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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>377673</law_id><section_number>8.01-6</section_number><catch_line>Amending pleading; relation back to original pleading</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="3" identifier="2">Parties</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>A misnomer in any pleading may, on the <span class="dictionary">motion</span> of any <span class="dictionary">party</span>, and on <span class="dictionary">affidavit</span> of the right name, be amended by inserting the right name. An amendment changing the <span class="dictionary">party</span> against whom a claim is asserted, whether to correct a misnomer or otherwise, relates back to the date of the original pleading if (i) the claim asserted in the amended pleading arose out of the conduct, transaction, or occurrence set forth in the original pleading, (ii) within the limitations period prescribed for commencing the <span class="dictionary">action</span> against the <span class="dictionary">party</span> to be brought in by the amendment, that <span class="dictionary">party</span> or its agent received notice of the institution of the <span class="dictionary">action</span>, (iii) that <span class="dictionary">party</span> will not be prejudiced in maintaining a defense on the merits, and (iv) that <span class="dictionary">party</span> knew or should have known that but for a mistake concerning the identity of the proper <span class="dictionary">party</span>, the <span class="dictionary">action</span> would have been brought against that <span class="dictionary">party</span>.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 8-97; 1954, c. 333; 1977, c. 617; 1990, c. 80; 1996, c. 693; 2004, cc. 141, 326.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
