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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>73386</law_id><section_number>40.1-31</section_number><catch_line>Assignment of wages and salaries; requirements</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>40.1-33</reference><reference>63.2-1945</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="40.1">Labor and Employment</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="3">Protection of Employees</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="2">Pay; Assignment of Wages; Sale of Merchandise to Employees</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>No assignment, transfer, pledge or hypothecation of wages or salary due or to become due to any person shall be valid and enforceable against any <span class="dictionary">employer</span> of the assignor, except with the express consent in writing of such <span class="dictionary">employer</span> given to the <span class="dictionary">creditor</span> or assignee, unless and until all of the following requirements have been fully met:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Such assignment is printed in type not smaller than pica, is a separate instrument not incorporated in or made a part of any other <span class="dictionary">contract</span> or instrument, and is plainly designated &#x201C;Wage Assignment.&#x201D; <a id="paragraph-264093" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/40.1-31/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Such assignment is executed in triplicate and in person by the assignor, is dated on the date on which it is executed, one executed copy thereof is delivered to the assignor, and one executed copy is mailed to the <span class="dictionary">employer</span> therein named within fifteen days after the execution thereof; provided, however, that such copy mailed to the <span class="dictionary">employer</span> shall be for his information only, and shall not be construed as giving such <span class="dictionary">employer</span> legal notice of the assignee&#x2019;s intention to enforce the terms thereof or as constituting the notice referred to in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Assignee or beneficial owner may sue in own name; certain discounts allowed" href="/8.01-13/">8.01-13</a>. <a id="paragraph-264094" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/40.1-31/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The name of <span class="dictionary">employer</span> of the assignor is written therein before the signing thereof and the total amount, if any, which is to be secured thereby is plainly stated therein. <a id="paragraph-264095" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/40.1-31/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> The assignor is, at the time of the execution of the assignment, employed by the <span class="dictionary">employer</span> therein named. <a id="paragraph-264096" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/40.1-31/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Ten days before any notice of the assignee&#x2019;s intention to enforce the terms of the assignment is served upon the <span class="dictionary">employer</span>, the assignee gives the assignor notice in writing sent by mail to his last known address that <span class="dictionary">default</span> has been made in his obligation. <a id="paragraph-264097" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/40.1-31/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="6"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> Notice of the assignee&#x2019;s intention to enforce the terms of an assignment has been served on the <span class="dictionary">employer</span> by an officer or other person authorized to serve civil process. Such notice shall be valid to make the assignment effective only from the time it is served. <a id="paragraph-264098" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/40.1-31/#6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="7"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> Whenever the assignor changes his employment after executing an assignment contemplated by this section then any assignee who has otherwise fully complied with the provisions of this section may enforce his assignment against the new <span class="dictionary">employer</span> of the assignor provided that he mails a copy of the assignment to the new <span class="dictionary">employer</span> within fifteen days after learning of such change of employment and gives the same notice or notices to the new <span class="dictionary">employer</span> as is required to be given to the original <span class="dictionary">employer</span> and complies with the conditions of subdivision (5) hereof. <a id="paragraph-264099" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/40.1-31/#7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 40-30; 1970, c. 321.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
