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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>75731</law_id><section_number>8.01-273</section_number><catch_line>Demurrer; form; grounds to be stated; amendment</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><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="7">Civil Actions; Commencement, Pleadings, and Motions</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="2">Pleadings Generally</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> In any <span class="dictionary">suit</span> in <span class="dictionary">equity</span> or action at <span class="dictionary">law</span>, the contention that a pleading does not state a <span class="dictionary">cause of action</span> or that such pleading fails to state <span class="dictionary">facts</span> upon which the relief demanded can be granted may be made by <span class="dictionary">demurrer</span>. All <span class="dictionary">demurrers</span> shall be in writing and shall state specifically the grounds on which the demurrant concludes that the pleading is insufficient at <span class="dictionary">law</span>. No grounds other than those stated specifically in the <span class="dictionary">demurrer</span> shall be considered by the <span class="dictionary">court</span>. A <span class="dictionary">demurrer</span> may be amended as other <span class="dictionary">pleadings</span> are amended. <a id="paragraph-271935" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-273/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Wherever a <span class="dictionary">demurrer</span> to any pleading has been sustained, and as a result thereof the demurree has amended his pleading, he shall not be deemed to have waived his right to stand upon his pleading before the amendment, provided that (i) the <span class="dictionary">order</span> of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shows that he objected to the ruling of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> sustaining the <span class="dictionary">demurrer</span> and (ii) the amended pleading incorporates or refers to the earlier pleading. On any <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> of such a case the demurree may insist upon his earlier pleading before the amendment, and if the same be held to be good, he shall not be prejudiced by having made the amendment. <a id="paragraph-271936" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-273/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7;&#xA7; 8-99, 8-120; 1954, c. 333; 1977, c. 617; 2017, c. 755.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
