{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/8.01-133.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/8.01-133.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/8.01-133.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/8.01-133.html"}],"law_id":376809,"edition_id":2,"section_id":376809,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-133","catch_line":"Who shall be defendants; when and how landlord may defend","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 8-800; 1954, c. 333; 1977, c. 617.","full_text":"The person actually occupying the premises and any person claiming title thereto or claiming any interest therein adversely to the plaintiff may also, at the discretion of the plaintiff, be named defendants in the action. If there be no person actually occupying the premises adversely to the plaintiff, then the action must be against some person exercising ownership thereon or claiming title thereto or some interest therein at the commencement of suit. If a lessee be made defendant at the suit of a party claiming against the title of his landlord such landlord may appear and be made a defendant with or in place of his lessee.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1406805,"text":"The person actually occupying the premises and any person claiming title thereto or claiming any interest therein adversely to the plaintiff may also, at the discretion of the plaintiff, be named defendants in the action. If there be no person actually occupying the premises adversely to the plaintiff, then the action must be against some person exercising ownership thereon or claiming title thereto or some interest therein at the commencement of suit. If a lessee be made defendant at the suit of a party claiming against the title of his landlord such landlord may appear and be made a defendant with or in place of his lessee.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":53567,"edition_id":2,"name":"Ejectment","identifier":"14","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":15,"parent_id":53562,"metadata":{"child_laws":35,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:18:37","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:28:12","permalink":{"id":1506863,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53567,"identifier":"14","token":"8.01\/3\/14","url":"\/8.01\/3\/14\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":53562,"edition_id":2,"name":"Actions","identifier":"3","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":5,"parent_id":53558,"metadata":{"child_laws":357,"child_structures":31},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:18:33","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:28:10","permalink":{"id":1506637,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53562,"identifier":"3","token":"8.01\/3","url":"\/8.01\/3\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":53558,"edition_id":2,"name":"Civil Remedies and Procedure","identifier":"8.01","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":12,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":1095,"child_structures":142},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:18:32","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:28:09","permalink":{"id":1504031,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53558,"identifier":"8.01","token":"8.01","url":"\/8.01\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":376807,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-131","catch_line":"Action of ejectment retained; when and by whom brought","url":"\/8.01-131\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-131","metadata":false},{"id":376808,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-132","catch_line":"What interest and right plaintiff must have","url":"\/8.01-132\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-132","metadata":false},{"id":376809,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-133","catch_line":"Who shall be defendants; when and how landlord may defend","url":"\/8.01-133\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-133","metadata":false},{"id":376810,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-134","catch_line":"How action commenced and prosecuted","url":"\/8.01-134\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-134","metadata":false},{"id":376811,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-135","catch_line":"What is to be stated in motion for judgment","url":"\/8.01-135\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-135","metadata":false},{"id":376812,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-136","catch_line":"How premises described","url":"\/8.01-136\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-136","metadata":false},{"id":376813,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-137","catch_line":"Plaintiff to state how he claims","url":"\/8.01-137\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-137","metadata":false},{"id":376814,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-138","catch_line":"There may be several counts and several plaintiffs","url":"\/8.01-138\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-138","metadata":false},{"id":376815,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-139","catch_line":"What proof by plaintiff is sufficient","url":"\/8.01-139\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-139","metadata":false},{"id":376817,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-140","catch_line":"Effect of reservation in deed; burden of proof","url":"\/8.01-140\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-140","metadata":false},{"id":376818,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-141","catch_line":"When action by cotenants, etc., against cotenants, what plaintiff to prove","url":"\/8.01-141\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-141","metadata":false},{"id":376819,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-142","catch_line":"Verdict when action against several defendants","url":"\/8.01-142\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-142","metadata":false},{"id":376820,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-143","catch_line":"When there may be several judgments against defendants","url":"\/8.01-143\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-143","metadata":false},{"id":376821,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-144","catch_line":"Recovery of part of premises claimed","url":"\/8.01-144\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-144","metadata":false},{"id":376822,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-145","catch_line":"When possession of part not possession of whole","url":"\/8.01-145\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-145","metadata":false},{"id":376823,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-146","catch_line":"When vendee, etc., entitled to conveyance of legal title, vendor cannot recover","url":"\/8.01-146\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-146","metadata":false},{"id":376824,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-147","catch_line":"When mortgagee or trustee not to recover","url":"\/8.01-147\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-147","metadata":false},{"id":376825,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-148","catch_line":"Right