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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>61795</law_id><section_number>8.01-546</section_number><catch_line>What attachment to command; summons</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="20">Attachments and Bail in Civil Cases</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="2">Summons; Levy; Lien; Bonds, Etc</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Every <span class="dictionary">attachment</span> sued out against specific personal property shall command the <span class="dictionary">sheriff</span> or other officer to whom it may be directed to attach the specific property claimed in the <span class="dictionary">petition</span>, and so much more of the real and personal property of the principal <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> as shall be necessary to cover the <span class="dictionary">damages</span> for the detention of the specific property sued for and the costs of the <span class="dictionary">attachment</span>. Every other <span class="dictionary">attachment</span> shall command the <span class="dictionary">sheriff</span> or other officer to whom it may be directed to attach the property mentioned and sought to be attached in the <span class="dictionary">petition</span>, if any, and so much of the lands, tenements, goods, chattels, moneys and effects of the principal <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> not exempt from execution as will be sufficient to satisfy the <span class="dictionary">plaintiff</span>&#x2019;s demand, and, in case of tangible personal property, taken <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of under &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="When officer to take possession of property" href="/8.01-551/">8.01-551</a>, to keep the same safely in his <span class="dictionary">possession</span> to satisfy any <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> that may be recovered by the <span class="dictionary">plaintiff</span> in such <span class="dictionary">attachment</span>.
		Every <span class="dictionary">attachment</span> sued out under this section shall also command the <span class="dictionary">sheriff</span> or other officer to summon the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> or <span class="dictionary">defendants</span>, if he or they are found within his county or city, or any county or city wherein he may have seized property under and by virtue of such <span class="dictionary">writ</span>, to appear and answer the <span class="dictionary">petition</span> for the <span class="dictionary">attachment</span>.
		Each copy of the <span class="dictionary">summons</span> shall be issued together with a form for requesting a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> on a claim of exemption from <span class="dictionary">levy</span> or seizure as provided in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Exemption claims form" href="/8.01-546.1/">8.01-546.1</a>. Both documents shall be served on each <span class="dictionary">defendant</span>.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 8-533; 1977, c. 617; 1986, c. 341.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
