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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>361821</law_id><section_number>38.2-2226</section_number><catch_line>Insurer to give notice to claimant of intention to rely on certain defenses and of execution of nonwaiver of rights agreement</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><referred_to_by><reference>46.2-368</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="88" identifier="38.2">Insurance</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="22" identifier="22">Liability Insurance Policies</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Whenever any <span class="dictionary">insurer</span> on a policy of liability <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> discovers a breach of the terms or conditions of the <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> <span class="dictionary">contract</span> by the insured, the <span class="dictionary">insurer</span> shall notify the claimant or the claimant&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> of the breach. Notification shall be given within forty-five days after <span class="dictionary">discovery</span> by the <span class="dictionary">insurer</span> of the breach or of the claim, whichever is later. Whenever, on account of such breach, a nonwaiver of rights agreement is executed by the <span class="dictionary">insurer</span> and the insured, or a reservation of rights letter is sent by the <span class="dictionary">insurer</span> to the insured, notice of such action shall be given to the claimant or the claimant&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> within forty-five days after that agreement is executed or the letter is sent, or after notice of the claim is received, whichever is later. Failure to give the notice within forty-five days will result in a <span class="dictionary">waiver</span> of the defense based on such breach to the extent of the claim by operation of <span class="dictionary">law</span>.</p><p>Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, in any claim in which a <span class="dictionary">civil action</span> has been filed by the claimant, the <span class="dictionary">insurer</span> shall give notice of reservation of rights in writing to the claimant, or if the claimant is represented by <span class="dictionary">counsel</span>, to claimant&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> not less than thirty days prior to the date set for <span class="dictionary">trial</span> of the matter. The <span class="dictionary">court</span>, upon <span class="dictionary">motion</span> of the <span class="dictionary">insurer</span> and for good cause shown, may allow such notice to be given fewer than thirty days prior to the <span class="dictionary">trial</span> date. Failure to give the notice within thirty days of the <span class="dictionary">trial</span> date, or such shorter period as the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may have allowed, shall result in a <span class="dictionary">waiver</span> of the defense based on such breach to the extent of the claim by operation of <span class="dictionary">law</span>.</p></section></text><history>1968, c. 410, &#xA7; 38.1-389.1; 1986, c. 562; 1997, c. 377; 2001, c. 728.</history><metadata><court_decisions><item key="0"><name>Gateway Residences at Exch., LLC v. Ill. Union Ins. Co.</name><case_number>18-1491</case_number><citation>917 F.3d 269</citation><date>2019-02-28</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/4595213/gateway-residences-at-exch-llc-v-ill-union-ins-co/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. DIAZ, Circuit Judge: .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html>Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit</court_html></item><item key="1"><name>Dabney v. Augusta Mut. Ins. Co.</name><case_number>100841</case_number><citation>710 S.E.2d 726</citation><date>2011-06-09</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1058023/dabney-v-augusta-mut-ins-co/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. 710 S.E.2d 726 (2011) .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Supreme Court of Virginia">SCV</abbr></court_html></item><item key="2"><name> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. Mark Morrel Ruth Morrel v. Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </name><case_number>98-1963</case_number><citation>188 F.3d 218</citation><date>1999-08-16</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/765753/mark-morrel-ruth-morrel-v-nationwide-mutual-fire-insurance-company/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. Affirmed by published opinion. Judge KING wrote the opinion, in which Judge WILKINS and Judge .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html>Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit</court_html></item><item key="3"><name>Morrel v. Nationwide Mutual</name><case_number>98-1963</case_number><citation></citation><date>1999-08-16</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/2967065/morrel-v-nationwide-mutual/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. PUBLISHED .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html>Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit</court_html></item><item key="4"><name>Vermont Mutual Insurance v. Everette</name><case_number>Action 4:94cv00090</case_number><citation>875 F. Supp. 1181</citation><date>1995-02-09</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1394945/vermont-mutual-insurance-v-everette/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. 875 F.Supp. 1181 (1995) .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html>District Court, E.D. Virginia</court_html></item><item key="5"><name>State Auto Property &amp; Casualty Insurance v. Gorsuch</name><case_number>1:03CV00128</case_number><citation>323 F. Supp. 2d 746</citation><date>2004-07-08</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/2492771/state-auto-property-casualty-insurance-v-gorsuch/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. 323 F.Supp.2d 746 (2004) .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html>District Court, W.D. Virginia</court_html></item><item key="6"><name> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. The Aetna Casualty and Surety Company v. Samantha Leigh-Mae .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </name><case_number>94-1597</case_number><citation>52 F.3d 320</citation><date>1995-04-25</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/693735/the-aetna-casualty-and-surety-company-v-samantha-l/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. 52 F.3d 320NOTICE: Fourth Circuit I.O.P. 36.6 states that citation of unpublished dispositions is .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html>Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit</court_html></item><item key="7"><name>U.S. Specialty Insurance v. Skymaster of Virginia, Inc.</name><case_number>2:00CV39</case_number><citation>123 F. Supp. 2d 995</citation><date>2000-12-11</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/2479909/us-specialty-insurance-v-skymaster-of-virginia-inc/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. 123 F.Supp.2d 995 (2000) .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html>District Court, E.D. Virginia</court_html></item><item key="8"><name>State Farm Fire and Cas. Co. v. Scott</name><case_number>Record No. 860185</case_number><citation>372 S.E.2d 383</citation><date>1988-09-23</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1365034/state-farm-fire-and-cas-co-v-scott/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. 372 S.E.2d 383 (1988) .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Supreme Court of Virginia">SCV</abbr></court_html></item><item key="9"><name>Gordon v. Liberty Mutual Insurance</name><case_number>Civ. A. 87-27-N</case_number><citation>675 F. Supp. 321</citation><date>1987-10-30</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1638466/gordon-v-liberty-mutual-insurance/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. 675 F.Supp. 321 (1987) .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html>District Court, E.D. Virginia</court_html></item></court_decisions></metadata></law>
