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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>68014</law_id><section_number>8.01-512.4</section_number><catch_line>Notice of exemptions from garnishment and lien</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>34-4.2</reference><reference>8.01-502.1</reference><reference>8.01-511</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="7">Garnishment</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>No <span class="dictionary">summons</span> in <span class="dictionary">garnishment</span> shall be issued or served, nor shall any notice of <span class="dictionary">lien</span> be served on a financial institution pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Serving notice of lien on financial institution" href="/8.01-502.1/">8.01-502.1</a>, unless a notice of exemptions and claim for exemption form are attached. The notice shall contain the following statement:
		Notice to <span class="dictionary">judgment debtor</span>
		How to claim exemptions from <span class="dictionary">garnishment</span> and <span class="dictionary">lien</span>
		The attached <span class="dictionary">Summons</span> in <span class="dictionary">Garnishment</span> or Notice of <span class="dictionary">Lien</span> has been issued on request of a <span class="dictionary">creditor</span> who holds a judgment against you. The <span class="dictionary">Summons</span> may cause your property or wages to be held or taken to pay the judgment.
		The <span class="dictionary">law</span> provides that certain property and wages cannot be taken in <span class="dictionary">garnishment</span>. Such property is said to be exempted. A summary of some of the major exemptions is set forth in the request for <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> form. There is no exemption solely because you are having difficulty paying your debts.
		If you claim an exemption, you should (i) fill out the claim for exemption form and (ii) deliver or mail the form to the clerk&#x2019;s office of this <span class="dictionary">court</span>. You have a right to a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> within seven business days from the date you file your claim with the <span class="dictionary">court</span>. If the <span class="dictionary">creditor</span> is asking that your wages be withheld, the method of computing the amount of wages that are exempt from <span class="dictionary">garnishment</span> by <span class="dictionary">law</span> is indicated on the <span class="dictionary">Summons</span> in <span class="dictionary">Garnishment</span> attached. You do not need to file a claim for exemption to receive this exemption, but if you believe the wrong amount is being withheld you may file a claim for exemption.
		On the day of the <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> you should come to <span class="dictionary">court</span> ready to explain why your property is exempted, and you should bring any documents that may help you prove your case. If you do not come to <span class="dictionary">court</span> at the designated time and prove that your property is exempt, you may lose some of your rights.
		It may be helpful to you to seek the advice of an attorney in this matter.
		Request for <span class="dictionary">hearing</span>-<span class="dictionary">garnishment</span>/<span class="dictionary">lien</span> exemption claim
		I claim that the exemption(s) from <span class="dictionary">garnishment</span> or <span class="dictionary">lien</span> that are checked below apply in this case:
		MAJOR EXEMPTIONS UNDER FEDERAL AND STATE <span class="dictionary">LAW</span>
		____1. Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)(42 U.S.C. &#xA7;&#xA0;407).
		____2. Veterans&#x2019; benefits (38 U.S.C. &#xA7;&#xA0;5301).
		____3. Federal civil service retirement benefits (5 U.S.C. &#xA7;&#xA0;8346).
		____4. Annuities to survivors of federal <span class="dictionary">judges</span> (28 U.S.C. &#xA7;&#xA0;376(n)).
		____5. Longshore and Harbor Workers&#x2019; Compensation Act (33 U.S.C. &#xA7;&#xA0;916).
		____6. Black lung benefits.
		Exemptions listed under 1 through 6 above may not be applicable in child support and <span class="dictionary">alimony</span> cases (42 U.S.C. &#xA7;&#xA0;659).
		____7. Seaman&#x2019;s, master&#x2019;s or fisherman&#x2019;s wages, except for child support or spousal support and maintenance (46 U.S.C. &#xA7;&#xA0;11109).
