{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/8.01-537.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/8.01-537.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/8.01-537.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/8.01-537.html"}],"law_id":77594,"edition_id":1,"section_id":77594,"structure_id":14790,"section_number":"8.01-537","catch_line":"Petition for attachment; costs, fees and taxes","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 8-524, 8-528; 1954, cc. 333, 622; 1973, c. 545; 1977, c. 617; 1978, c. 418; 1984, c. 646; 1993, c. 841; 2008, cc. 551, 691; 2015, c. 639.","full_text":"A\n\nEvery attachment shall be commenced by a petition filed before a clerk of a circuit or general district court of, or magistrate serving, the county or city in which venue is given by subdivision 11 of § 8.01-261. If it is sought to recover specific personal property, the petition shall state (i) the kind, quantity, and estimated fair market value thereof, (ii) the character of estate therein claimed by the plaintiff, (iii) the plaintiff’s claim with such certainty as will give the adverse party reasonable notice of the true nature of the claim and the particulars thereof and (iv) what sum, if any, the plaintiff claims an entitlement to recover for its detention. If it is sought to recover a debt or damages for a breach of contract, express or implied, or damages for a wrong, the petition shall set forth (i) the plaintiff’s claim with such certainty as will give the adverse party reasonable notice of the true nature of the claim and the particulars thereof, (ii) a sum certain which, at the least, the plaintiff is entitled to, or ought to recover, and (iii) if based on a contract and if the claim is for a debt not then due and payable, at what time or times the same will become due and payable. The petition shall also allege the existence of one or more of the grounds mentioned in § 8.01-534, and shall set forth specific facts in support of the allegation. The petition shall ask for an attachment against the specific personal property mentioned in the petition, or against the estate, real and personal, of one or more of the principal defendants, or against the estate, real and personal, of one or more of the principal defendants, or against both the specific personal property and the estate of such defendants, real or personal. The petition shall state whether the officer is requested to take possession of the attached tangible personal property. The petition shall be sworn to by the plaintiff or the plaintiff’s agent, or some other person cognizant of the facts therein stated.B\n\nThe plaintiff praying for an attachment shall, at the time the petition is filed, pay to the magistrate or clerk of the court to which the return is made the proper costs, fees and taxes, and in the event the plaintiff fails to do so, the attachment shall not be issued.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":278368,"text":"Every attachment shall be commenced by a petition filed before a clerk of a circuit or general district court of, or magistrate serving, the county or city in which venue is given by subdivision 11 of § 8.01-261. If it is sought to recover specific personal property, the petition shall state (i) the kind, quantity, and estimated fair market value thereof, (ii) the character of estate therein claimed by the plaintiff, (iii) the plaintiff’s claim with such certainty as will give the adverse party reasonable notice of the true nature of the claim and the particulars thereof and (iv) what sum, if any, the plaintiff claims an entitlement to recover for its detention. If it is sought to recover a debt or damages for a breach of contract, express or implied, or damages for a wrong, the petition shall set forth (i) the plaintiff’s claim with such certainty as will give the adverse party reasonable notice of the true nature of the claim and the particulars thereof, (ii) a sum certain which, at the least, the plaintiff is entitled to, or ought to recover, and (iii) if based on a contract and if the claim is for a debt not then due and payable, at what time or times the same will become due and payable. The petition shall also allege the existence of one or more of the grounds mentioned in § 8.01-534, and shall set forth specific facts in support of the allegation. The petition shall ask for an attachment against the specific personal property mentioned in the petition, or against the estate, real and personal, of one or more of the principal defendants, or against the estate, real and personal, of one or more of the principal defendants, or against both the specific personal property and the estate of such defendants, real or personal. The petition shall state whether the officer is requested to take possession of the attached tangible personal property. The petition shall be sworn to by the plaintiff or the plaintiff’s agent, or some other person cognizant of the facts therein stated.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":278369,"text":"The plaintiff praying for an attachment shall, at the time the petition is filed, pay to the magistrate or clerk of the court to which the return is made the proper costs, fees and taxes, and in the event the plaintiff fails to do so, the attachment shall not be issued.