A waiver by a consumer of any requirement of this chapter shall be deemed void. However, the provisions of this section shall not prevent a voluntary settlement agreement or judgment between the parties that does not result in a default judgment.
§ 8.01-465.30.(Effective July 1, 2027) Waiver void.
Chapter 17.4. Uniform Consumer Debt Default Judgments Act · Last amended 2026 · Last verified July 16, 2026
In one sentenceEffective July 1, 2027, this section voids any attempt by a consumer to waive Chapter 17.4's protections, while leaving room for a genuine voluntary settlement or agreed judgment between the parties that does not take the form of a default judgment.
Full Text of § 8.01-465.30
Plain-English Summary
Rights that can be waived away in the fine print of a credit agreement do not protect anyone. This section closes off that route for Chapter 17.4: a waiver by a consumer of any requirement of this chapter “shall be deemed void,” full stop, without any carve-out for how or when the waiver was made.
That does not freeze out ordinary settlement between the parties. The section is explicit that it does not prevent a voluntary settlement agreement or judgment between the parties that does not result in a default judgment. A consumer who negotiates a payment plan or consents to a judgment after taking part in the case is doing something different from waiving away the chapter's protections against an unanswered default.
The line the section draws is between waiver and negotiation. Giving up the chapter's complaint, notice, or other requirements in advance is void; reaching an actual agreement with the creditor, rather than defaulting, is not touched by this section at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a consumer agree in advance to give up the protections of this chapter?
No, “a waiver by a consumer of any requirement of this chapter shall be deemed void.”
Does this section block settlement agreements between the creditor and consumer?
No, it does not prevent a voluntary settlement agreement or judgment between the parties that does not result in a default judgment.
What distinguishes a permitted settlement from a prohibited waiver under this section?
A settlement agreement or agreed judgment reached voluntarily by the parties is not a default judgment, so it falls outside this section's prohibition, while a waiver of the chapter's own requirements is void.
Does this section apply only to waivers made in court, or also to waivers written into the original credit agreement?
The text voids “a waiver by a consumer of any requirement of this chapter” without limiting when or where the waiver is made.
Which requirements of the chapter can a consumer not waive?
Any requirement of the chapter — the voiding rule is not limited to a specific section.
Amendment History
2026, c. 395.
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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