{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/8.01-17.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/8.01-17.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/8.01-17.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/8.01-17.html"}],"law_id":376851,"edition_id":2,"section_id":376851,"structure_id":53568,"section_number":"8.01-17","catch_line":"When party whose powers cease is defendant","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 8-152; 1954, c. 333; 1977, c. 617; 2025, c. 460.","full_text":"A\n\nWhen the party whose powers cease is a defendant, the plaintiff may continue his suit against him to final judgment or decree; provided that a successor in interest may be substituted in accordance with the Rules of Court; and provided further that upon motion the court may order that the suit proceed against the former party as well as the successor.\n\nB\n\nThe provisions of this section shall not apply when a public officer who is a party in an official capacity dies, resigns, or otherwise ceases to hold office while an action is pending. In any such instance, such public officer’s successor shall be automatically substituted as a party when the only claim in such action was made against the former public officer in his official capacity.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1406855,"text":"When the party whose powers cease is a defendant, the plaintiff may continue his suit against him to final judgment or decree; provided that a successor in interest may be substituted in accordance with the Rules of Court; and provided further that upon motion the court may order that the suit proceed against the former party as well as the successor.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1406856,"text":"The provisions of this section shall not apply when a public officer who is a party in an official capacity dies, resigns, or otherwise ceases to hold office while an action is pending. In any such instance, such public officer’s successor shall be automatically substituted as a party when the only claim in such action was made against the former public officer in his official capacity.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":53568,"edition_id":2,"name":"Death or Change of Parties","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":3,"parent_id":53560,"metadata":{"child_laws":9,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:18:41","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:28:10","permalink":{"id":1505523,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53568,"identifier":"3","token":"8.01\/2\/3","url":"\/8.01\/2\/3\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":53560,"edition_id":2,"name":"Parties","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":3,"parent_id":53558,"metadata":{"child_laws":26,"child_structures":4},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:18:32","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:28:10","permalink":{"id":1505453,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53560,"identifier":"2","token":"8.01\/2","url":"\/8.01\/2\/","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":376840,"structure_id":53568,"section_number":"8.01-16","catch_line":"New parties may have continuance","url":"\/8.01-16\/","token":"8.01\/2\/3\/8.01-16","metadata":false},{"id":376851,"structure_id":53568,"section_number":"8.01-17","catch_line":"When party whose powers cease is defendant","url":"\/8.01-17\/","token":"8.01\/2\/3\/8.01-17","metadata":false},{"id":376866,"structure_id":53568,"section_number":"8.01-18","catch_line":"When suit discontinued unless revived","url":"\/8.01-18\/","token":"8.01\/2\/3\/8.01-18","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":" .\u202f.\u202f. Heather Ford, Sometimes Known as Heather D'Anne Ford v. .\u202f.\u202f. ","case_number":"1025241","citation":null,"date":"2025-09-30","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/10681672\/heather-ford-sometimes-known-as-heather-danne-ford-v-commonwealth-of\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"COA<\/abbr>"},"1":{"name":"United States v. Henry Martinez","case_number":"23-4005","citation":null,"date":"2025-08-14","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/10654934\/united-states-v-henry-martinez\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. USCA4 Appeal: 23-4005 Doc: 138 Filed: 08\/14\/2025 Pg: 1 of 40 .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"2":{"name":"United States v. Ronald Contreras","case_number":"22-4745","citation":null,"date":"2025-08-14","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/10654932\/united-states-v-ronald-contreras\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. USCA4 Appeal: 22-4745 Doc: 146 Filed: 08\/14\/2025 Pg: 1 of 40 .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"3":{"name":"United States v. Pablo Velasco Barrera","case_number":"22-4746","citation":null,"date":"2025-08-14","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/10654933\/united-states-v-pablo-velasco-barrera\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. USCA4 Appeal: 22-4746 Doc: 139 Filed: 08\/14\/2025 Pg: 1 of 40 .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"4":{"name":"United States v. Duglas Ferrera","case_number":"23-4006","citation":null,"date":"2025-08-14","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/10654937\/united-states-v-duglas-ferrera\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. USCA4 Appeal: 23-4006 Doc: 139 Filed: 08\/14\/2025 Pg: 1 of 40 .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"5":{"name":"United States v. 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","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"}}}},{"id":376878,"structure_id":53568,"section_number":"8.01-19","catch_line":"Effect of marriage or change of name of party","url":"\/8.01-19\/","token":"8.01\/2\/3\/8.01-19","metadata":false},{"id":376904,"structure_id":53568,"section_number":"8.01-20","catch_line":"Effect of marriage, change of name or death on appeal","url":"\/8.01-20\/","token":"8.01\/2\/3\/8.01-20","metadata":false},{"id":376903,"structure_id":53568,"section_number":"8.01-20.1","catch_line":"Certification of expert witness opinion at time of service of process","url":"\/8.01-20.1\/","token":"8.01\/2\/3\/8.01-20.1","metadata":false},{"id":376915,"structure_id":53568,"section_number":"8.01-21","catch_line":"Judgment when death or disability occurs after verdict but before judgment","url":"\/8.01-21\/","token":"8.01\/2\/3\/8.01-21","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Centra Health, Inc. v. 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","case_number":"88-2055","citation":"905 F.2d 764","date":"1990-06-12","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/543106\/helen-c-boyd-roger-e-boyd-veronica-lynn-boyd-by-her-parents-and-next\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 905 F.2d 764 .