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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>82516</law_id><section_number>34-1</section_number><catch_line>Definitions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>55.1-2103</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="34">Homestead and Other Exemptions</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>As used in this title, unless the context requires a different meaning:
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Creditor process</span>&#x201D; means all methods used by <span class="dictionary">creditors</span> to collect unsecured <span class="dictionary">debts</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Debt</span>&#x201D; means a legally enforceable monetary obligation or liability of any individual whether arising out of a <span class="dictionary">contract</span> or otherwise, but not an obligation resulting from an intentional <span class="dictionary">tort</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Exempt</span>&#x201D; means protected from all forms of <span class="dictionary">creditor process</span>.
		&#x201C;Exemption&#x201D; means protection from all forms of <span class="dictionary">creditor process</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Homestead exemption</span>&#x201D; means that exemption created by &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Exemption created" href="/34-4/">34-4</a>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Householder</span>&#x201D; means any resident of Virginia.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Laboring person</span>&#x201D; means any person who receives wages for his services.</p></section></text><history>Code 1919, &#xA7; 6566; 1974, c. 272; 1978, c. 253; 1979, c. 674; 1990, c. 942.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
