{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/34-17.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/34-17.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/34-17.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/34-17.html"}],"law_id":54949,"edition_id":1,"section_id":54949,"structure_id":13372,"section_number":"34-17","catch_line":"When exemption may be set apart; garnished wages","history":"Code 1919, \u00a7 6543; 1944, p. 489; 1974, c. 272; 1981, c. 580; 1985, c. 521; 1990, c. 942; 2003, c. 1000; 2005, c. 367; 2020, c. 328.","full_text":"A\n\nThe real or personal estate that a householder is entitled to hold as exempt may be set apart at any time before it is subjected by sale under creditor process or by a trustee in bankruptcy, or, if such creditor process does not require sale of the property, before it is turned over to the creditor.B\n\nA claim of homestead exemption to protect garnished wages may be filed by the debtor after the garnishment summons is served on the employer but prior to or upon the return date of the garnishment summons and shall be considered by the garnishing court.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":201607,"text":"The real or personal estate that a householder is entitled to hold as exempt may be set apart at any time before it is subjected by sale under creditor process or by a trustee in bankruptcy, or, if such creditor process does not require sale of the property, before it is turned over to the creditor.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":201608,"text":"A claim of homestead exemption to protect garnished wages may be filed by the debtor after the garnishment summons is served on the employer but prior to or upon the return date of the garnishment summons and shall be considered by the garnishing court.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13372,"edition_id":1,"name":"Homestead Exemption of Householder","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13371,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:43","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:43","permalink":{"id":207979,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13372,"identifier":"2","token":"34\/2","url":"\/34\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13371,"edition_id":1,"name":"Homestead and Other Exemptions","identifier":"34","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:43","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:43","permalink":{"id":207959,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13371,"identifier":"34","token":"34","url":"\/34\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":65931,"structure_id":13372,"section_number":"34-10","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/34-10\/","token":"34\/2\/34-10","metadata":false},{"id":72684,"structure_id":13372,"section_number":"34-13","catch_line":"Householder may set apart exemption in personal estate","url":"\/34-13\/","token":"34\/2\/34-13","metadata":false},{"id":57768,"structure_id":13372,"section_number":"34-14","catch_line":"How set apart in personal estate; form to claim exemption of personal property","url":"\/34-14\/","token":"34\/2\/34-14","metadata":false},{"id":80341,"structure_id":13372,"section_number":"34-15","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/34-15\/","token":"34\/2\/34-15","metadata":false},{"id":54949,"structure_id":13372,"section_number":"34-17","catch_line":"When exemption may be set apart; garnished wages","url":"\/34-17\/","token":"34\/2\/34-17","metadata":false},{"id":72433,"structure_id":13372,"section_number":"34-18","catch_line":"Rents and profits exempt; increase in value of estate set apart","url":"\/34-18\/","token":"34\/2\/34-18","metadata":false},{"id":65016,"structure_id":13372,"section_number":"34-19","catch_line":"How excess in value set apart subjected to debts","url":"\/34-19\/","token":"34\/2\/34-19","metadata":false},{"id":69736,"structure_id":13372,"section_number":"34-20","catch_line":"Proceeds of sale of estate exempt; how evidenced","url":"\/34-20\/","token":"34\/2\/34-20","metadata":false},{"id":73755,"structure_id":13372,"section_number":"34-21","catch_line":"When householder's right to exemption is exhausted","url":"\/34-21\/","token":"34\/2\/34-21","metadata":false},{"id":82632,"structure_id":13372,"section_number":"34-22","catch_line":"Waiver of exemption; its effect; form of waiver","url":"\/34-22\/","token":"34\/2\/34-22","metadata":false},{"id":76687,"structure_id":13372,"section_number":"34-23","catch_line":"How claim enforced when exemption waived, etc","url":"\/34-23\/","token":"34\/2\/34-23","metadata":false},{"id":69764,"structure_id":13372,"section_number":"34-24","catch_line":"When the exemption