{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/34-1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/34-1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/34-1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/34-1.html"}],"law_id":360487,"edition_id":2,"section_id":360487,"structure_id":51562,"section_number":"34-1","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"Code 1919, \u00a7 6566; 1974, c. 272; 1978, c. 253; 1979, c. 674; 1990, c. 942.","full_text":"As used in this title, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\n“Creditor process” means all methods used by creditors to collect unsecured debts.\n\n“Debt” means a legally enforceable monetary obligation or liability of any individual whether arising out of a contract or otherwise, but not an obligation resulting from an intentional tort.\n\n“Exempt” means protected from all forms of creditor process.\n\n“Exemption” means protection from all forms of creditor process.\n\n“Homestead exemption” means that exemption created by \u00a7 34-4.\n\n“Householder” means any resident of Virginia.\n\n“Laboring person” means any person who receives wages for his services.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1341515,"text":"As used in this title, unless the context requires a different meaning:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":""},"1":{"id":1341516,"text":"“Creditor process” means all methods used by creditors to collect unsecured debts.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"2":{"id":1341517,"text":"“Debt” means a legally enforceable monetary obligation or liability of any individual whether arising out of a contract or otherwise, but not an obligation resulting from an intentional tort.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"3":{"id":1341518,"text":"“Exempt” means protected from all forms of creditor process.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"4":{"id":1341519,"text":"“Exemption” means protection from all forms of creditor process.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"5":{"id":1341520,"text":"“Homestead exemption” means that exemption created by \u00a7 34-4.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"6":{"id":1341521,"text":"“Householder” means any resident of Virginia.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"7":{"id":1341522,"text":"“Laboring person” means any person who receives wages for his services.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":""}},"ancestry":[{"id":51562,"edition_id":2,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":51561,"metadata":{"child_laws":4,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:44:12","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:32:39","permalink":{"id":1434963,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51562,"identifier":"1","token":"34\/1","url":"\/34\/1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":51561,"edition_id":2,"name":"Homestead and Other Exemptions","identifier":"34","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":79,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":37,"child_structures":4},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:44:12","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:32:39","permalink":{"id":1434961,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51561,"identifier":"34","token":"34","url":"\/34\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":360487,"structure_id":51562,"section_number":"34-1","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/34-1\/","token":"34\/1\/34-1","metadata":false},{"id":360495,"structure_id":51562,"section_number":"34-2","catch_line":"Injunction restraining sale of exempted property or garnishment of wages","url":"\/34-2\/","token":"34\/1\/34-2","metadata":false},{"id":360510,"structure_id":51562,"section_number":"34-3","catch_line":"Articles not exempt from taxes or levies or for their purchase price","url":"\/34-3\/","token":"34\/1\/34-3","metadata":false},{"id":360509,"structure_id":51562,"section_number":"34-3.1","catch_line":"Property specified in Bankruptcy Reform Act not exempt","url":"\/34-3.1\/","token":"34\/1\/34-3.1","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":360495,"structure_id":51562,"section_number":"34-2","catch_line":"Injunction restraining sale of exempted property or garnishment of wages","url":"\/34-2\/","token":"34\/1\/34-2","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/34-1\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1974, chapter 272; in 1978, chapter 253; in 1979, chapter 674; in 1990, chapter 942.<\/p>","references":[{"id":369533,"section_number":"55.1-2103","catch_line":"Property classification of cooperative interests; taxation","order_by":null,"url":"\/55.1-2103\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":360518,"section_number":"34-4","catch_line":"Exemption created","order_by":null,"url":"\/34-4\/"}],"permalink":{"id":1434965,"object_type":"law","relational_id":360487,"identifier":"34-1","token":"34\/1\/34-1","url":"\/34-1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/34-1\/","token":"34\/1\/34-1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 34-1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

As used in this title, unless the context requires a different meaning:<\/p>

“Creditor process<\/span>” means all methods used by creditors<\/span> to collect unsecured debts<\/span>.<\/p>

“Debt<\/span>” means a legally enforceable monetary obligation or liability of any individual whether arising out of a contract<\/span> or otherwise, but not an obligation resulting from an intentional tort<\/span>.<\/p>

“Exempt<\/span>” means protected from all forms of creditor process<\/span>.<\/p>

“Exemption<\/span>” means protection from all forms of creditor process<\/span>.<\/p>

“Homestead exemption<\/span>” means that exemption created by \u00a7 34-4<\/a>.<\/p>

“Householder<\/span>” means any resident of Virginia.<\/p>

“Laboring person<\/span>” means any person who receives wages for his services.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 34-1)\n\nAs used in this title, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\n“Creditor process” means all methods used by creditors to collect\nunsecured debts.\n\n“Debt” means a legally enforceable monetary obligation or liability\nof any individual whether arising out of a contract or otherwise, but not an\nobligation resulting from an intentional tort.\n\n“Exempt” means protected from all forms of creditor process.\n\n“Exemption” means protection from all forms of creditor process.\n\n“Homestead exemption” means that exemption created by \u00a7 34-4.\n\n“Householder” means any resident of Virginia.\n\n“Laboring person” means any person who receives wages for his\nservices.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1919, \u00a7 6566; 1974, c. 272; 1978, c. 253; 1979, c. 674; 1990, c.\n942.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}