<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>67287</law_id><section_number>8.01-470</section_number><catch_line>Writs on judgments for specific property</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>55.1-1254</reference><reference>55.1-1255</reference><reference>55.1-1416</reference><reference>8.01-129</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="18">Executions and Other Means of Recovery</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">Issue and Form; Motion to Quash</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>On a <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> for the recovery of specific property, a writ of <span class="dictionary">possession</span> for personal property or a writ of eviction for real property may <span class="dictionary">issue</span> for the specific property pursuant to an <span class="dictionary">order</span> of <span class="dictionary">possession</span> entered by a <span class="dictionary">court</span> of competent <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>, which shall conform to the <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> as to the description of the property and the estate, title, and interest recovered, and there may also be issued a <span class="dictionary">writ of fieri facias</span> for the <span class="dictionary">damages</span> or profits and costs. In cases of unlawful entry and detainer and of ejectment, the officer to whom a writ of eviction has been delivered to be executed shall, at least 72 hours before execution, serve notice of <span class="dictionary">intent</span> to execute, including the date and time of execution, as well as the rights afforded to tenants in &#xA7;&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Authority of sheriffs to store and sell personal property removed from residential premises; recovery of possession by owner; disposition or sale" href="/55.1-1255/">55.1-1255</a> and <a class="law" title="Authority of sheriffs to store and sell personal property removed from nonresidential premises; recovery of possession by owner; disposition or sale" href="/55.1-1416/">55.1-1416</a>, together with a copy of the writ attached, on the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> in <span class="dictionary">person</span> or, if the <span class="dictionary">party</span> to be served is not found at the specific property for which a writ of eviction has been issued, then service shall be effected by posting a copy of such process at the front door or at such other door as appears to be the main entrance of such property. The execution of the writ of eviction by the <span class="dictionary">sheriff</span> should occur within 15 calendar days from the date the writ of eviction is received by the <span class="dictionary">sheriff</span>, or as soon as practicable thereafter, but in no event later than 30 days from the date the writ of eviction is issued. An <span class="dictionary">order</span> of <span class="dictionary">possession</span> shall remain valid for 180 days from the date granted by the <span class="dictionary">court</span>. If a <span class="dictionary">plaintiff</span> cancels a writ of eviction, such <span class="dictionary">plaintiff</span> may request other <span class="dictionary">writs</span> of eviction during such 180-day period. In cases of unlawful entry and detainer and of ejectment, whenever the officer to whom a writ of eviction has been delivered to be executed finds the premises locked, he may, after declaring at the door the cause of his coming and demanding to have the door opened, employ reasonable and necessary force to break and enter the door and put the <span class="dictionary">plaintiff</span> in <span class="dictionary">possession</span>. The execution of the writ of eviction shall be effective against the tenants named in the writ of eviction and their authorized occupants, guests or invitees, and any trespassers in the premises. And an officer having a writ of <span class="dictionary">possession</span> for specific personal property, if he finds locked or fastened the building or place wherein he has reasonable cause to believe the property specified in the writ is located, may in the daytime, after notice to the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span>, his agent or bailee, break and enter such building or place for the purpose of executing such writ.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 8-402; 1977, c. 617; 1991, c. 503; 2000, c. 640; 2001, c. 222; 2003, c. 259; 2007, c. 128; 2019, cc. 180, 700.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