ceases; lien of judgment or decree against householder","url":"\/34-24\/","token":"34\/2\/34-24","metadata":false},{"id":68844,"structure_id":13372,"section_number":"34-25","catch_line":"When homestead waived judgments and executions to so state","url":"\/34-25\/","token":"34\/2\/34-25","metadata":false},{"id":86197,"structure_id":13372,"section_number":"34-4","catch_line":"Exemption created","url":"\/34-4\/","token":"34\/2\/34-4","metadata":false},{"id":54345,"structure_id":13372,"section_number":"34-4.1","catch_line":"Additional exemption for certain veterans","url":"\/34-4.1\/","token":"34\/2\/34-4.1","metadata":false},{"id":86973,"structure_id":13372,"section_number":"34-4.2","catch_line":"Additional exemption for parents of dependent children","url":"\/34-4.2\/","token":"34\/2\/34-4.2","metadata":false},{"id":65880,"structure_id":13372,"section_number":"34-5","catch_line":"To what debts exemptions shall not apply","url":"\/34-5\/","token":"34\/2\/34-5","metadata":false},{"id":84819,"structure_id":13372,"section_number":"34-6","catch_line":"How exemption of real estate secured; form to claim exemption of real property","url":"\/34-6\/","token":"34\/2\/34-6","metadata":false},{"id":75449,"structure_id":13372,"section_number":"34-7","catch_line":"Real estate, subject to encumbrances, may be set apart; if sold, how surplus disposed of","url":"\/34-7\/","token":"34\/2\/34-7","metadata":false},{"id":79486,"structure_id":13372,"section_number":"34-8","catch_line":"Partition or sale of real estate held as exempt by joint tenant, etc","url":"\/34-8\/","token":"34\/2\/34-8","metadata":false},{"id":61432,"structure_id":13372,"section_number":"34-9","catch_line":"How real estate set apart as exempt may be encumbered or aliened","url":"\/34-9\/","token":"34\/2\/34-9","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":80341,"structure_id":13372,"section_number":"34-15","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/34-15\/","token":"34\/2\/34-15","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":72433,"structure_id":13372,"section_number":"34-18","catch_line":"Rents and profits exempt; increase in value of estate set apart","url":"\/34-18\/","token":"34\/2\/34-18","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/34-17\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 7 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 1974, chapter 272; in 1981, chapter 580; in 1985, chapter 521; in 1990, chapter 942; in 2003, chapter 1000<\/a>; in 2005, chapter 367<\/a>; in 2020, chapter 328<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":71731,"section_number":"34-34","catch_line":"Certain retirement benefits exempt","order_by":null,"url":"\/34-34\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":207997,"object_type":"law","relational_id":54949,"identifier":"34-17","token":"34\/2\/34-17","url":"\/34-17\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/34-17\/","token":"34\/2\/34-17","dublin_core":{"Title":"When exemption may be set apart; garnished wages","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 34-17","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The real or personal estate that a householder<\/span> is entitled to hold as exempt<\/span> may be set apart at any time before it is subjected by sale under creditor process<\/span> or by a trustee in bankruptcy<\/span>, or, if such creditor process<\/span> does not require sale of the property, before it is turned over to the creditor. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> A claim of homestead exemption<\/span> to protect garnished wages may be filed by the debtor after the garnishment<\/span> summons<\/span> is served on the employer but prior to or upon the return date of the garnishment<\/span> summons<\/span> and shall be considered by the garnishing court<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nWHEN EXEMPTION MAY BE SET APART; GARNISHED WAGES (\u00a7 34-17)\n\nA. The real or personal estate that a householder is entitled to hold as exempt\nmay be set apart at any time before it is subjected by sale under creditor\nprocess or by a trustee in bankruptcy, or, if such creditor process does not\nrequire sale of the property, before it is turned over to the creditor.\n\nB. A claim of homestead exemption to protect garnished wages may be filed by the\ndebtor after the garnishment summons is served on the employer but prior to or\nupon the return date of the garnishment summons and shall be considered by the\ngarnishing court.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1919, \u00a7 6543; 1944, p. 489; 1974, c. 272; 1981, c. 580; 1985, c.\n521; 1990, c. 942; 2003, c. 1000; 2005, c. 367; 2020, c. 328.","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}}