It shall be the duty of the clerks of the circuit courts of this Commonwealth, upon the payment of any judgment in favor of the Commonwealth by any person or upon the release of any recognizance by court order, to mark the same satisfied upon the judgment lien docket at every place such judgment or recognizance, as the case may be, shall have been recorded upon such lien docket. In marking such recognizance satisfied it shall be the duty of such clerk to refer by marginal reference to the court order, if any, releasing or discharging such recognizance.
§ 8.01-457.Marking satisfied judgments for Commonwealth; payment by third parties releasing recognizances.
Chapter 17. Judgments and Decrees Generally · Article 6. Satisfaction · Last amended 1986 · Last verified July 16, 2026
In one sentenceCircuit court clerks must mark a Commonwealth judgment satisfied on the judgment lien docket everywhere it was recorded once it is paid, and must similarly mark a recognizance satisfied everywhere recorded once a court order releases it, noting that releasing order by marginal reference.
Full Text of § 8.01-457
Plain-English Summary
Section 8.01-457 places the satisfaction bookkeeping for Commonwealth judgments squarely on the clerk rather than waiting on a creditor’s initiative, since the government does not always drive its own paperwork the way a private judgment creditor might. Whenever a judgment in favor of the Commonwealth is paid by any person, the clerk must mark it satisfied on the judgment lien docket, in every place that judgment was recorded on that docket.
The same duty applies to recognizances — the bond-like undertakings that guarantee appearance or performance — once a court order releases one. The clerk marks the recognizance satisfied everywhere it appears on the lien docket, and adds a marginal reference pointing to the court order that released or discharged it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for marking a Commonwealth judgment satisfied once it is paid?
The clerks of the circuit courts of the Commonwealth.
In how many places on the docket must a satisfied Commonwealth judgment be marked?
Every place that judgment has been recorded on the judgment lien docket.
What triggers marking a recognizance satisfied under this section?
The release of the recognizance by court order.
What must the clerk note when marking a recognizance satisfied?
A marginal reference to the court order releasing or discharging it.
Does this section apply when a third party, rather than the defendant, pays the judgment?
Yes, the section applies upon payment of a Commonwealth judgment by any person.
Amendment History
Code 1950, § 8-385; 1977, c. 617; 1986, c. 132.
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
Also known as: marking commonwealth judgment satisfied virginia8.01-457 recognizance released court orderclerk duty release recognizance virginiavirginia commonwealth judgment lien docket satisfiedthird party payment commonwealth judgment virginia