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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>377497</law_id><section_number>8.01-516.1</section_number><catch_line>Garnishment dispositions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><referred_to_by><reference>8.01-517</reference><reference>8.01-521</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="12" identifier="8.01">Civil Remedies and Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="38" identifier="18">Executions and Other Means of Recovery</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="7" identifier="7">Garnishment</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> If the amount of liability is not disputed and the <span class="dictionary">garnishee</span> admits liability to the <span class="dictionary">court</span> either by (i) examination on the return date of the <span class="dictionary">summons</span>, or (ii) written statement as provided by &#xA7; <a class="law" title="How garnishee examined; determining exemption from employee's withholding certificate; amount due pursuant to exemptions in &#xA7; 34-29 (a)" href="/8.01-515/">8.01-515</a> on or before the return date of the <span class="dictionary">summons</span>, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall <span class="dictionary">order</span> the delivery of such estate or payment of the value of such estate into <span class="dictionary">court</span> without entering <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> against the <span class="dictionary">garnishee</span>. Should a <span class="dictionary">garnishee</span> fail to comply with the <span class="dictionary">order</span> within thirty days after service of such <span class="dictionary">order</span> on the <span class="dictionary">garnishee</span>, then <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> may be entered against the <span class="dictionary">garnishee</span>. <a id="paragraph-1408563" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-516.1/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Upon certification by the <span class="dictionary">judgment creditor</span>, its bona fide employee, or its attorney that its claim has been satisfied or that it desires its <span class="dictionary">action</span> against the <span class="dictionary">garnishee</span> to be dismissed for any other reason, the <span class="dictionary">court</span>, or clerk thereof, where the <span class="dictionary">action</span> has been filed, shall, by written <span class="dictionary">order</span>, which may be served by the <span class="dictionary">sheriff</span>, notify the <span class="dictionary">garnishee</span> to cease withholding <span class="dictionary">assets</span> of the <span class="dictionary">judgment debtor</span>, and to treat any funds previously withheld as if the original <span class="dictionary">garnishment</span> <span class="dictionary">action</span> had not been filed. The <span class="dictionary">court</span> in which the <span class="dictionary">garnishment</span> <span class="dictionary">action</span> was filed shall then dismiss the <span class="dictionary">action</span> on or before the return date. <a id="paragraph-1408564" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-516.1/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1983, c. 399; 1993, c. 385.</history><metadata><court_decisions><item key="0"><name>SunTrust Bank v. PS Bus. Parks, L.P.</name><case_number>Record 151935</case_number><citation>791 S.E.2d 571</citation><date>2016-10-27</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/4315990/suntrust-bank-v-ps-bus-parks-lp/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. OPINION BY JUSTICE WILLIAM C. MIMS .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Supreme Court of Virginia">SCV</abbr></court_html></item><item key="1"><name>Virginia National Bank v. Blofeld</name><case_number>Record 841409</case_number><citation>362 S.E.2d 692</citation><date>1987-11-25</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1239965/virginia-national-bank-v-blofeld/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. 234 Va. 395 (1987) .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Supreme Court of Virginia">SCV</abbr></court_html></item></court_decisions></metadata></law>
