As used in this chapter: "Foreign country" means a government other than any of the following: the United States; a state, district, commonwealth, territory, or insular possession of the United States; or a government with regard to which the decision in the Commonwealth as to whether to recognize a judgment of that government's courts is initially subject to determination under the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the United States Constitution. "Foreign-country judgment" means a judgment of a court of a foreign country. 2014, c. 462.
§ 8.01-465.13:1.Definitions.
Chapter 17.2. Uniform Foreign-country Money Judgments Recognition Act · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 16, 2026
In one sentenceThis section defines “foreign country” as any government other than the United States, its states and territories, or a government whose judgments Virginia decides under the Full Faith and Credit Clause, and defines “foreign-country judgment” as a judgment of a court of such a foreign country, marking the boundary of this chapter's coverage.
Full Text of § 8.01-465.13:1
Plain-English Summary
Chapter 17.2 needs its own vocabulary because it handles a different problem than Chapter 17.1. A sister-state or federal judgment gets automatic full faith and credit; a judgment from another nation does not, and Virginia courts have to decide, case by case, whether to recognize it. This section draws the line between the two.
“Foreign country” excludes the United States itself, any state, district, commonwealth, territory, or insular possession of the United States, and any government whose judgments Virginia would initially evaluate under the Full Faith and Credit Clause rather than under this chapter. What remains — genuine foreign nations — is where “foreign-country judgment” applies: a judgment of a court of one of those countries.
The distinction is not academic. A judgment falling on the Chapter 17.1 side of the line gets filed and enforced with none of the recognition analysis that follows in this chapter; a judgment falling on the Chapter 17.2 side has to clear the standards, jurisdictional tests, and grounds for nonrecognition the rest of this chapter sets out.
Frequently Asked Questions
What governments are excluded from the definition of “foreign country” in this section?
The United States; a state, district, commonwealth, territory, or insular possession of the United States; and a government whose judgment's recognition would initially be decided under the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the United States Constitution.
What is a “foreign-country judgment” under this section?
A judgment of a court of a foreign country as this section defines that term.
Does a judgment from a United States territory or insular possession count as a “foreign-country judgment”?
No, territories and insular possessions of the United States are expressly excluded from the definition of “foreign country.”
Why does the chapter separate “foreign country” governments from full-faith-and-credit governments?
Because judgments from full-faith-and-credit jurisdictions are handled under Chapter 17.1's filing process, while genuine foreign-country judgments go through this chapter's separate recognition analysis.
Does this section define currency-related terms used elsewhere in Title 8.01?
No, terms like “foreign money” and “foreign-money claim” are defined separately in § 8.01-465.14, part of the different Uniform Foreign-money Claims Act chapter.
Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Code of Virginia, published by the
Code of Virginia, Virginia Division of Legislative Automated Systems. Last verified July 16, 2026.
· Official source
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