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"4":{"name":"Boyd v. Bulala","case_number":"Civ. A. 83-0557-A-C","citation":"647 F. Supp. 781","date":"1986-11-05","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2360231\/boyd-v-bulala\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 647 F.Supp. 781 (1986) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, W.D. Virginia"},"5":{"name":" .\u202f.\u202f. Helen C. Boyd Roger E. Boyd Veronica Lynn Boyd by Her .\u202f.\u202f. ","case_number":"88-2055","citation":"877 F.2d 1191","date":"1989-06-12","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/525221\/helen-c-boyd-roger-e-boyd-veronica-lynn-boyd-by-her-parents-and-next\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 877 F.2d 1191 .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"6":{"name":"Boyd v. Bulala","case_number":"Nos. 88-2055L, 88-2056","citation":"877 F.2d 1191","date":"1989-06-12","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/8979399\/boyd-v-bulala\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. HARRISON L. WINTER, Circuit Judge: .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"7":{"name":"Boyd v. Bulala","case_number":"Civ. A. 83-0557-A-C","citation":"672 F. Supp. 915","date":"1987-11-12","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2091325\/boyd-v-bulala\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 672 F.Supp. 915 (1987) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, W.D. Virginia"}}}},{"id":376946,"structure_id":53568,"section_number":"8.01-22","catch_line":"When death or disability occurs as to any of several plaintiffs or defendants","url":"\/8.01-22\/","token":"8.01\/2\/3\/8.01-22","metadata":false},{"id":377010,"structure_id":53568,"section_number":"8.01-23","catch_line":"Decree in suit when number of parties exceeds 30 and one of them dies","url":"\/8.01-23\/","token":"8.01\/2\/3\/8.01-23","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Paoli v. Lally","case_number":"No. 86-7188","citation":"812 F.2d 1489","date":"1987-03-09","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/8957608\/paoli-v-lally\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. SPROUSE, Circuit Judge: .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"1":{"name":"Paoli v. 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","case_number":"1025241","citation":null,"date":"2025-09-30","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/10681672\/heather-ford-sometimes-known-as-heather-danne-ford-v-commonwealth-of\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"COA<\/abbr>"},"1":{"name":"United States v. Henry Martinez","case_number":"23-4005","citation":null,"date":"2025-08-14","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/10654934\/united-states-v-henry-martinez\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. USCA4 Appeal: 23-4005 Doc: 138 Filed: 08\/14\/2025 Pg: 1 of 40 .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"2":{"name":"United States v. Ronald Contreras","case_number":"22-4745","citation":null,"date":"2025-08-14","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/10654932\/united-states-v-ronald-contreras\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. USCA4 Appeal: 22-4745 Doc: 146 Filed: 08\/14\/2025 Pg: 1 of 40 .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"3":{"name":"United States v. Pablo Velasco Barrera","case_number":"22-4746","citation":null,"date":"2025-08-14","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/10654933\/united-states-v-pablo-velasco-barrera\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. USCA4 Appeal: 22-4746 Doc: 139 Filed: 08\/14\/2025 Pg: 1 of 40 .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"4":{"name":"United States v. Duglas Ferrera","case_number":"23-4006","citation":null,"date":"2025-08-14","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/10654937\/united-states-v-duglas-ferrera\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. USCA4 Appeal: 23-4006 Doc: 139 Filed: 08\/14\/2025 Pg: 1 of 40 .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"5":{"name":"United States v. 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The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 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; in 2025, chapter 460<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1505529,"object_type":"law","relational_id":376851,"identifier":"8.01-17","token":"8.01\/2\/3\/8.01-17","url":"\/8.01-17\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/8.01-17\/","token":"8.01\/2\/3\/8.01-17","dublin_core":{"Title":"When party whose powers cease is defendant","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 8.01-17","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> When the party<\/span> whose powers cease is a defendant<\/span>, the plaintiff<\/span> may continue his suit<\/span> against him to final judgment<\/span> or decree<\/span>; provided that a successor in interest may be substituted in accordance with the Rules of Court<\/span>; and provided further that upon motion<\/span> the court<\/span> may order<\/span> that the suit<\/span> proceed against the former party<\/span> as well as the successor. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The provisions of this section shall not apply when a public officer who is a party<\/span> in an official capacity dies, resigns, or otherwise ceases to hold office while an action<\/span> is pending. In any such instance, such public officer’s successor shall be automatically substituted as a party<\/span> when the only claim in such action<\/span> was made against the former public officer in his official capacity. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nWHEN PARTY WHOSE POWERS CEASE IS DEFENDANT (\u00a7 8.01-17)\n\nA. When the party whose powers cease is a defendant, the plaintiff may continue\nhis suit against him to final judgment or decree; provided that a successor in\ninterest may be substituted in accordance with the Rules of Court; and provided\nfurther that upon motion the court may order that the suit proceed against the\nformer party as well as the successor.\n\nB. The provisions of this section shall not apply when a public officer who is a\nparty in an official capacity dies, resigns, or otherwise ceases to hold office\nwhile an action is pending. In any such instance, such public officer’s\nsuccessor shall be automatically substituted as a party when the only claim in\nsuch action was made against the former public officer in his official capacity.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 8-152; 1954, c. 333; 1977, c. 617; 2025, c. 460.","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"}}