{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/8.01-471.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/8.01-471.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/8.01-471.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/8.01-471.html"}],"law_id":78505,"edition_id":1,"section_id":78505,"structure_id":14906,"section_number":"8.01-471","catch_line":"Time period for issuing writs of eviction in unlawful entry and detainer; when returnable","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 8-403; 1977, c. 617; 1999, c. 683; 2003, c. 427; 2006, c. 667; 2013, c. 63; 2019, cc. 180, 700; 2023, cc. 442, 443.","full_text":"Writs of eviction, in case of unlawful entry and detainer, shall be issued within 180 days from the date of judgment for possession and shall be made returnable within 30 days from the date of issuing the writ, and any executed writ shall be returned to the issuing clerk by the sheriff executing such writ. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a writ of eviction not executed within 30 days from the date of issuance shall be vacated as a matter of law without further order of the court that entered the order of possession, and no further action shall be taken by the clerk. No writ shall issue, however, in cases under the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (\u00a7 55.1-1200 et seq.) if, following the entry of judgment for possession, the landlord has entered into a new written rental agreement with the tenant, as described in \u00a7 55.1-1250. A writ of eviction may be requested by the plaintiff or the plaintiff’s attorney or agent.\n\t\tThe Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia shall annually report on or before September 1 to the Chairmen of the House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice, the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology, the House Committee on General Laws, and the Virginia Housing Commission on the number of executed writs returned pursuant to this section. The first report shall be made by September 1, 2024, and shall include writs executed between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":281355,"text":"Writs of eviction, in case of unlawful entry and detainer, shall be issued within 180 days from the date of judgment for possession and shall be made returnable within 30 days from the date of issuing the writ, and any executed writ shall be returned to the issuing clerk by the sheriff executing such writ. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a writ of eviction not executed within 30 days from the date of issuance shall be vacated as a matter of law without further order of the court that entered the order of possession, and no further action shall be taken by the clerk. No writ shall issue, however, in cases under the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (\u00a7 55.1-1200 et seq.) if, following the entry of judgment for possession, the landlord has entered into a new written rental agreement with the tenant, as described in \u00a7 55.1-1250. A writ of eviction may be requested by the plaintiff or the plaintiff’s attorney or agent.\n\t\tThe Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia shall annually report on or before September 1 to the Chairmen of the House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice, the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology, the House Committee on General Laws, and the Virginia Housing Commission on the number of executed writs returned pursuant to this section. The first report shall be made by September 1, 2024, and shall include writs executed between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14906,"edition_id":1,"name":"Issue and Form; Motion to Quash","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13222,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:50:42","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:50:42","permalink":{"id":278065,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14906,"identifier":"1","token":"8.01\/18\/1","url":"\/8.01\/18\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13222,"edition_id":1,"name":"Executions and Other Means of Recovery","identifier":"18","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12747,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:28","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:28","permalink":{"id":278063,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13222,"identifier":"18","token":"8.01\/18","url":"\/8.01\/18\/","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":56904,"structure_id":14906,"section_number":"8.01-466","catch_line":"Clerk to issue fieri facias on judgment for money","url":"\/8.01-466\/","token":"8.01\/18\/1\/8.01-466","metadata":false},{"id":74677,"structure_id":14906,"section_number":"8.01-467","catch_line":"What writs may not issue","url":"\/8.01-467\/","token":"8.01\/18\/1\/8.01-467","metadata":false},{"id":83803,"structure_id":14906,"section_number":"8.01-468","catch_line":"Executions against corporations","url":"\/8.01-468\/","token":"8.01\/18\/1\/8.01-468","metadata":false},{"id":80952,"structure_id":14906,"section_number":"8.01-469","catch_line":"Executions on joint judgments","url":"\/8.01-469\/","token":"8.01\/18\/1\/8.01-469","metadata":false},{"id":67287,"structure_id":14906,"section_number":"8.01-470","catch_line":"Writs on judgments for specific property","url":"\/8.01-470\/","token":"8.01\/18\/1\/8.01-470","metadata":false},{"id":78505,"structure_id":14906,"section_number":"8.01-471","catch_line":"Time period for issuing writs of eviction in unlawful entry and detainer; when returnable","url":"\/8.01-471\/","token":"8.01\/18\/1\/8.01-471","metadata":false},{"id":76115,"structure_id":14906,"section_number":"8.01-472","catch_line":"Writs on judgments for personal property","url":"\/8.01-472\/","token":"8.01\/18\/1\/8.01-472","metadata":false},{"id":75764,"structure_id":14906,"section_number":"8.01-473","catch_line":"Judgment for benefit of other person than plaintiff; remedies of such person","url":"\/8.01-473\/","token":"8.01\/18\/1\/8.01-473","metadata":false},{"id":72960,"structure_id":14906,"section_number":"8.01-474","catch_line":"What