                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

ATTACHMENT OF SHIPS, BOATS AND OTHER VESSELS OF MORE THAN TWENTY TONS (§
8.01-538)

No attachment against any ship, boat, or other vessel of more than twenty tons,
shall issue unless the plaintiff or someone in his behalf, shall first
establish, to the satisfaction of the court in which he files his petition for
attachment that he has a reasonable expectation of recovering an amount
exclusive of all costs, equal to at least one-half the damages demanded in the
petition for attachment. Reasonable notice of appearance before the court shall
be given the owner, agent or master of said vessel, and at the time of the
appearance the court shall determine the amount of such reasonable expectation
of recovery and the amount of bond necessary to secure the release of the vessel
if and when a writ be levied in accordance with this section.
		No attachment issued in violation of the provisions of this section shall
create a valid lien upon the property sought to be attached, and no levy made
under authority thereof shall be of any effect.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 8-524.1; 1954, c. 254; 1977, c. 617.