"dictionary\">levy<\/span> on, or foreclosure of a statutory or common-<span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span> <span class=\"dictionary\">lien<\/span> on a <span class=\"dictionary\">watercraft<\/span>. Absence of an indication of a statutory or common-<span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span> <span class=\"dictionary\">lien<\/span> on a certificate does not invalidate the <span class=\"dictionary\">lien<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-307215\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/29.1-733.14\/#A\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">B.<\/span> A <span class=\"dictionary\">levy<\/span> made by virtue of an execution, fieri facias, or other proper <span class=\"dictionary\">court order<\/span>, upon a <span class=\"dictionary\">watercraft<\/span> for which a <span class=\"dictionary\">certificate of title<\/span> has been issued by the <span class=\"dictionary\">Department<\/span>, shall constitute a <span class=\"dictionary\">lien<\/span>, when the officer making the <span class=\"dictionary\">levy<\/span> reports to the <span class=\"dictionary\">Department<\/span> at its principal office, on forms provided by the <span class=\"dictionary\">Department<\/span>, that the <span class=\"dictionary\">levy<\/span> has been made and that the <span class=\"dictionary\">vessel<\/span> levied upon is in the <span class=\"dictionary\">custody<\/span> of the officer. Should the <span class=\"dictionary\">lien<\/span> thereafter be satisfied or should the <span class=\"dictionary\">vessel<\/span> levied upon and seized thereafter be released by the officer, he shall immediately report that <span class=\"dictionary\">fact<\/span> to the <span class=\"dictionary\">Department<\/span> at its principal office. Any <span class=\"dictionary\">owner<\/span> who, after such <span class=\"dictionary\">levy<\/span> and seizure by an officer and before the report is made by the officer to the <span class=\"dictionary\">Department<\/span>, fraudulently assigns or transfers his title to or interest in the <span class=\"dictionary\">watercraft<\/span>, or causes the <span class=\"dictionary\">certificate of title<\/span> to be assigned or transferred, or causes a <span class=\"dictionary\">security interest<\/span> to be shown upon such <span class=\"dictionary\">certificate of title<\/span>, is guilty of a Class 1 <span class=\"dictionary\">misdemeanor<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-307216\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/29.1-733.14\/#B\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nEFFECT OF POSSESSION OF CERTIFICATE OF TITLE; JUDICIAL PROCESS; LEVY; PENALTY\n(\u00a7 29.1-733.14)\n\nA. Possession of a certificate of title does not by itself provide a right to\nobtain possession of a watercraft. Garnishment, attachment, levy, replevin, or\nother judicial process against the certificate is not effective to determine\npossessory rights to the watercraft. This article does not prohibit enforcement\nunder law of the Commonwealth other than this article of a security interest in,\nlevy on, or foreclosure of a statutory or common-law lien on a watercraft.\nAbsence of an indication of a statutory or common-law lien on a certificate does\nnot invalidate the lien.\n\nB. A levy made by virtue of an execution, fieri facias, or other proper court\norder, upon a watercraft for which a certificate of title has been issued by the\nDepartment, shall constitute a lien, when the officer making the levy reports to\nthe Department at its principal office, on forms provided by the Department,\nthat the levy has been made and that the vessel levied upon is in the custody of\nthe officer. Should the lien thereafter be satisfied or should the vessel levied\nupon and seized thereafter be released by the officer, he shall immediately\nreport that fact to the Department at its principal office. Any owner who, after\nsuch levy and seizure by an officer and before the report is made by the officer\nto the Department, fraudulently assigns or transfers his title to or interest in\nthe watercraft, or causes the certificate of title to be assigned or\ntransferred, or causes a security interest to be shown upon such certificate of\ntitle, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.\n\nHISTORY: 2013, c. 787.","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}}