2014 Virginia Code
Title 8.01 - Civil Remedies and Procedure
§ 8.01-512.4. Notice of exemptions from garnishment and lien

No summons in garnishment shall be issued or served, nor shall any notice of lien be served on a financial institution pursuant to § 8.01-502.1, unless a notice of exemptions and claim for exemption form are attached. The notice shall contain the following statement:

NOTICE TO JUDGMENT DEBTOR

HOW TO CLAIM EXEMPTIONS FROM GARNISHMENT AND LIEN

The attached Summons in Garnishment or Notice of Lien has been issued on
request of a creditor who holds a judgment against you. The Summons may cause
your property or wages to be held or taken to pay the judgment.

The law provides that certain property and wages cannot be taken in
garnishment. Such property is said to be exempted. A summary of some of the
major exemptions is set forth in the request for hearing form. There is no
exemption solely because you are having difficulty paying your debts.

If you claim an exemption, you should (i) fill out the claim for exemption
form and (ii) deliver or mail the form to the clerk's office of this court.
You have a right to a hearing within seven business days from the date you
file your claim with the court. If the creditor is asking that your wages be
withheld, the method of computing the amount of wages which are exempt from
garnishment by law is indicated on the Summons in Garnishment attached. You do
not need to file a claim for exemption to receive this exemption, but if you
believe the wrong amount is being withheld you may file a claim for exemption.

On the day of the hearing you should come to court ready to explain why
your property is exempted, and you should bring any documents which may help
you prove your case. If you do not come to court at the designated time and
prove that your property is exempt, you may lose some of your rights.

It may be helpful to you to seek the advice of an attorney in this matter.

REQUEST FOR HEARING-GARNISHMENT/LIEN EXEMPTION CLAIM

I claim that the exemption(s) from garnishment or lien which are checked

below apply in this case:

MAJOR EXEMPTIONS UNDER FEDERAL AND STATE LAW

. . . . 1. Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
(42 U.S.C. § 407).

. . . . 2. Veterans' benefits (38 U.S.C. § 5301).

. . . .3. Federal civil service retirement benefits (5 U.S.C. § 8346).

. . . .4. Annuities to survivors of federal judges (28 U.S.C. § 376(n)).

. . . .5. Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (33 U.S.C. §

916). . . . .6. Black lung benefits.
Exemptions listed under 1 through 6 above may not be applicable in child
support and alimony cases (42 U.S.C. § 659).

. . . .7. Seaman's, master's or fisherman's wages, except for child
support or spousal support and maintenance (46 U.S.C. § 11109).

. . . .8. Unemployment compensation benefits (§ 60.2-600, Code of
Virginia). This exemption may not be applicable in child support cases (§
60.2-608, Code of Virginia ).

. . . .9. Portions or amounts of wages subject to garnishment (§ 34-29,
Code of Virginia).

. . . .10. Public assistance payments (§ 63.2-506, Code of Virginia ).

. . . .11. Homestead exemption of $5,000, or $10,000 if the debtor is
65 years of age or older, in cash (§ 34-4, Code of Virginia ). This exemption
may not be claimed in certain cases, such as payment of spousal or child
support (§ 34-5, Code of Virginia ).

. . . .12. Property of disabled veterans -- additional $10,000 cash (§
34-4.1, Code of Virginia ).

. . . .13. Workers' Compensation benefits (§ 65.2-531, Code of Virginia ).

. . . .14. Growing crops (§ 8.01-489, Code of Virginia ).

. . . .15. Benefits from group life insurance policies (§ 38.2-3339, Code
of Virginia).

. . . . 16. Proceeds from industrial sick benefits insurance (§ 38.2-3549,
Code of Virginia).

. . . .17. Assignments of certain salary and wages (§ 55-165, Code of
Virginia).

. . . .18. Benefits for victims of crime (§ 19.2-368.12, Code of
Virginia).

. . . .19. Preneed funeral trusts (§ 54.1-2823, Code of Virginia ).

. . . .20. Certain retirement benefits (§ 34-34, Code of Virginia ).

. . . .21. Child support payments (§ 20-108.1, Code of Virginia ).

. . . .22. Support for dependent minor children (§ 34-4.2, Code of
Virginia). To claim this exemption, the debtor shall attach to the claim for
exemption form an affidavit that complies with the requirements of subsection
B of § 34-4.2 and two items of proof showing that the debtor is entitled to
this exemption.

. . . .23. Other (describe exemption): $..............................…
I request a court hearing to decide the validity of my claim. Notice of the
hearing should be given me at:

..........................….................…
(address)(telephone no.)
The statements made in this request are true to the best of my knowledge and
belief.

...............…....................................…
(date)(signature of judgment debtor)

1984, c. 1; 1986, c. 489; 1989, c. 684; 1994, c. 40; 2007, c. 872; 2009, cc. 332, 387, 388; 2010, c. 673; 2012, cc. 23, 79.