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2015 SESSION
15102120DBe it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 8.01-537 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 8.01-537. Petition for attachment; costs, fees and taxes.
A. Every attachment shall be commenced by a petition filed
before a judge or clerk of a circuit or
general district court of, or magistrate serving, the county or city in which
venue is given by subdivision 11 of § 8.01-261. If it is sought to recover
specific personal property, the petition shall state (i) the kind, quantity,
and estimated fair market value thereof, (ii) the character of estate therein
claimed by the plaintiff, (iii) the plaintiff's claim with such certainty as
will give the adverse party reasonable notice of the true nature of the claim
and the particulars thereof and (iv) what sum, if any, the plaintiff claims he is entitled an entitlement to recover for
its detention. If it is sought to recover a debt or damages for a breach of
contract, express or implied, or damages for a wrong, the petition shall set
forth (i) the plaintiff's claim with such certainty as will give the adverse
party reasonable notice of the true nature of the claim and the particulars
thereof, (ii) a sum certain which, at the least, the plaintiff is entitled to,
or ought to recover, and (iii) if based on a contract and if the claim is for a
debt not then due and payable, at what time or times the same will become due
and payable. The petition shall also allege the existence of one or more of the
grounds mentioned in § 8.01-534, and shall set forth specific facts in support
of the allegation. The petition shall ask for an attachment against the
specific personal property mentioned in the petition, or against the estate,
real and personal, of one or more of the principal defendants, or against the
estate, real and personal, of one or more of the principal defendants, or
against both the specific personal property and the estate of such defendants,
real or personal. The petition shall state whether the officer is requested to
take possession of the attached tangible personal property. The petition shall
be sworn to by the plaintiff or his the plaintiff's agent, or some
other person cognizant of the facts therein stated.
B. The plaintiff praying for an attachment shall, at the time that he files his the petition is filed, pay to the magistrate or clerk of the
court to which the return is made the proper costs, fees and taxes, and in the
event of his failure the plaintiff fails to do so,
the attachment shall not be issued.