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Virginia debt collection: medical bills, contracts and judgments

By · Creator and editor · Editorial review: September 7, 2026

Educational information for US consumers. Xavier is not a licensed attorney. This guide links sources and helps you prepare questions; it does not decide your legal rights or represent you.

Virginia uses different rules for a contract claim, a medical bill and an existing judgment. Start by sorting your documents into those categories. Then identify the court and relevant dates; one “five-year debt” label cannot answer every question.

Contract and medical-debt periods

Virginia Code 8.01-246 generally gives five years for the specified written contract signed by the party to be charged, and three for specified unsigned written or unwritten contracts, after accrual. These are claim categories with exceptions. Electronic acceptance and the full record may matter; a missing paper signature alone does not decide a credit-card lawsuit.

Subsection B has a specific medical-debt rule: generally three years from the due date of the final invoice for a health care service, with separate treatment for a payment plan allowing a longer collection period. After a breach of such a plan, the subsection uses three years from breach. Its definition and exclusions matter, including services paid under Department of Medical Assistance Services programs. A blanket five-year medical-debt table is incorrect.

Build a timeline that fits the claim

For a medical bill, keep the final invoice, due date, provider identity and any payment plan or breach notice. For another contract, collect the terms, acceptance records, due dates and payments. Ask legal aid which rule applies before calculating a deadline or signing an acknowledgment. A collection dispute cannot establish accrual or replace a court defense by itself.

Judgment date and court matter

Section 8.01-251 distinguishes the pre-July 1, 2021 judgment framework from judgments dated on or after that date: generally 20 versus 10 years before applicable extensions and exceptions. General district court judgments have separate rules in section 16.1-94.1, including provisions effective July 1, 2026. Do not treat every judgment as a universal 20-year obligation.

Bring the judgment itself, later extensions, payments and collection orders. Ask whether the creditor is seeking execution, a lien or another remedy; these are different from filing the original contract claim.

The earnings rule has a future version

The version of section 34-29 effective until July 1, 2027 generally limits ordinary weekly garnishment to the smaller of 25% of disposable earnings or the amount above 40 times the higher federal or Virginia minimum hourly wage. Support, tax and other specified matters have exceptions. The official page also displays a later version, so check its effective date.

Section 34-4 includes a selected-property amount of $5,000, or $10,000 at age 65 or older, plus an additional $50,000 for qualifying principal-residence property. Dependent allowances and claim procedures may matter. Do not infer all home equity is protected without reviewing ownership, liens and the proceeding.

Follow the court paper's instructions

A general district court warrant in debt and a circuit court complaint do not use identical response procedures. Read the required appearance, response and hearing information promptly. Use Virginia's Judicial System to find the court and forms, and ask which defenses must be raised and how. A notice sent to a collector does not answer the court case.

Use the civil legal-aid directory to locate assistance serving your area. Bring your timeline, court papers and income records. Ask about eligibility, services and fees; keep court dates while an application for help or settlement discussion is pending.

Does a complaint about a collector decide the debt?

No. Preserve a separate log of conduct you question. Coverage and remedies under consumer-protection laws require their own assessment; this guide does not promise damages, dismissal or a preferred legal strategy.