# Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-540: Issuance of attachment; against what attachment to issue

> Virginia · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T8.01_C20_A1_S8.01-540

## Section

- **Citation:** Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-540
- **Heading:** Issuance of attachment; against what attachment to issue
- **Jurisdiction:** Virginia
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Virginia Code / Title 8.01 / Chapter 20 / Article 1 / Section 8.01-540

## Text

A judge of, or a magistrate serving, the court in which a petition for attachment is filed shall make an ex parte review of the petition. The judge or magistrate shall issue an attachment in accordance with the prayer of the petition only upon a determination that (i) there is reasonable cause to believe that grounds for attachment may exist and (ii) the petition complies with §§ 8.01-534 , 8.01-537 , and 8.01-538 . The judge or magistrate may receive evidence only in the form of a sworn petition which shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the court. If the plaintiff seeks the recovery of specific personal property, the attachment may be (i) against such property and against the principal defendant's estate for so much as is sufficient to satisfy the probable damages for its detention or (ii) at the option of the plaintiff, against the principal defendant's estate for the value of the specific property and the damages for its detention. If the plaintiff seeks to recover a debt or damages for the breach of a contract, express or implied, or damages for a wrong, the attachment shall be against the principal defendant's estate for the amount specified in the petition as that which the plaintiff at the least is entitled to or ought to recover.

If the attachment is issued by a magistrate, it shall be returnable as prescribed by § 8.01-541 . The magistrate shall promptly return to the clerk's office of the court to which the attachment is returnable the petition and the bond, if any, filed before him. The proceedings thereafter shall be the same as if the attachment had been issued by a judge.

Code 1950, § 8.526; 1954, c. 254; 1977, c. 617; 1984, c. 646; 1993, c. 841; 2008, cc. 551 , 691 .

## Nearby sections

- [Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-533 Who may sue out attachment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T8.01_C20_A1_S8.01-533.md)
- [Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-534 Grounds of action for pretrial levy or seizure of attachment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T8.01_C20_A1_S8.01-534.md)
- [Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-535 Jurisdiction of attachments; trial or hearing of issues](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T8.01_C20_A1_S8.01-535.md)
- [Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-536 Pleadings in attachment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T8.01_C20_A1_S8.01-536.md)
- [Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-537 Petition for attachment; costs, fees and taxes](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T8.01_C20_A1_S8.01-537.md)
- [Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-537.1 Plaintiff to file bond](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T8.01_C20_A1_S8.01-537.1.md)
- [Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-538 Attachment of ships, boats and other vessels of more than twenty tons](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T8.01_C20_A1_S8.01-538.md)
- [Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-539 Who made defendants](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T8.01_C20_A1_S8.01-539.md)
- [Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-540 Issuance of attachment; against what attachment to issue](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T8.01_C20_A1_S8.01-540.md)
- [Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-541 To whom attachments directed; when and where returned](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T8.01_C20_A1_S8.01-541.md)
- [Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-542 Issue and execution of attachment on any day](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T8.01_C20_A1_S8.01-542.md)
- [Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-543 Issue of other attachments on original petition](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T8.01_C20_A1_S8.01-543.md)
- [Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-544 When attachment not served other attachments may issue; order of publication](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T8.01_C20_A1_S8.01-544.md)
- [Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-545 Amendments; formal defects](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T8.01_C20_A1_S8.01-545.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T8.01_C20_A1_S8.01-540. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.