Whenever a judgment is recovered in favor of the Commonwealth, it shall be the duty of the Attorney General or other attorney representing the Commonwealth, to cause such judgment to be docketed in all counties and cities wherein there is any real estate owned by any person against whom the judgment is recovered.
§ 8.01-448.Attorney General, etc., to have judgments in favor of Commonwealth docketed.
Chapter 17. Judgments and Decrees Generally · Article 5. Keeping of Docket Books; Execution Thereon; Disposal of Exhibits · Last amended 1977 · Last verified July 16, 2026
In one sentenceWhen a judgment is recovered in favor of the Commonwealth, the Attorney General or other attorney representing the Commonwealth must see to it that the judgment is docketed in every county and city where the judgment debtor owns real estate.
Full Text of § 8.01-448
Plain-English Summary
A judgment lien only reaches real estate in the locality where it is docketed, which means a Commonwealth judgment sitting in just one clerk’s office might miss real estate the debtor owns elsewhere in the state. Section 8.01-448 puts responsibility for closing that gap on the government’s own lawyers.
Whenever a judgment is recovered in favor of the Commonwealth, the Attorney General, or whatever other attorney is representing the Commonwealth in the matter, has a duty to cause that judgment to be docketed in every county and city where the person against whom judgment was recovered owns real estate — not just wherever the case happened to be tried.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for docketing a judgment recovered in favor of the Commonwealth?
The Attorney General, or the other attorney representing the Commonwealth in the case.
In how many localities must a Commonwealth judgment be docketed?
In all counties and cities where the person against whom the judgment was recovered owns real estate.
Why does this docketing duty extend beyond the court where the judgment was rendered?
Because a judgment lien reaches real estate only where the judgment is docketed, so docketing in every locality where the debtor owns land is necessary to reach all of it.
Is this docketing duty discretionary?
No, the section frames it as a duty of the Attorney General or other Commonwealth attorney.
Does this section apply to private judgment creditors?
No, it addresses judgments recovered in favor of the Commonwealth specifically.
Amendment History
Code 1950, § 8-376; 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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