How to Collect Your Judgment in Virginia

A Virginia judgment is enforceable for 10 years, and can be renewed before it expires. Per Va. Code § 8.01-251, no execution may issue and no action may be brought on a judgment dated on or after July 1, 2021 after 10 years (judgments dated before 7/1/2021 had a 20-year life). The 10-year period may be extended twice by recording a certificate of extension, each adding 10 years. General District Court judgments are governed by § 16.1-94.1 unless an abstract is docketed in Circuit Court, after which they are treated like Circuit Court judgments.

Yes. Garnishment in Virginia can reach 25% of disposable weekly earnings (or amount exceeding 40x the federal minimum wage); Virginia's exemption (Va. Code § 34-29) tracks the federal CCPA cap. Exemptions: Va. Code § 34-29 exempts the greater of 75% of disposable weekly earnings or 40x the federal minimum hourly wage; debtor claims exemptions via Request for Hearing – Garnishment/Lien Exemption Claim (DC-454).

Through Summons to Answer Interrogatories (debtor's interrogatories) (DC-440 (combined 'Summons to Answer Interrogatories and Writ of Fieri Facias')) — the court orders the debtor to appear and disclose their assets under oath. Upon application of the judgment creditor, the clerk of the court that rendered the judgment issues a summons (Form DC-440) requiring the judgment debtor to appear before the court or a commissioner to answer interrogatories about the type, amount, and location of assets (Va. Code §§ 8.01-506, 16.1-103). A writ of fieri facias must have been issued first. Failure to appear or evasive answers can lead to arrest.

Circuit Court money judgments are automatically a lien on the debtor's real estate in that county/city. For a General District Court judgment (or to reach property in other localities), record an Abstract of Judgment (Form DC-465) in the judgment lien docket of the Circuit Court clerk's office where the real property is located (Va. Code § 8.01-458, § 8.01-446). The lien lasts 10 years.

You pay the court and sheriff their own filing/levy fees directly — usually modest, and recoverable from the debtor on top of your judgment. If you hand the case to a judgment-recovery firm or collections attorney instead, expect them to take 33–50% of whatever they recover; doing it yourself with Virginia's own forms keeps everything you collect.

Some debtors are "judgment-proof" — no job, no bank account, no equity — and no tool can squeeze money that isn't there. The honest play is the debtor's exam to confirm what exists, then keep the judgment alive (it lasts 10 years and is renewable) and try again when their situation changes. We give you the tools, not a guaranteed payout.