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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>76538</law_id><section_number>8.01-534</section_number><catch_line>Grounds of action for pretrial levy or seizure of attachment</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>18.2-340.20</reference><reference>8.01-114</reference><reference>8.01-119</reference><reference>8.01-130.4</reference><reference>8.01-533</reference><reference>8.01-537</reference><reference>8.01-540</reference><reference>8.01-543</reference><reference>8.01-567</reference><reference>8.01-568</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="20">Attachments and Bail in Civil Cases</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">Attachments Generally</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> It shall be sufficient ground for an <span class="dictionary">action</span> for pretrial <span class="dictionary">levy</span> or seizure or an <span class="dictionary">attachment</span> that the principal <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> or one of the principal <span class="dictionary">defendants</span>: <a id="paragraph-274767" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-534/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Is a foreign corporation, or is not a resident of this Commonwealth, and has estate or has debts owing to such <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> within the county or city in which the <span class="dictionary">attachment</span> is, or that such <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> being a nonresident of this Commonwealth, is entitled to the benefit of any <span class="dictionary">lien</span>, legal or <span class="dictionary">equitable</span>, on property, real or personal, within the county or city in which the <span class="dictionary">attachment</span> is. The word &#x201C;estate,&#x201D; as herein used, includes all rights or interests of a pecuniary nature which can be protected, enforced, or proceeded against in <span class="dictionary">courts</span> of <span class="dictionary">law</span> or <span class="dictionary">equity</span>; <a id="paragraph-274768" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-534/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Is removing or is about to remove himself out of this Commonwealth with <span class="dictionary">intent</span> to change his domicile; <a id="paragraph-274769" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-534/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Intends to remove, or is removing, or has removed the specific property sued for, or his own estate, or the proceeds of the sale of his property, or a <span class="dictionary">material</span> part of such estate or proceeds, out of this Commonwealth so that there will probably not be therein effects of such debtor sufficient to satisfy the claim when <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> is obtained therefor should only the ordinary process of <span class="dictionary">law</span> be used to obtain the <span class="dictionary">judgment</span>; <a id="paragraph-274770" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-534/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Is converting, is about to convert or has converted his property of whatever kind, or some part thereof, into money, securities or <span class="dictionary">evidences</span> of debt with <span class="dictionary">intent</span> to hinder, delay, or defraud his <span class="dictionary">creditors</span>; <a id="paragraph-274771" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-534/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Has assigned or disposed of or is about to assign or dispose of his estate, or some part thereof, with <span class="dictionary">intent</span> to hinder, delay or defraud his <span class="dictionary">creditors</span>; <a id="paragraph-274772" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-534/#A5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> Has absconded or is about to <span class="dictionary">abscond</span> or has concealed or is about to conceal himself or his property to the injury of his <span class="dictionary">creditors</span>, or is a fugitive from justice; <a id="paragraph-274773" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-534/#A6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A7" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> Has conducted, financed, managed, supervised, directed, sold, or owned a gambling device that is located in an unregulated location pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Operation of gambling devices at unregulated locations; civil penalty" href="/18.2-331.1/">18.2-331.1</a>; <a id="paragraph-274774" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-534/#A7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A8" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> Has violated any provision of <span class="dictionary">law</span> related to charitable gaming pursuant to Article 1.1:1 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="State control of charitable gaming" href="/18.2-340.15/">18.2-340.15</a> et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 18.2.
				The <span class="dictionary">intent</span> mentioned in subdivisions 4 and 5 may be stated either in the alternative or conjunctive. <a id="paragraph-274775" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-534/#A8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> It shall be sufficient ground for an <span class="dictionary">action</span> for pretrial <span class="dictionary">levy</span> or seizure or an <span class="dictionary">attachment</span> if the specific personal property sought to be levied or seized: <a id="paragraph-274776" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-534/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Will be sold, removed, secreted or otherwise disposed of by the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span>, in violation of an obligation to the <span class="dictionary">plaintiff</span>, so as not to be forthcoming to answer the final <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> respecting the same; or <a id="paragraph-274777" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-534/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Will be destroyed, or materially damaged or injured if permitted to remain in the <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of the principal <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> or one of the principal <span class="dictionary">defendants</span> or other <span class="dictionary">person</span> or <span class="dictionary">persons</span> claiming under them. <a id="paragraph-274778" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-534/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> In an <span class="dictionary">action</span> for rent, it also shall be a sufficient ground if there is an immediate danger that the property subject to the landlord&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">lien</span> for rent will be destroyed or concealed. <a id="paragraph-274779" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-534/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 8-520; 1954, c. 333; 1977, c. 617; 1993, c. 841; 2022, c. 553.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
