                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

NO ASSIGNMENT OF BENEFITS; EXEMPTIONS (§ 60.2-600)

Any assignment, pledge or encumbrance of any right to benefits which are or may
become due or payable under this title shall be void except as provided in this
section and in §§ 60.2-608, 60.2-608.1, 60.2-608.2, and 60.2-633. Such rights
to benefits shall be exempt from levy, execution, attachment, garnishment or any
other legal process provided for the collection of debt, even if the
compensation is used for purchase of shares in a credit union, or deposited into
an account with a financial institution or other organization accepting deposits
and is thereby commingled with other funds, except debts incurred for
necessaries furnished to such individual, his spouse or dependents during the
time when such individual was unemployed. Any waiver of any exemption provided
for in this section shall be void.

Upon an order of garnishment, attachment or other levy addressed to a financial
institution in which the principal defendant claims to have exempt funds
hereunder, the principal defendant may file an answer asserting the exemption
hereunder. From the time of service of such garnishment, attachment or levy, the
financial institution, until further order of the court, shall hold the amount
subject to such garnishment, attachment or levy, or such lesser amount or sum as
it may have, which amount shall be set forth in its answer. It shall hold such
amount free of any person drawing against such funds whether by check against
such account or otherwise. The financial institution shall be subject to such
further order or subpoena for discovery of its records, for which it shall be
entitled an order or agreement for compensation for the expense of such service,
and in a case deemed appropriate to the court by such an order directing deposit
of funds or further security prior to such records being ordered produced.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 60-108; 1968, c. 738, § 60.1-125; 1986, c. 480; 1987, c.
331; 1996, c. 107; 1997, c. 385.