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14790,"edition_id":1,"name":"Attachments Generally","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12873,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:49:54","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:49:54","permalink":{"id":278567,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14790,"identifier":"1","token":"8.01\/20\/1","url":"\/8.01\/20\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12873,"edition_id":1,"name":"Attachments and Bail in Civil Cases","identifier":"20","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12747,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","permalink":{"id":278565,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12873,"identifier":"20","token":"8.01\/20","url":"\/8.01\/20\/","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":84946,"structure_id":14790,"section_number":"8.01-533","catch_line":"Who may sue out attachment","url":"\/8.01-533\/","token":"8.01\/20\/1\/8.01-533","metadata":false},{"id":76538,"structure_id":14790,"section_number":"8.01-534","catch_line":"Grounds of action for pretrial levy or seizure of attachment","url":"\/8.01-534\/","token":"8.01\/20\/1\/8.01-534","metadata":false},{"id":61296,"structure_id":14790,"section_number":"8.01-535","catch_line":"Jurisdiction of attachments; trial or hearing of issues","url":"\/8.01-535\/","token":"8.01\/20\/1\/8.01-535","metadata":false},{"id":86249,"structure_id":14790,"section_number":"8.01-536","catch_line":"Pleadings in attachment","url":"\/8.01-536\/","token":"8.01\/20\/1\/8.01-536","metadata":false},{"id":77594,"structure_id":14790,"section_number":"8.01-537","catch_line":"Petition for attachment; costs, fees and taxes","url":"\/8.01-537\/","token":"8.01\/20\/1\/8.01-537","metadata":false},{"id":57245,"structure_id":14790,"section_number":"8.01-537.1","catch_line":"Plaintiff to file bond","url":"\/8.01-537.1\/","token":"8.01\/20\/1\/8.01-537.1","metadata":false},{"id":87187,"structure_id":14790,"section_number":"8.01-538","catch_line":"Attachment of ships, boats and other vessels of more than twenty tons","url":"\/8.01-538\/","token":"8.01\/20\/1\/8.01-538","metadata":false},{"id":77506,"structure_id":14790,"section_number":"8.01-539","catch_line":"Who made defendants","url":"\/8.01-539\/","token":"8.01\/20\/1\/8.01-539","metadata":false},{"id":56751,"structure_id":14790,"section_number":"8.01-540","catch_line":"Issuance of attachment; against what attachment to issue","url":"\/8.01-540\/","token":"8.01\/20\/1\/8.01-540","metadata":false},{"id":62291,"structure_id":14790,"section_number":"8.01-541","catch_line":"To whom attachments directed; when and where returned","url":"\/8.01-541\/","token":"8.01\/20\/1\/8.01-541","metadata":false},{"id":56579,"structure_id":14790,"section_number":"8.01-542","catch_line":"Issue and execution of attachment on any day","url":"\/8.01-542\/","token":"8.01\/20\/1\/8.01-542","metadata":false},{"id":84996,"structure_id":14790,"section_number":"8.01-543","catch_line":"Issue of other attachments on original petition","url":"\/8.01-543\/","token":"8.01\/20\/1\/8.01-543","metadata":false},{"id":74420,"structure_id":14790,"section_number":"8.01-544","catch_line":"When attachment not served other attachments may issue; order of publication","url":"\/8.01-544\/","token":"8.01\/20\/1\/8.01-544","metadata":false},{"id":66495,"structure_id":14790,"section_number":"8.01-545","catch_line":"Amendments; formal defects","url":"\/8.01-545\/","token":"8.01\/20\/1\/8.01-545","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":86249,"structure_id":14790,"section_number":"8.01-536","catch_line":"Pleadings in attachment","url":"\/8.01-536\/","token":"8.01\/20\/1\/8.01-536","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":57245,"structure_id":14790,"section_number":"8.01-537.1","catch_line":"Plaintiff to file bond","url":"\/8.01-537.1\/","token":"8.01\/20\/1\/8.01-537.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/8.01-537\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 8 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 1954, chapters 333 and 622; in 1973, chapter 545; in 1977, chapter 617; in 1978, chapter 418; in 1984, chapter 646; in 1993, chapter 841; in 2008, chapters 551<\/a> and 691<\/a>; in 2015, chapter 639<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":86249,"section_number":"8.01-536","catch_line":"Pleadings in attachment","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-536\/"},{"id":56751,"section_number":"8.01-540","catch_line":"Issuance of attachment; against what attachment to issue","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-540\/"},{"id":84996,"section_number":"8.01-543","catch_line":"Issue of other attachments on original petition","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-543\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":63400,"section_number":"8.01-261","catch_line":"Category A or preferred venue","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-261\/"},{"id":76538,"section_number":"8.01-534","catch_line":"Grounds of action for pretrial levy or seizure of attachment","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-534\/"}],"permalink":{"id":278585,"object_type":"law","relational_id":77594,"identifier":"8.01-537","token":"8.01\/20\/1\/8.01-537","url":"\/8.01-537\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/8.01-537\/","token":"8.01\/20\/1\/8.01-537","dublin_core":{"Title":"Petition for attachment; costs, fees and taxes","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 