of defendant to resort to equity not affected","url":"\/8.01-148\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-148","metadata":false},{"id":376826,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-149","catch_line":"Verdict when jury finds for plaintiffs or any of them","url":"\/8.01-149\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-149","metadata":false},{"id":376830,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-150","catch_line":"Verdict when any plaintiff has no right","url":"\/8.01-150\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-150","metadata":false},{"id":376831,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-151","catch_line":"How verdict to specify premises recovered","url":"\/8.01-151\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-151","metadata":false},{"id":376832,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-152","catch_line":"How verdict to specify undivided interest or share","url":"\/8.01-152\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-152","metadata":false},{"id":376833,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-153","catch_line":"Verdict to specify estate of plaintiff","url":"\/8.01-153\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-153","metadata":false},{"id":376834,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-154","catch_line":"When right of plaintiff expires before trial, what judgment entered","url":"\/8.01-154\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-154","metadata":false},{"id":376835,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-155","catch_line":"How judgment for plaintiff entered","url":"\/8.01-155\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-155","metadata":false},{"id":376836,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-156","catch_line":"Authority of sheriffs, etc., to store and sell personal property removed from premises; recovery of possession by owner; disposition or sale","url":"\/8.01-156\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-156","metadata":false},{"id":376837,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-157","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/8.01-157\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-157","metadata":false},{"id":376838,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-158","catch_line":"How claim of plaintiff for profits and damages assessed","url":"\/8.01-158\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-158","metadata":false},{"id":376839,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-159","catch_line":"When court to assess damages","url":"\/8.01-159\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-159","metadata":false},{"id":376841,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-160","catch_line":"Defendant to give notice of claim for improvements","url":"\/8.01-160\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-160","metadata":false},{"id":376842,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-161","catch_line":"How allowed","url":"\/8.01-161\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-161","metadata":false},{"id":376843,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-162","catch_line":"Postponement of assessment and allowance","url":"\/8.01-162\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-162","metadata":false},{"id":376844,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-163","catch_line":"Judgment to be conclusive","url":"\/8.01-163\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-163","metadata":false},{"id":376845,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-164","catch_line":"Recovery of mesne profits, etc., not affected","url":"\/8.01-164\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-164","metadata":false},{"id":376846,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-165","catch_line":"Writ of right, etc., abolished","url":"\/8.01-165\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-165","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":376808,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-132","catch_line":"What interest and right plaintiff must have","url":"\/8.01-132\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-132","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":376810,"structure_id":53567,"section_number":"8.01-134","catch_line":"How action commenced and prosecuted","url":"\/8.01-134\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-134","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/8.01-133\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 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 1954, chapter 333; in 1977, chapter 617.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1506873,"object_type":"law","relational_id":376809,"identifier":"8.01-133","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-133","url":"\/8.01-133\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/8.01-133\/","token":"8.01\/3\/14\/8.01-133","dublin_core":{"Title":"Who shall be defendants; when and how landlord may defend","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 8.01-133","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>The <span class=\"dictionary\">person<\/span> actually occupying the premises and any <span class=\"dictionary\">person<\/span> claiming title thereto or claiming any interest therein adversely to the <span class=\"dictionary\">plaintiff<\/span> may also, at the discretion of the <span class=\"dictionary\">plaintiff<\/span>, be named <span class=\"dictionary\">defendants<\/span> in the <span class=\"dictionary\">action<\/span>. If there be no <span class=\"dictionary\">person<\/span> actually occupying the premises adversely to the <span class=\"dictionary\">plaintiff<\/span>, then the <span class=\"dictionary\">action<\/span> must be against some <span class=\"dictionary\">person<\/span> exercising ownership thereon or claiming title thereto or some interest therein at the commencement of <span class=\"dictionary\">suit<\/span>. If a lessee be made <span class=\"dictionary\">defendant<\/span> at the <span class=\"dictionary\">suit<\/span> of a <span class=\"dictionary\">party<\/span> claiming against the title of his landlord such landlord may appear and be made a <span class=\"dictionary\">defendant<\/span> with or in place of his lessee.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nWHO SHALL BE DEFENDANTS; WHEN AND HOW LANDLORD MAY DEFEND (\u00a7 8.01-133)\n\nThe person actually occupying the premises and any person claiming title thereto\nor claiming any interest therein adversely to the plaintiff may also, at the\ndiscretion of the plaintiff, be named defendants in the action. If there be no\nperson actually occupying the premises adversely to the plaintiff, then the\naction must be against some person exercising ownership thereon or claiming\ntitle thereto or some interest therein at the commencement of suit. If a lessee\nbe made defendant at the suit of a party claiming against the title of his\nlandlord such landlord may appear and be made a defendant with or in place of\nhis lessee.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 8-800; 1954, c. 333; 1977, c. 617.","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"}}