{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/8.01-551.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/8.01-551.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/8.01-551.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/8.01-551.html"}],"law_id":57916,"edition_id":1,"section_id":57916,"structure_id":12874,"section_number":"8.01-551","catch_line":"When officer to take possession of property","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 8-538; 1973, c. 545; 1977, c. 617; 1984, c. 646; 1993, c. 841.","full_text":"If so requested by the plaintiff in his petition, the officer to whom the attachment is directed shall take possession of the property specified in the attachment, or when no such property is specified, of any estate or effects of the defendant, or so much thereof as is sufficient to pay the plaintiff’s claim. But the officer levying the attachment shall, before taking possession of any property as aforesaid, make his certificate of the estimated fair market value of the property on which the attachment is levied, and he shall not take possession of the same unless and until bond in conformance with \u00a7 8.01-537.1 based on the estimated fair market value of the property as so stated in his certificate is posted. The certificate shall be filed in the clerk’s office of the court to which the attachment is returnable and the value so certified shall be subject to review by the court to which the attachment is returnable.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":212138,"text":"If so requested by the plaintiff in his petition, the officer to whom the attachment is directed shall take possession of the property specified in the attachment, or when no such property is specified, of any estate or effects of the defendant, or so much thereof as is sufficient to pay the plaintiff’s claim. But the officer levying the attachment shall, before taking possession of any property as aforesaid, make his certificate of the estimated fair market value of the property on which the attachment is levied, and he shall not take possession of the same unless and until bond in conformance with \u00a7 8.01-537.1 based on the estimated fair market value of the property as so stated in his certificate is posted. The certificate shall be filed in the clerk’s office of the court to which the attachment is returnable and the value so certified shall be subject to review by the court to which the attachment is returnable.","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":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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/8.01-551\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 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 1973, chapter 545; in 1977, chapter 617; in 1984, chapter 646; in 1993, chapter 841.<\/p>","references":[{"id":61795,"section_number":"8.01-546","catch_line":"What attachment to command; summons","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-546\/"},{"id":64400,"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","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-553\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":57245,"section_number":"8.01-537.1","catch_line":"Plaintiff to file bond","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-537.1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":278655,"object_type":"law","relational_id":57916,"identifier":"8.01-551","token":"8.01\/20\/2\/8.01-551","url":"\/8.01-551\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/8.01-551\/","token":"8.01\/20\/2\/8.01-551","dublin_core":{"Title":"When officer to take possession of property","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 8.01-551","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

If so requested by the plaintiff<\/span> in his petition<\/span>, the officer to whom the attachment<\/span> is directed shall take possession<\/span> of the property specified in the attachment<\/span>, or when no such property is specified, of any estate or effects of the defendant<\/span>, or so much thereof as is sufficient to pay the plaintiff<\/span>’s claim. But the officer levying the attachment<\/span> shall, before taking possession<\/span> of any property as aforesaid, make his certificate of the estimated fair market value of the property on which the attachment<\/span> is levied, and he shall not take possession<\/span> of the same unless and until bond<\/span> in conformance with \u00a7 8.01-537.1<\/a> based on the estimated fair market value of the property as so stated in his certificate is posted. The certificate shall be filed in the clerk’s office of the court<\/span> to which the attachment<\/span> is returnable and the value so certified shall be subject to review by the court<\/span> to which the attachment<\/span> is returnable.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nWHEN OFFICER TO TAKE POSSESSION OF PROPERTY (\u00a7 8.01-551)\n\nIf so requested by the plaintiff in his petition, the officer to whom the\nattachment is directed shall take possession of the property specified in the\nattachment, or when no such property is specified, of any estate or effects of\nthe defendant, or so much thereof as is sufficient to pay the plaintiff’s\nclaim. But the officer levying the attachment shall, before taking possession of\nany property as aforesaid, make his certificate of the estimated fair market\nvalue of the property on which the attachment is levied, and he shall not take\npossession of the same unless and until bond in conformance with \u00a7 8.01-537.1\nbased on the estimated fair market value of the property as so stated in his\ncertificate is posted. The certificate shall be filed in the clerk’s\noffice of the court to which the attachment is returnable and the value so\ncertified shall be subject to review by the court to which the attachment is\nreturnable.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 8-538; 1973, c. 545; 1977, c. 617; 1984, c. 646; 1993, c.\n841.","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}}