8.01-537","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Every attachment<\/span> shall be commenced by a petition<\/span> filed before a clerk of a circuit<\/span> or general district court<\/span> of, or magistrate<\/span> serving, the county or city in which venue<\/span> is given by subdivision 11 of § 8.01-261<\/a>. If it is sought to recover specific personal property, the petition<\/span> shall state (i) the kind, quantity, and estimated fair market value thereof, (ii) the character of estate therein claimed by the plaintiff<\/span>, (iii) the plaintiff<\/span>’s claim with such certainty as will give the adverse party<\/span> reasonable notice of the true nature of the claim and the particulars thereof and (iv) what sum, if any, the plaintiff<\/span> claims an entitlement to recover for its detention. If it is sought to recover a debt or damages<\/span> for a breach of contract<\/span>, express or implied, or damages<\/span> for a wrong, the petition<\/span> shall set forth (i) the plaintiff<\/span>’s claim with such certainty as will give the adverse party<\/span> reasonable notice of the true nature of the claim and the particulars thereof, (ii) a sum certain which, at the least, the plaintiff<\/span> is entitled to, or ought to recover, and (iii) if based on a contract<\/span> and if the claim is for a debt not then due and payable, at what time or times the same will become due and payable. The petition<\/span> shall also allege the existence of one or more of the grounds mentioned in § 8.01-534<\/a>, and shall set forth specific facts<\/span> in support of the allegation<\/span>. The petition<\/span> shall ask for an attachment<\/span> against the specific personal property mentioned in the petition<\/span>, or against the estate, real and personal, of one or more of the principal defendants<\/span>, or against the estate, real and personal, of one or more of the principal defendants<\/span>, or against both the specific personal property and the estate of such defendants<\/span>, real or personal. The petition<\/span> shall state whether the officer is requested to take possession<\/span> of the attached tangible personal property. The petition<\/span> shall be sworn to by the plaintiff<\/span> or the plaintiff<\/span>’s agent, or some other person<\/span> cognizant of the facts<\/span> therein stated. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The plaintiff<\/span> praying for an attachment<\/span> shall, at the time the petition<\/span> is filed, pay to the magistrate<\/span> or clerk of the court<\/span> to which the return is made the proper costs, fees and taxes, and in the event the plaintiff<\/span> fails to do so, the attachment<\/span> shall not be issued. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPETITION FOR ATTACHMENT; COSTS, FEES AND TAXES (\u00a7 8.01-537)\n\nA. Every attachment shall be commenced by a petition filed before a clerk of a\ncircuit or general district court of, or magistrate serving, the county or city\nin which venue is given by subdivision 11 of § 8.01-261. If it is sought to\nrecover specific personal property, the petition shall state (i) the kind,\nquantity, and estimated fair market value thereof, (ii) the character of estate\ntherein claimed by the plaintiff, (iii) the plaintiff’s claim with such\ncertainty as will give the adverse party reasonable notice of the true nature of\nthe claim and the particulars thereof and (iv) what sum, if any, the plaintiff\nclaims an entitlement to recover for its detention. If it is sought to recover a\ndebt or damages for a breach of contract, express or implied, or damages for a\nwrong, the petition shall set forth (i) the plaintiff’s claim with such\ncertainty as will give the adverse party reasonable notice of the true nature of\nthe claim and the particulars thereof, (ii) a sum certain which, at the least,\nthe plaintiff is entitled to, or ought to recover, and (iii) if based on a\ncontract and if the claim is for a debt not then due and payable, at what time\nor times the same will become due and payable. The petition shall also allege\nthe existence of one or more of the grounds mentioned in § 8.01-534, and\nshall set forth specific facts in support of the allegation. The petition shall\nask for an attachment against the specific personal property mentioned in the\npetition, or against the estate, real and personal, of one or more of the\nprincipal defendants, or against the estate, real and personal, of one or more\nof the principal defendants, or against both the specific personal property and\nthe estate of such defendants, real or personal. The petition shall state\nwhether the officer is requested to take possession of the attached tangible\npersonal property. The petition shall be sworn to by the plaintiff or the\nplaintiff’s agent, or some other person cognizant of the facts therein\nstated.\n\nB. The plaintiff praying for an attachment shall, at the time the petition is\nfiled, pay to the magistrate or clerk of the court to which the return is made\nthe proper costs, fees and taxes, and in the event the plaintiff fails to do so,\nthe attachment shall not be issued.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 8-524, 8-528; 1954, cc. 333, 622; 1973, c. 545; 1977,\nc. 617; 1978, c. 418; 1984, c. 646; 1993, c. 841; 2008, cc. 551, 691; 2015, c.\n639.","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}}