CHAPTER 257

An Act to amend and reenact § 84-80 of the Code of Virginia, relating
to the exemption of wages of certain judgment debtors, so as to pro-
vide that in cities containing more than two hundred twenty-five
thousand population certificates of exemption shall be issued without

charge.
[fH 499]
Approved March 8, 1952

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
on That § 34-30 of the Code of Virginia be amended and reenacted, as
ollows:
§ 34-30. Proceedings by judgment debtor to have wages declared
exempt; certificate of exemption and fee therefor.—At the time any Judg-
ment be obtained against a laboring man or woman who is a householder
or head of a family, or at any time thereafter and prior to the discharge
thereof, such judgment debtor may move the trial justice or court which
rendered such judgment, or the judge of such court in vacation, to have
so much of the wages of the judgment debtor as does not exceed the
amount of the exemption allowed by § 34-29 declared exempt. Such motion
shall be informally heard forthwith, and if it appear that such wages, or
any part thereof, are exempt, such court, judge or trial justice shall so
declare and thereupon issue to such judgment debtor a certificate, valid
until revoked, authorizing the then present or any future employer of
such judgment debtor to pay to him or her such wages as may be due or
become due to such judgment debtor, not exceeding the amount of such
exemption, regardless of any pending or future garnishment, notice of
lien, mortgage, assignment, sale, pledge, levy, or any other legal proceed-
ings. Unless such motion be made at the time such judgment is rendered,
or in the presence of the plaintiff or his agent or attorney, the same shall
not be heard except after reasonable notice in writing to such judgment
creditor. For any such certificate the judgment debtor shall pay a fee of
fifty cents; except that in civil justice and police courts in cities containing
more than two hundred twenty-five thousand population such certificate
shall be issued without charge.