                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

TIME PERIOD FOR ISSUING WRITS OF EVICTION IN UNLAWFUL ENTRY AND DETAINER; WHEN
RETURNABLE (§ 8.01-471)

Writs of eviction, in case of unlawful entry and detainer, shall be issued
within 180 days from the date of judgment for possession and shall be made
returnable within 30 days from the date of issuing the writ, and any executed
writ shall be returned to the issuing clerk by the sheriff executing such writ.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a writ of eviction not executed
within 30 days from the date of issuance shall be vacated as a matter of law
without further order of the court that entered the order of possession, and no
further action shall be taken by the clerk. No writ shall issue, however, in
cases under the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (§ 55.1-1200 et
seq.) if, following the entry of judgment for possession, the landlord has
entered into a new written rental agreement with the tenant, as described in §
55.1-1250. A writ of eviction may be requested by the plaintiff or the
plaintiff&#8217;s attorney or agent.
		The Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia shall
annually report on or before September 1 to the Chairmen of the House and Senate
Committees for Courts of Justice, the Senate Committee on General Laws and
Technology, the House Committee on General Laws, and the Virginia Housing
Commission on the number of executed writs returned pursuant to this section.
The first report shall be made by September 1, 2024, and shall include writs
executed between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 8-403; 1977, c. 617; 1999, c. 683; 2003, c. 427; 2006, c.
667; 2013, c. 63; 2019, cc. 180, 700; 2023, cc. 442, 443.