{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/8.01-550.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/8.01-550.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/8.01-550.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/8.01-550.html"}],"law_id":65526,"edition_id":1,"section_id":65526,"structure_id":12874,"section_number":"8.01-550","catch_line":"How attachment levied","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 8-537; 1977, c. 617; 1984, c. 646.","full_text":"An attachment may be levied as follows:\n\t\tOn tangible personal property in possession of a principal defendant, whether such possession be actual or constructive, it may be levied as at common law or by delivering a copy of the attachment to such principal defendant or, if possession is requested in the petition, then by taking possession of such personal property;\n\t\tOn choses in action or on tangible personal property in possession of any defendant other than the principal defendant, it may be levied by delivering a copy of the attachment to the person indebted to the principal defendant or having possession of the property belonging to him; and\n\t\tOn real estate, it may be levied by such estate being mentioned and described in an endorsement on the attachment by the officer to whom it is delivered for service to the following effect:\n\t\t“Levied on the following real estate of the defendant A. (or defendants A. and B.), to-wit: (here describe the real estate) this the…………….\u2026 day of……………………..\u2026 at……….\u2026 o’clock. E.F., sheriff (or other officer),”\n\t\tand by service of the attachment on the person, if any, in possession of such real estate.\n\t\tWherever a copy of an attachment is required or allowed to be served on any person, natural or artificial, it may be served as a notice is served under \u00a7\u00a7 8.01-296, 8.01-299, 8.01-300 or 8.01-301, as the case may be.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":238234,"text":"An attachment may be levied as follows:\n\t\tOn tangible personal property in possession of a principal defendant, whether such possession be actual or constructive, it may be levied as at common law or by delivering a copy of the attachment to such principal defendant or, if possession is requested in the petition, then by taking possession of such personal property;\n\t\tOn choses in action or on tangible personal property in possession of any defendant other than the principal defendant, it may be levied by delivering a copy of the attachment to the person indebted to the principal defendant or having possession of the property belonging to him; and\n\t\tOn real estate, it may be levied by such estate being mentioned and described in an endorsement on the attachment by the officer to whom it is delivered for service to the following effect:\n\t\t“Levied on the following real estate of the defendant A. (or defendants A. and B.), to-wit: (here describe the real estate) this the…………….\u2026 day of……………………..\u2026 at……….\u2026 o’clock. E.F., sheriff (or other officer),”\n\t\tand by service of the attachment on the person, if any, in possession of such real estate.\n\t\tWherever a copy of an attachment is required or allowed to be served on any person, natural or artificial, it may be served as a notice is served under \u00a7\u00a7 8.01-296, 8.01-299, 8.01-300 or 8.01-301, as the case may be.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":12874,"edition_id":1,"name":"Summons; Levy; Lien; Bonds, Etc","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12873,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","permalink":{"id":278625,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12874,"identifier":"2","token":"8.01\/20\/2","url":"\/8.01\/20\/2\/","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":61795,"structure_id":12874,"section_number":"8.01-546","catch_line":"What attachment to command; summons","url":"\/8.01-546\/","token":"8.01\/20\/2\/8.01-546","metadata":false},{"id":60572,"structure_id":12874,"section_number":"8.01-546.1","catch_line":"Exemption claims form","url":"\/8.01-546.1\/","token":"8.01\/20\/2\/8.01-546.1","metadata":false},{"id":70354,"structure_id":12874,"section_number":"8.01-546.2","catch_line":"Hearing on claim of exemption from levy or seizure","url":"\/8.01-546.2\/","token":"8.01\/20\/2\/8.01-546.2","metadata":false},{"id":76320,"structure_id":12874,"section_number":"8.01-547","catch_line":"Attachment against remainders","url":"\/8.01-547\/","token":"8.01\/20\/2\/8.01-547","metadata":false},{"id":54004,"structure_id":12874,"section_number":"8.01-548","catch_line":"Who may levy attachment and on what","url":"\/8.01-548\/","token":"8.01\/20\/2\/8.01-548","metadata":false},{"id":80778,"structure_id":12874,"section_number":"8.01-549","catch_line":"Restraining order or receiver","url":"\/8.01-549\/","token":"8.01\/20\/2\/8.01-549","metadata":false},{"id":65526,"structure_id":12874,"section_number":"8.01-550","catch_line":"How attachment levied","url":"\/8.01-550\/","token":"8.01\/20\/2\/8.01-550","metadata":false},{"id":57916,"structure_id":12874,"section_number":"8.01-551","catch_line":"When officer to take possession of property","url":"\/8.01-551\/","token":"8.01\/20\/2\/8.01-551","metadata":false},{"id":55043,"structure_id":12874,"section_number":"8.01-552","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/8.01-552\/","token":"8.01\/20\/2\/8.01-552","metadata":false},{"id":64400,"structure_id":12874,"section_number":"8.01-553","catch_line":"Bonds for retention of property or release of attachment; revising bonds mentioned in this and \u00a7 8.01-551","url":"\/8.01-553\/","token":"8.01\/20\/2\/8.01-553","metadata":false},{"id":76308,"structure_id":12874,"section_number":"8.01-554","catch_line":"Where bond returned and filed; exceptions to bond","url":"\/8.01-554\/","token":"8.01\/20\/2\/8.01-554","metadata":false},{"id":59702,"structure_id":12874,"section_number":"8.01-555","catch_line":"When appeal bond given property to be delivered to owner","url":"\/8.01-555\/","token":"8.01\/20\/2\/8.01-555","metadata":false},{"id":69654,"structure_id":12874,"section_number":"8.01-556","catch_line":"Bonds