In applying and construing this uniform act, a court shall consider the promotion of uniformity of the law among jurisdictions that enact it.
§ 8.01-465.32.(Effective July 1, 2027) Uniformity of application and construction.
Chapter 17.4. Uniform Consumer Debt Default Judgments Act · Last amended 2026 · Last verified July 16, 2026
In one sentenceEffective July 1, 2027, this section directs Virginia courts applying Chapter 17.4 to weigh the goal of keeping their interpretation consistent with how other states that adopt the same Uniform Consumer Debt Default Judgments Act interpret it.
Full Text of § 8.01-465.32
Plain-English Summary
Like Chapter 17.2's recognition act, Chapter 17.4 began life as a uniform act meant to be adopted, in similar form, across many states. This section carries that ambition into Virginia's version of the law: in applying and construing this chapter, a court shall consider the promotion of uniformity of the law among jurisdictions that enact it.
The instruction does not add a substantive rule of its own — it does not change the complaint requirements of § 8.01-465.28 or the notice requirements of § 8.01-465.29. It shapes how a court should approach interpretive questions, favoring readings that keep Virginia's law in step with sister states applying the same uniform act.
Because this chapter was adopted in 2026 and does not take effect until July 1, 2027, Virginia courts applying it may find relatively little interpretive case law from other states at first. The uniformity directive anticipates that body of law developing over time as more states adopt and apply the same act.
Frequently Asked Questions
What must a court consider when interpreting this chapter?
The promotion of uniformity of the law among jurisdictions that enact this uniform act.
Does this section set out specific default-judgment standards?
No, it is an interpretive instruction directing courts toward consistency with other adopting states, not a substantive rule.
Is this chapter based on a uniform act adopted elsewhere?
Yes, its title identifies it as the Uniform Consumer Debt Default Judgments Act, and this section reflects that uniform-law origin.
Does a similar uniformity clause appear elsewhere in this group of chapters?
Yes, § 8.01-465.13:9 contains a comparable clause for the Uniform Foreign-country Money Judgments Recognition Act.
Who is bound by this section's directive?
A Virginia court applying and construing this chapter — it directs Virginia's own courts, not those of other states.
Amendment History
2026, c. 395.
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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