David Writ of Demolitiont
David Writ of Demolitiont
David Writ of Demolitiont
org
101 W. Broad St., Suite #101 229 North Sycamore Street 1000 Preston Avenue, Suite B
Richmond, Virginia 23220 Petersburg, Virginia 23803 Charlottesville, Virginia 22903
804-648-1012 or 800-868-1012 804-862-1100 or 800-868-1012 434-296-8851 or 800-390-9983
Fax: 804-649-8794 Fax: 804-861-4311 Fax: 434-296-5731
The Writ of Possession is the court form (usually on yellow paper) that allows the Sheriff
to evict a tenant. Only the Sheriff, or some other law enforcement officer, can make you leave,
or put you and your belongings out. Your landlord can not make you leave, or put you and your
belongings out.
If the landlord wins the lawsuit, the judge will issue an order of possession. If the
landlord asks, the Judge can give immediate possession and allow the landlord to get a Writ of
Eviction right away. However, you cannot be evicted until your 10 day appeal period has
passed.
If the landlord does not ask for immediate possession, the Writ cannot be issued until the
10 day appeal period has passed. After that, the landlord may ask the court to issue a Writ of
Eviction. This goes from the clerk to the Sheriff to the tenant, and authorizes the Sheriff to evict
on a specific date. The Sheriff must give you at least 72 hours advance notice of the eviction,
and usually gives about 7-10 days.
The Sheriff must take the Writ of Eviction to your home. The Sheriff must serve (legally
deliver) the Writ. There are three ways to do this.
Usually, the Sheriff will let you gather up a few personal belongings and then make you
leave. The Sheriff then will change the locks, or allow the landlord to change the locks, and give
you 24 hours to contact the Sheriff to re-enter the premises and remove the rest of your
belongings. If you do not remove your belongings within this 24 hour period, they may be
considered abandoned.
What if I make payments to the landlord after the landlord gets an Order of
Possession from the court?
As of July 1, 2019, tenants will get a final chance to pay their rent late and stay, which is
an extended right of redemption (extended right to pay and stay). Under the extended right of
redemption, you can pay the landlord, the landlord’s attorney, or the court all amounts owed as
of two business days before the Sheriff’s scheduled eviction date.
All amounts owed means all rent (including a new month’s rent if that has come due), all
late fees set forth in a written lease (including a new month’s late fee if that has come due), court
costs, Sheriff’s fees, and reasonable attorney’s fees (if a landlord’s attorney is involved).
Payment must be by cashier’s check, certified check, or money order. If so, the Sheriff’s
eviction is cancelled. Confirm with both the landlord and the Sheriff to be sure.
(1) If your landlord gives you a nonpayment notice and then accepts rent, the landlord has
created a new tenancy. The landlord cannot evict you based on an old judgment ending an old
tenancy. To prevent this, the landlord must give you a notice accepting your rent with
reservation. This means your landlord is keeping (reserving) the right to evict. This notice must
say rent is accepted with reservation and the landlord is not waiving (giving up) the right to evict.
If your landlord did not give you this written notice, it may be possible to stop the eviction. If
you did not get this notice and still face eviction, get legal help right away!
(2) If you enter a new written lease after the judgment of possession. In this case, it may
be possible to stop the eviction. Again, get legal help right away!
Authorized by Steve Dickinson, Esq., Executive Director, P.O. Box 12206, Richmond, VA 23241