                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

DEFINITIONS (§ 43-1)

As used in this chapter, the term &#8220;general contractor&#8221; includes
contractors, laborers, mechanics, and persons furnishing materials, who contract
directly with the owner, and the term &#8220;subcontractor&#8221; includes all
such contractors, laborers, mechanics, and persons furnishing materials, who do
not contract with the owner but with the general contractor. As used in this
chapter, the term &#8220;owner&#8221; shall not be construed to mean any person
holding bare legal title under an instrument to secure a debt or indemnify a
surety. As used in this chapter, the term &#8220;mechanics&#8217; lien
agent&#8221; means a person (i) designated in writing by the owner of real
estate or a person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of such real estate
and (ii) who consents to act, as the owner&#8217;s designee for purposes of
receiving notice pursuant to § 43-4.01. Such person shall be an attorney at law
licensed to practice in the Commonwealth, a title insurance company authorized
to write title insurance in the Commonwealth or one of its subsidiaries or
licensed title insurance agents, or a financial institution authorized to accept
deposits and to hold itself out to the public as engaged in the banking or
savings institution business in the Commonwealth or a service corporation,
subsidiary or affiliate of such financial institution. Any such person may
perform mechanics&#8217; lien agent services as any legal entity. Provided that
nothing herein shall be construed to affect pending litigation.

HISTORY: Code 1919, § 6426; 1922, p. 867; 1932, p. 332; 1977, c. 294; 1992, cc.
779, 787; 1994, c. 382; 2010, c. 341.