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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>377085</law_id><section_number>8.01-274</section_number><catch_line>Motion to strike defensive pleading in equity and at law; exceptions abolished</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="12" identifier="8.01">Civil Remedies and Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="15" identifier="7">Civil Actions; Commencement, Pleadings, and Motions</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="2" identifier="2">Pleadings Generally</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Exceptions to answers for insufficiency are abolished. The test of the sufficiency of any defensive pleading in any <span class="dictionary">suit</span> in <span class="dictionary">equity</span> or <span class="dictionary">action</span> at <span class="dictionary">law</span> shall be made by a <span class="dictionary">motion to strike</span>; if found insufficient, but amendable, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may allow amendment on terms. If a second pleading is adjudged insufficient, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may enter such <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> or <span class="dictionary">decree</span> or take such other <span class="dictionary">action</span> that it deems appropriate.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 8-122; 1954, c. 605; 1977, c. 617; 1978, c. 336.</history><metadata><court_decisions><item key="0"><name> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. Clyde Carleton Koons, IV, f/k/a Clyde Carleton Crane, IV v. .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </name><case_number>0580204</case_number><citation></citation><date>2021-02-02</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/4852811/clyde-carleton-koons-iv-fka-clyde-carleton-crane-iv-v-leslie/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Court of Appeals">COA</abbr></court_html></item></court_decisions></metadata></law>
