                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

NO ASSIGNMENT OF BENEFITS; EXEMPTIONS (§ 60.2-600)

Any assignment, pledge or encumbrance of any right to benefits which are or may
become due or payable under this title shall be void except as provided in this
section and in §§ 60.2-608, 60.2-608.1, 60.2-608.2, and 60.2-633. Such rights
to benefits shall be exempt from levy, execution, attachment, garnishment or any
other legal process provided for the collection of debt, even if the
compensation is used for purchase of shares in a credit union, or deposited into
an account with a financial institution or other organization accepting deposits
and is thereby commingled with other funds, except debts incurred for
necessaries furnished to such individual, his spouse or dependents during the
time when such individual was unemployed. Any waiver of any exemption provided
for in this section shall be void.
		Upon an order of garnishment, attachment or other levy addressed to a
financial institution in which the principal defendant claims to have exempt
funds hereunder, the principal defendant may file an answer asserting the
exemption hereunder. From the time of service of such garnishment, attachment or
levy, the financial institution, until further order of the court, shall hold
the amount subject to such garnishment, attachment or levy, or such lesser
amount or sum as it may have, which amount shall be set forth in its answer. It
shall hold such amount free of any person drawing against such funds whether by
check against such account or otherwise. The financial institution shall be
subject to such further order or subpoena for discovery of its records, for
which it shall be entitled an order or agreement for compensation for the
expense of such service, and in a case deemed appropriate to the court by such
an order directing deposit of funds or further security prior to such records
being ordered produced.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 60-108; 1968, c. 738, § 60.1-125; 1986, c. 480; 1987, c.
331; 1996, c. 107; 1997, c. 385.