writ of fieri facias to command","url":"\/8.01-474\/","token":"8.01\/18\/1\/8.01-474","metadata":false},{"id":63076,"structure_id":14906,"section_number":"8.01-475","catch_line":"Subsequent executions","url":"\/8.01-475\/","token":"8.01\/18\/1\/8.01-475","metadata":false},{"id":65809,"structure_id":14906,"section_number":"8.01-476","catch_line":"New execution after loss of property sold under indemnifying bond","url":"\/8.01-476\/","token":"8.01\/18\/1\/8.01-476","metadata":false},{"id":64614,"structure_id":14906,"section_number":"8.01-477","catch_line":"When executions may be quashed; how proceedings thereon stayed","url":"\/8.01-477\/","token":"8.01\/18\/1\/8.01-477","metadata":false},{"id":72198,"structure_id":14906,"section_number":"8.01-477.1","catch_line":"Claims of exemption from execution","url":"\/8.01-477.1\/","token":"8.01\/18\/1\/8.01-477.1","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":67287,"structure_id":14906,"section_number":"8.01-470","catch_line":"Writs on judgments for specific property","url":"\/8.01-470\/","token":"8.01\/18\/1\/8.01-470","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":76115,"structure_id":14906,"section_number":"8.01-472","catch_line":"Writs on judgments for personal property","url":"\/8.01-472\/","token":"8.01\/18\/1\/8.01-472","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/8.01-471\/","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 1977, chapter 617; in 1999, chapter 683<\/a>; in 2003, chapter 427<\/a>; in 2006, chapter 667<\/a>; in 2013, chapter 63<\/a>; in 2019, chapters 180<\/a> and 700<\/a>; in 2023, chapters 442<\/a> and 443<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":71253,"section_number":"8.01-454","catch_line":"Judgment, when satisfied, to be so noted by creditor","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-454\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":61413,"section_number":"55.1-1200","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/55.1-1200\/"},{"id":85575,"section_number":"55.1-1250","catch_line":"Landlord's acceptance of rent with reservation; tenant's right of redemption","order_by":null,"url":"\/55.1-1250\/"}],"permalink":{"id":278087,"object_type":"law","relational_id":78505,"identifier":"8.01-471","token":"8.01\/18\/1\/8.01-471","url":"\/8.01-471\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/8.01-471\/","token":"8.01\/18\/1\/8.01-471","dublin_core":{"Title":"Time period for issuing writs of eviction in unlawful entry and detainer; when returnable","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 8.01-471","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Writs<\/span> of eviction, in case of unlawful entry and detainer, shall be issued within 180 days from the date of judgment<\/span> for possession<\/span> and shall be made returnable within 30 days from the date of issuing the writ<\/span>, and any executed writ<\/span> shall be returned to the issuing clerk by the sheriff<\/span> executing such writ<\/span>. Notwithstanding any other provision of law<\/span>, a writ<\/span> of eviction not executed within 30 days from the date of issuance shall be vacated as a matter of law<\/span> without further order<\/span> of the court<\/span> that entered the order<\/span> of possession<\/span>, and no further action<\/span> shall be taken by the clerk. No writ<\/span> shall issue<\/span>, however, in cases under the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (\u00a7 55.1-1200<\/a> et seq.) if, following the entry of judgment<\/span> for possession<\/span>, the landlord has entered into a new written rental agreement with the tenant, as described in \u00a7 55.1-1250<\/a>. A writ<\/span> of eviction may be requested by the plaintiff<\/span> or the plaintiff<\/span>’s attorney or agent.\n\t\tThe Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court<\/span> of Virginia shall annually report on or before September 1 to the Chairmen of the House and Senate Committees for Courts<\/span> of Justice, the Senate Committee on General Laws<\/span> and Technology, the House Committee on General Laws<\/span>, and the Virginia Housing Commission on the number of executed writs<\/span> returned pursuant to this section. The first report shall be made by September 1, 2024, and shall include writs<\/span> executed between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nTIME PERIOD FOR ISSUING WRITS OF EVICTION IN UNLAWFUL ENTRY AND DETAINER; WHEN\nRETURNABLE (\u00a7 8.01-471)\n\nWrits of eviction, in case of unlawful entry and detainer, shall be issued\nwithin 180 days from the date of judgment for possession and shall be made\nreturnable within 30 days from the date of issuing the writ, and any executed\nwrit shall be returned to the issuing clerk by the sheriff executing such writ.\nNotwithstanding any other provision of law, a writ of eviction not executed\nwithin 30 days from the date of issuance shall be vacated as a matter of law\nwithout further order of the court that entered the order of possession, and no\nfurther action shall be taken by the clerk. No writ shall issue, however, in\ncases under the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (\u00a7 55.1-1200 et\nseq.) if, following the entry of judgment for possession, the landlord has\nentered into a new written rental agreement with the tenant, as described in \u00a7\n55.1-1250. A writ of eviction may be requested by the plaintiff or the\nplaintiff’s attorney or agent.\n\t\tThe Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia shall\nannually report on or before September 1 to the Chairmen of the House and Senate\nCommittees for Courts of Justice, the Senate Committee on General Laws and\nTechnology, the House Committee on General Laws, and the Virginia Housing\nCommission on the number of executed writs returned pursuant to this section.\nThe first report shall be made by September 1, 2024, and shall include writs\nexecuted between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 8-403; 1977, c. 617; 1999, c. 683; 2003, c. 427; 2006, c.\n667; 2013, c. 63; 2019, cc. 180, 700; 2023, cc. 442, 443.","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}}