		____8. Unemployment compensation benefits (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="No assignment of benefits; exemptions" href="/60.2-600/">60.2-600</a>, Code of Virginia). This exemption may not be applicable in child support cases (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Child support intercept of unemployment benefits" href="/60.2-608/">60.2-608</a>, Code of Virginia).
		____9. Portions or amounts of wages subject to <span class="dictionary">garnishment</span> (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Maximum portion of disposable earnings subject to garnishment" href="/34-29/">34-29</a>, Code of Virginia).
		____10. Public assistance payments (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Public assistance not transferable or subject to execution" href="/63.2-506/">63.2-506</a>, Code of Virginia).
		____11. Homestead exemption of $5,000, or $10,000 if the debtor is 65 years of age or older, in cash, and, in addition, real or personal property used as the principal residence of the householder or the householder&#x2019;s dependents not exceeding $50,000 in value (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Exemption created" href="/34-4/">34-4</a>, Code of Virginia). This exemption may not be claimed in certain cases, such as payment of spousal or child support (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="To what debts exemptions shall not apply" href="/34-5/">34-5</a>, Code of Virginia).
		____12. Property of disabled veterans &#x2014; additional $10,000 cash (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Additional exemption for certain veterans" href="/34-4.1/">34-4.1</a>, Code of Virginia).
		____13. Workers&#x2019; Compensation benefits (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Assignments of compensation; exemption from creditors' claims" href="/65.2-531/">65.2-531</a>, Code of Virginia).
		____14. Growing crops (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Growing crops, not severed, not liable to distress or levy" href="/8.01-489/">8.01-489</a>, Code of Virginia).
		____15. Benefits from group life insurance policies (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Exemption of group life insurance policies from legal process" href="/38.2-3339/">38.2-3339</a>, Code of Virginia).
		____16. Proceeds from industrial sick benefits insurance (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Benefits not subject to legal process" href="/38.2-3549/">38.2-3549</a>, Code of Virginia).
		____17. Assignments of certain salary and wages (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Exemption from garnishment, levy, or distress" href="/8.01-525.10/">8.01-525.10</a>, Code of Virginia).
		____18. Benefits for victims of <span class="dictionary">crime</span> (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Awards not subject to execution or attachment; apportionment; reductions" href="/19.2-368.12/">19.2-368.12</a>, Code of Virginia).
		____19. Preneed funeral trusts (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Exemption from levy, garnishment and distress" href="/54.1-2823/">54.1-2823</a>, Code of Virginia).
		____20. Certain retirement benefits (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Certain retirement benefits exempt" href="/34-34/">34-34</a>, Code of Virginia).
		____21. Child support payments (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Determination of child or spousal support" href="/20-108.1/">20-108.1</a>, Code of Virginia).
		____22. Support for dependent <span class="dictionary">minor</span> children (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Additional exemption for parents of dependent children" href="/34-4.2/">34-4.2</a>, Code of Virginia). To claim this exemption, the debtor shall attach to the claim for exemption form an <span class="dictionary">affidavit</span> that complies with the requirements of subsection B of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Additional exemption for parents of dependent children" href="/34-4.2/">34-4.2</a> and two items of proof showing that the debtor is entitled to this exemption.
		____23. Other (describe exemption): $____
		I request a <span class="dictionary">court</span> <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> to decide the validity of my claim. Notice of the <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> should be given me at:
		________
                  (address)
		(address)
		________
                  (telephone no.)
		(telephone no.)
		The statements made in this request are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
		____
                  (date)
		(date)
		________________
                  (signature of <span class="dictionary">judgment debtor</span>)
		(signature of <span class="dictionary">judgment debtor</span>)</p></section></text><history>1984, c. 1; 1986, c. 489; 1989, c. 684; 1994, c. 40; 2007, c. 872; 2009, cc. 332, 387, 388; 2010, c. 673; 2012, cc. 23, 79; 2020, c. 328; 2020, Sp. Sess. I, c. 39; 2023, cc. 456, 457; 2024, c. 656.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
