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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>360492</law_id><section_number>34-17</section_number><catch_line>When exemption may be set apart; garnished wages</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><referred_to_by><reference>34-34</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="79" identifier="34">Homestead and Other Exemptions</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="2" identifier="2">Homestead Exemption of Householder</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The real or personal estate that a <span class="dictionary">householder</span> is entitled to hold as <span class="dictionary">exempt</span> may be set apart at any time before it is subjected by sale under <span class="dictionary">creditor process</span> or by a trustee in <span class="dictionary">bankruptcy</span>, or, if such <span class="dictionary">creditor process</span> does not require sale of the property, before it is turned over to the creditor. <a id="paragraph-1341547" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/34-17/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A claim of <span class="dictionary">homestead exemption</span> to protect garnished wages may be filed by the debtor after the <span class="dictionary">garnishment</span> <span class="dictionary">summons</span> is served on the employer but prior to or upon the return date of the <span class="dictionary">garnishment</span> <span class="dictionary">summons</span> and shall be considered by the garnishing <span class="dictionary">court</span>. <a id="paragraph-1341548" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/34-17/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1919, &#xA7; 6543; 1944, p. 489; 1974, c. 272; 1981, c. 580; 1985, c. 521; 1990, c. 942; 2003, c. 1000; 2005, c. 367; 2020, c. 328.</history><metadata><court_decisions><item key="0"><name>In Re Neilsen</name><case_number>19-70149</case_number><citation>427 B.R. 581</citation><date>2010-04-30</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1874837/in-re-neilsen/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. 427 B.R. 581 (2010) .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html>United States Bankruptcy Court, W.D. Virginia</court_html></item><item key="1"><name>Harris v. Banks (In Re Banks)</name><case_number>14-50957</case_number><citation>443 B.R. 708</citation><date>2011-01-25</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/2189076/harris-v-banks-in-re-banks/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. 443 B.R. 708 (2011) .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html>United States Bankruptcy Court, W.D. Virginia</court_html></item><item key="2"><name>In Re Benitez</name><case_number>17-62065</case_number><citation>456 B.R. 765</citation><date>2011-10-25</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/2199861/in-re-benitez/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. 456 B.R. 765 (2011) .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html>United States Bankruptcy Court, W.D. Virginia</court_html></item><item key="3"><name>In Re Ahmed</name><case_number>09-10809</case_number><citation>411 B.R. 537</citation><date>2009-06-15</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1918678/in-re-ahmed/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. 411 B.R. 537 (2009) .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html>United States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Virginia</court_html></item><item key="4"><name> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. Roadcap v. Harrisonburg Printing &amp; Graphics, LLC (In re .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </name><case_number>Case No. 17-51132</case_number><citation>590 B.R. 747</citation><date>2018-08-23</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/8529141/roadcap-v-harrisonburg-printing-graphics-llc-in-re-roadcap/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. United States Bankruptcy Judge, Rebecca B. Connelly .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html>United States Bankruptcy Court, W.D. Virginia</court_html></item><item key="5"><name>In Re Cambre</name><case_number>19-70299</case_number><citation>463 B.R. 340</citation><date>2012-01-27</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/2203154/in-re-cambre/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. 463 B.R. 340 (2012) .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html>United States Bankruptcy Court, W.D. Virginia</court_html></item><item key="6"><name>In re Chesler</name><case_number>Case No. 16-10761-RGM</case_number><citation>562 B.R. 119</citation><date>2016-09-27</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/8527701/in-re-chesler/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. MEMORANDUM OPINION .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html>United States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Virginia</court_html></item><item key="7"><name>In Re Conner</name><case_number>18-71600</case_number><citation>408 B.R. 88</citation><date>2009-07-15</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1966999/in-re-conner/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. 408 B.R. 88 (2009) .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html>United States Bankruptcy Court, W.D. Virginia</court_html></item><item key="8"><name>In Re Alley</name><case_number>19-50091</case_number><citation>354 B.R. 783</citation><date>2006-11-08</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1816400/in-re-alley/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. 354 B.R. 783 (2006) .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html>United States Bankruptcy Court, W.D. Virginia</court_html></item><item key="9"><name>In Re Stewart</name><case_number>05-53576</case_number><citation>360 B.R. 132</citation><date>2006-04-05</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1978300/in-re-stewart/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. 360 B.R. 132 (2006) .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html>United States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Virginia</court_html></item></court_decisions></metadata></law>
