On application of a party or, if an application to the court is pending under §§ 8.01-581.09, 8.01-581.010 or § 8.01- 581.011, on submission to the arbitrators by the court under such conditions as the court may order, the arbitrators may modify or correct the award upon the grounds stated in subdivisions 1 and 3 of § 8.01-581.011, or for the purpose of clarifying the award. The application shall be made within twenty days after delivery of the award to the applicant. Written notice thereof shall be given forthwith to the opposing party, stating that he must serve his objections thereto, if any, within ten days from the notice. The award as modified or corrected is subject to the provisions of §§ 8.01-581.09, 8.01-581.010 or § 8.01-581.011.
§ 8.01-581.08.Change of award by arbitrators.
Chapter 21. Arbitration and Award · Article 2. Uniform Arbitration Act · Last amended 1986 · Last verified July 16, 2026
In one sentenceWithin twenty days of delivery, the arbitrators themselves — not only the court — can modify or correct an award for the same reasons a court could, or to clarify it, and once the opposing party gets notice, that party has ten days to object before the revised award becomes subject to the usual confirm, vacate, or modify process.
Full Text of § 8.01-581.08
Plain-English Summary
Correcting a flawed award does not always require a trip to court. This section lets the arbitrators fix their own work. On a party’s application — or when the court sends the matter back to them while an application to confirm, vacate, or modify is pending — the arbitrators can modify or correct the award for the same reasons a court could under the modification statute: an evident miscalculation or misdescription, or an award that touched an issue nobody submitted. They can also revise the award purely to clarify it.
The window for asking is short: twenty days after the award is delivered to the applicant. Once that application is made, the opposing party has to get written notice right away, and that notice starts a ten-day clock for the opposing party to raise objections.
Whatever the arbitrators do with the award at this stage is not the final word — the modified or corrected award still has to run the gauntlet of confirmation, vacatur, or further modification under the sections that govern those court proceedings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can arbitrators correct their own award without going to court?
Yes, on application of a party, or on submission by the court while an application is pending, the arbitrators may modify or correct the award themselves.
On what grounds can the arbitrators change the award under this section?
The same grounds as subdivisions 1 and 3 of the modification statute — an evident miscalculation or mistaken description, or an imperfection of form — or for the purpose of clarifying the award.
How long does a party have to ask the arbitrators to change the award?
The application must be made within twenty days after delivery of the award to the applicant.
How long does the opposing party have to object once notified?
Ten days from the notice of the application to serve objections, if any.
Is an award the arbitrators modify under this section still reviewable by a court?
Yes, the award as modified or corrected remains subject to the confirmation, vacatur, and modification provisions elsewhere in the article.
Amendment History
1986, c. 614.
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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