may be given by any person","url":"\/8.01-556\/","token":"8.01\/20\/2\/8.01-556","metadata":false},{"id":69262,"structure_id":12874,"section_number":"8.01-557","catch_line":"Lien of attachment; priority of holder in due course","url":"\/8.01-557\/","token":"8.01\/20\/2\/8.01-557","metadata":false},{"id":61065,"structure_id":12874,"section_number":"8.01-558","catch_line":"Attachment lien on effects already in hands of officer","url":"\/8.01-558\/","token":"8.01\/20\/2\/8.01-558","metadata":false},{"id":66340,"structure_id":12874,"section_number":"8.01-559","catch_line":"Return by officer","url":"\/8.01-559\/","token":"8.01\/20\/2\/8.01-559","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":80778,"structure_id":12874,"section_number":"8.01-549","catch_line":"Restraining order or receiver","url":"\/8.01-549\/","token":"8.01\/20\/2\/8.01-549","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":57916,"structure_id":12874,"section_number":"8.01-551","catch_line":"When officer to take possession of property","url":"\/8.01-551\/","token":"8.01\/20\/2\/8.01-551","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/8.01-550\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 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 1984, chapter 646.<\/p>","references":[{"id":69262,"section_number":"8.01-557","catch_line":"Lien of attachment; priority of holder in due course","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-557\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":57169,"section_number":"8.01-296","catch_line":"Manner of serving process upon natural persons","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-296\/"},{"id":76632,"section_number":"8.01-299","catch_line":"How process served on domestic stock corporations, nonstock corporations, and limited liability companies generally","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-299\/"},{"id":62573,"section_number":"8.01-300","catch_line":"How process served on municipal and county governments and on quasi-governmental entities","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-300\/"},{"id":80689,"section_number":"8.01-301","catch_line":"How process served on foreign stock or nonstock corporations and foreign limited liability companies generally","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-301\/"}],"permalink":{"id":278651,"object_type":"law","relational_id":65526,"identifier":"8.01-550","token":"8.01\/20\/2\/8.01-550","url":"\/8.01-550\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/8.01-550\/","token":"8.01\/20\/2\/8.01-550","dublin_core":{"Title":"How attachment levied","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 8.01-550","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

An attachment<\/span> may be levied as follows:\n\t\tOn tangible personal property in possession<\/span> of a principal defendant<\/span>, whether such possession<\/span> be actual or constructive, it may be levied as at common law<\/span> or by delivering a copy of the attachment<\/span> to such principal defendant<\/span> or, if possession<\/span> is requested in the petition<\/span>, then by taking possession<\/span> of such personal property;\n\t\tOn choses in action<\/span> or on tangible personal property in possession<\/span> of any defendant<\/span> other than the principal defendant<\/span>, it may be levied by delivering a copy of the attachment<\/span> to the person<\/span> indebted to the principal defendant<\/span> or having possession<\/span> of the property belonging to him; and\n\t\tOn real estate, it may be levied by such estate being mentioned and described in an endorsement on the attachment<\/span> by the officer to whom it is delivered for service to the following effect:\n\t\t“Levied on the following real estate of the defendant<\/span> A. (or defendants<\/span> A. and B.), to-wit: (here describe the real estate) this the…………….\u2026 day of……………………..\u2026 at……….\u2026 o’clock. E.F., sheriff<\/span> (or other officer),”\n\t\tand by service of the attachment<\/span> on the person<\/span>, if any, in possession<\/span> of such real estate.\n\t\tWherever a copy of an attachment<\/span> is required or allowed to be served on any person<\/span>, natural or artificial, it may be served as a notice is served under \u00a7\u00a7 8.01-296<\/a>, 8.01-299<\/a>, 8.01-300<\/a> or 8.01-301<\/a>, as the case may be.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nHOW ATTACHMENT LEVIED (\u00a7 8.01-550)\n\nAn attachment may be levied as follows:\n\t\tOn tangible personal property in possession of a principal defendant, whether\nsuch possession be actual or constructive, it may be levied as at common law or\nby delivering a copy of the attachment to such principal defendant or, if\npossession is requested in the petition, then by taking possession of such\npersonal property;\n\t\tOn choses in action or on tangible personal property in possession of any\ndefendant other than the principal defendant, it may be levied by delivering a\ncopy of the attachment to the person indebted to the principal defendant or\nhaving possession of the property belonging to him; and\n\t\tOn real estate, it may be levied by such estate being mentioned and described\nin an endorsement on the attachment by the officer to whom it is delivered for\nservice to the following effect:\n\t\t“Levied on the following real estate of the defendant A. (or defendants\nA. and B.), to-wit: (here describe the real estate) this\nthe…………….\u2026 day\nof……………………..\u2026\nat……….\u2026 o’clock. E.F., sheriff (or other\nofficer),”\n\t\tand by service of the attachment on the person, if any, in possession of such\nreal estate.\n\t\tWherever a copy of an attachment is required or allowed to be served on any\nperson, natural or artificial, it may be served as a notice is served under \u00a7\u00a7\n8.01-296, 8.01-299, 8.01-300 or 8.01-301, as the case may be.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 8-537; 1977, c. 617; 1984, c. 646.","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}}