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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>65232</law_id><section_number>25.1-213</section_number><catch_line>Filing an answer and grounds of defense; election of commissioners or jury</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>25.1-214</reference><reference>25.1-220</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="25.1">Eminent Domain</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="2">Condemnation Procedures</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="2">Condemnation Proceedings</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Within 21 days of the service thereof any such <span class="dictionary">owner</span> who desires to assert any objection or defense to the taking or damaging of his <span class="dictionary">property</span> or to the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> to hear the case, and to make his election to proceed with either the appointment of commissioners or the empanelment of a <span class="dictionary">jury</span>, shall file (i) his answer and grounds of defense designating the <span class="dictionary">property</span> in which he claims to be interested, (ii) the grounds of any objection or defense to the taking or damaging of his <span class="dictionary">property</span> or to the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> to hear the case, and (iii) his election to proceed with either the appointment of commissioners or the empanelment of a <span class="dictionary">jury</span> for the determination of just compensation.</p></section></text><history>Code 1919, &#xA7; 4365; Code 1950, &#xA7; 25-10; 1962, c. 426, &#xA7; 25-46.9; 1975, c. 189; 1991, c. 520; 2000, c. 1029; 2003, c. 940; 2006, c. 586; 2010, c. 835.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
