VA HB1426

General district court judgments entered on or after July 1, 2026 will be subject to a strict 10-year limitation period for enforcement, regardless of whether the judgment is docketed in circuit court.

Judgments entered in general district court before July 1, 2026 can still avoid the 10-year limitation by docketing the judgment in circuit court and paying required fees, allowing enforcement extensions like circuit court judgments.

The bill amends Virginia Code sections 8.01-251, 16.1-69.55, and 16.1-94.1 governing limitations on judgment enforcement and court record retention.

Judgment debtors seeking to discharge a judgment when the creditor cannot be located may still docket general district court judgments in circuit court prior to the 10-year enforcement period expiring.