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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>86542</law_id><section_number>8.01-116</section_number><catch_line>Return of property to defendant or other claimant</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>8.01-119</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="8.01">Civil Remedies and Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="3">Actions</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="12">Detinue</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Subject to the provisions of subsection B below, the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> in any such proceeding, or any other <span class="dictionary">person</span> claiming title to the property so seized and taken <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of by the officer, may have such property returned to him at any time after such seizure upon executing a <span class="dictionary">bond</span>, with sufficient <span class="dictionary">surety</span>, to be approved by the officer, payable to the <span class="dictionary">plaintiff</span>, in a <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> at least double the estimated value of the property. The <span class="dictionary">bond</span> shall contain a condition to (i) pay all costs and <span class="dictionary">damages</span> which may be awarded against the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> in the proceeding and all <span class="dictionary">damages</span> which may accrue to any <span class="dictionary">person</span> by reason of the return of the property to the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> or the claimant and (ii) have the property forthcoming to answer any <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> or <span class="dictionary">order</span> of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> or <span class="dictionary">judge</span> respecting the same. The <span class="dictionary">bond</span> shall be delivered to the officer and returned by him to the office of the clerk. The officer, on receiving the <span class="dictionary">bond</span>, shall forthwith return the property taken by him to the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> or any other <span class="dictionary">person</span> claiming title thereto or from whose <span class="dictionary">possession</span> it was taken. <a id="paragraph-309947" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-116/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> In any such proceeding, upon application of the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> after reasonable notice to the <span class="dictionary">plaintiff</span> or his attorney, the <span class="dictionary">judge</span> of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> in which the proceeding is pending may <span class="dictionary">order</span> the property returned to the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> upon such lesser security and upon such terms as in the nature of the case may be just and reasonable. <a id="paragraph-309948" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-116/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> If no <span class="dictionary">bond</span> or security is delivered to the officer after his seizing and taking <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of such property, the property, if in the hands of the officer, shall be kept by him. However, if the property is perishable or expensive to keep, it may be sold by <span class="dictionary">order</span> of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> in the same manner as if it were a sale under execution. <a id="paragraph-309949" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-116/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 8-588; 1973, c. 408; 1977, c. 617; 1993, c. 841.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
