The lien acquired under § 8.01-501 on intangibles shall cease whenever the right of the judgment creditor to enforce the judgment by execution or by action, or to extend the right by motion, ceases or is suspended by a forthcoming bond being given and forfeited or by other legal process. Furthermore, as to all such intangibles the lien shall cease upon the expiration of the following periods whichever is the longer: (i) one year from the return day of the execution pursuant to which the lien arose, or (ii) if the intangible is a debt due from, or a claim upon, a third person in favor of the judgment debtor or the estate of such third person, one year from the final determination of the amount owed to the judgment debtor.
§ 8.01-505.When lien acquired on intangibles under § 8.01-501 ceases.
Chapter 18. Executions and Other Means of Recovery · Article 5. Lien on Property Not Capable of Being Levied On · Last amended 1977 · Last verified July 16, 2026
In one sentenceThe § 8.01-501 lien on intangible property ends when the creditor’s right to enforce the judgment ends or is suspended, and in any case lasts no longer than the greater of one year from the writ’s return day or one year from the final determination of what a third party owes the debtor.
Full Text of § 8.01-505
Plain-English Summary
A lien that never expires would leave every intangible asset a debtor might acquire under a permanent cloud. Section 8.01-505 puts an end date on the § 8.01-501 lien.
The lien dies the moment the underlying enforcement right dies or is put on hold — whether the judgment’s execution, action, or motion window closes, or a forthcoming bond is given and then forfeited, or some other legal process suspends things.
Even short of that, the statute sets an outer limit specific to intangibles: one year from the return day of the execution that created the lien, or, if the intangible is a debt or claim a third party owes the debtor, one year from when that amount is finally determined, whichever period runs longer. That second option matters because a disputed debt can take time to liquidate, and the creditor should not lose the lien before the amount owed is even settled.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ends the lien immediately?
The judgment creditor’s right to enforce the judgment by execution or action, or to extend it by motion, ending or being suspended by a forfeited forthcoming bond or other legal process.
What is the outside time limit on the lien for intangibles generally?
One year from the return day of the execution that created the lien.
What if the intangible is a disputed debt a third party owes the judgment debtor?
The lien can last one year from the final determination of the amount owed, if that period runs longer than one year from the return day.
Which of the two one-year periods controls?
Whichever period is longer.
Does this section govern the levy lien under §§ 8.01-478 and 8.01-479 as well?
No, it specifically addresses the lien acquired on intangibles under § 8.01-501.
Amendment History
Code 1950, § 8-434; 1977, c. 617.
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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