Whenever there shall be an assignment of a judgment, such assignment must be in writing, showing the date thereof, the name of the assignor and assignee, the amount of the judgment, and when and by what court granted, and either acknowledged as are deeds for recordation in the clerks' offices of circuit courts in the Commonwealth, or signed by the assignor, attested by two witnesses. Such assignment shall be recorded in a separate instrument referencing the page of the book where same is docketed, by the judgment creditor or his attorney of record. When such assignment is docketed as herein provided, further executions shall be issued in the name of the assignee as the plaintiff in the case.
§ 8.01-452.Entry of assignment of judgment on judgment lien docket.
Chapter 17. Judgments and Decrees Generally · Article 5. Keeping of Docket Books; Execution Thereon; Disposal of Exhibits · Last amended 2014 · Last verified July 16, 2026
In one sentenceAn assignment of a judgment must be a written instrument stating the date, the assignor and assignee, the judgment amount, and the rendering court, either acknowledged like a deed or attested by two witnesses, recorded by the creditor or his attorney referencing the original docket page, after which execution issues in the assignee’s name.
Full Text of § 8.01-452
Plain-English Summary
Selling or transferring a judgment does not happen with a handshake — Section 8.01-452 requires a paper trail before an assignee can step into the original creditor’s shoes. The assignment must be in writing and must show the date of the assignment, the names of the assignor and assignee, the amount of the judgment, and the court that granted it.
That writing needs one of two forms of authentication: acknowledgment the way deeds are acknowledged for recordation, or the assignor’s signature attested by two witnesses. Either way, the judgment creditor or his attorney of record must record the assignment as a separate instrument, referencing the page of the book where the original judgment is docketed.
Once recorded that way, the assignment has a concrete legal effect: further executions on the judgment issue in the name of the assignee, treating him as the plaintiff in the case going forward rather than routing enforcement through the original creditor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What information must a written assignment of a judgment include?
The date of the assignment, the names of the assignor and assignee, the amount of the judgment, and when and by what court the judgment was granted.
How must the assignment be authenticated?
Either acknowledged the way deeds are acknowledged for recordation in circuit court clerks’ offices, or signed by the assignor and attested by two witnesses.
Who records the assignment?
The judgment creditor or his attorney of record.
What must the recorded assignment reference?
The page of the book where the judgment is docketed.
In whose name does execution issue after the assignment is docketed?
The assignee’s name, as the plaintiff in the case.
Amendment History
Code 1950, § 8-379; 1977, c. 617; 2014, c. 330.
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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