{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/8.01-235.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/8.01-235.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/8.01-235.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/8.01-235.html"}],"law_id":74957,"edition_id":1,"section_id":74957,"structure_id":15400,"section_number":"8.01-235","catch_line":"Bar of expiration of limitation period raised only as affirmative defense in responsive pleading","history":"1977, c. 617.","full_text":"The objection that an action is not commenced within the limitation period prescribed by law can only be raised as an affirmative defense specifically set forth in a responsive pleading. No statutory limitation period shall have jurisdictional effects and the defense that the statutory limitation period has expired cannot be set up by demurrer. This section shall apply to all limitation periods, without regard to whether or not the statute prescribing such limitation period shall create a new right.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":269267,"text":"The objection that an action is not commenced within the limitation period prescribed by law can only be raised as an affirmative defense specifically set forth in a responsive pleading. No statutory limitation period shall have jurisdictional effects and the defense that the statutory limitation period has expired cannot be set up by demurrer. This section shall apply to all limitation periods, without regard to whether or not the statute prescribing such limitation period shall create a new right.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":15400,"edition_id":1,"name":"In General","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14109,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:54:38","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:54:38","permalink":{"id":281129,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15400,"identifier":"1","token":"8.01\/4\/1","url":"\/8.01\/4\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14109,"edition_id":1,"name":"Limitations of Actions","identifier":"4","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12747,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:54","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:54","permalink":{"id":281127,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14109,"identifier":"4","token":"8.01\/4","url":"\/8.01\/4\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12747,"edition_id":1,"name":"Civil Remedies and Procedure","identifier":"8.01","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":277029,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12747,"identifier":"8.01","token":"8.01","url":"\/8.01\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":58648,"structure_id":15400,"section_number":"8.01-228","catch_line":"Scope of limitations; \"personal action\" defined","url":"\/8.01-228\/","token":"8.01\/4\/1\/8.01-228","metadata":false},{"id":64704,"structure_id":15400,"section_number":"8.01-229","catch_line":"Suspension or tolling of statute of limitations; effect of disabilities; effect of death; injunction; prevention of service by defendant; dismissal, nonsuit or abatement; devise for payment of debts; new promises; debts proved in creditors' suits","url":"\/8.01-229\/","token":"8.01\/4\/1\/8.01-229","metadata":false},{"id":74083,"structure_id":15400,"section_number":"8.01-230","catch_line":"Accrual of right of action","url":"\/8.01-230\/","token":"8.01\/4\/1\/8.01-230","metadata":false},{"id":77412,"structure_id":15400,"section_number":"8.01-231","catch_line":"Commonwealth not within statute of limitations","url":"\/8.01-231\/","token":"8.01\/4\/1\/8.01-231","metadata":false},{"id":85263,"structure_id":15400,"section_number":"8.01-232","catch_line":"Effect of promises not to plead statute of limitations","url":"\/8.01-232\/","token":"8.01\/4\/1\/8.01-232","metadata":false},{"id":70251,"structure_id":15400,"section_number":"8.01-233","catch_line":"When action deemed brought on counterclaim or cross-claim; when statute of limitations tolled; defendant's consent required for dismissal","url":"\/8.01-233\/","token":"8.01\/4\/1\/8.01-233","metadata":false},{"id":61345,"structure_id":15400,"section_number":"8.01-234","catch_line":"Repeal of limitation not to remove bar of statute","url":"\/8.01-234\/","token":"8.01\/4\/1\/8.01-234","metadata":false},{"id":74957,"structure_id":15400,"section_number":"8.01-235","catch_line":"Bar of expiration of limitation period raised only as affirmative defense in responsive pleading","url":"\/8.01-235\/","token":"8.01\/4\/1\/8.01-235","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":61345,"structure_id":15400,"section_number":"8.01-234","catch_line":"Repeal of limitation not to remove bar of statute","url":"\/8.01-234\/","token":"8.01\/4\/1\/8.01-234","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/8.01-235\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1977. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 617 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 1977 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online.<\/p>","references":[{"id":69511,"section_number":"8.01-195.7","catch_line":"Statute of limitations","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-195.7\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":281159,"object_type":"law","relational_id":74957,"identifier":"8.01-235","token":"8.01\/4\/1\/8.01-235","url":"\/8.01-235\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/8.01-235\/","token":"8.01\/4\/1\/8.01-235","dublin_core":{"Title":"Bar of expiration of limitation period raised only as affirmative defense in responsive pleading","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 8.01-235","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>The objection that an <span class=\"dictionary\">action<\/span> is not commenced within the limitation period prescribed by <span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span> can only be raised as an <span class=\"dictionary\">affirmative defense<\/span> specifically set forth in a responsive pleading. No statutory limitation period shall have jurisdictional effects and the defense that the statutory limitation period has expired cannot be set up by <span class=\"dictionary\">demurrer<\/span>. This section shall apply to all limitation periods, without regard to whether or not the <span class=\"dictionary\">statute<\/span> prescribing such limitation period shall create a new right.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nBAR OF EXPIRATION OF LIMITATION PERIOD RAISED ONLY AS AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE IN\nRESPONSIVE PLEADING (\u00a7 8.01-235)\n\nThe objection that an action is not commenced within the limitation period\nprescribed by law can only be raised as an affirmative defense specifically set\nforth in a responsive pleading. No statutory limitation period shall have\njurisdictional effects and the defense that the statutory limitation period has\nexpired cannot be set up by demurrer. This section shall apply to all limitation\nperiods, without regard to whether or not the statute prescribing such\nlimitation period shall create a new right.\n\nHISTORY: 1977, c. 617.","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}}