Va. Code » Title 8.01. Civil Remedies and Procedure » Chapter 7. Civil Actions; Commencement, Pleadings, and Motions » Article 2. Pleadings Generally
Virginia Code

Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-275 (2026)

When action or suit not to abate for want of form; what defects not to be regarded

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No action or suit shall abate for want of form where the motion for judgment or bill of complaint sets forth sufficient matter of substance for the court to proceed upon the merits of the cause. The court shall not regard any defect or imperfection in the pleading, whether it has been heretofore deemed mispleading or insufficient pleading or not, unless there be omitted something so essential to the action or defense that judgment, according to law and the very right of the cause, cannot be given.

Code 1950, §§ 8-102, 8-109; 1954, c. 333; 1977, c. 617.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 11 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1988–2025 · leading case: Allison v. Brown, 801 S.E.2d 761 (Va. 2017).
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Allison v. Brown, 801 S.E.2d 761 (Va. 2017). · cites it 2× “That statute provides as follows: No action or suit shall abate for want of form where the motion for judgment or bill of complaint sets forth sufficient matter of substance for the court to proceed upon the merits of the cause. The court shall not regard any defect or…”
Balzer & Assocs., Inc. v. Lakes on 360, Inc., 463 S.E.2d 453 (Va. 1995). · cites it 2× “Rule 1:4(d); see also Code § 8.01-275; cf. Fox v. Deese, 234 Va.”
Lesner Pointe Condo. Ass'n v. Harbour Point Bldg. Corp., 61 Va. Cir. 609 (Va. Cir. Ct. 2002). · cites it 3× “Gemini Did Not Exercise Due Diligence Virginia Supreme Court Rule 3:3 provides in part: No judgment shall be entered against a defendant who was served with process more than one year after the commencement of the action against him unless the court finds as a fact that the…”
Pleasant v. Haynes, 70 Va. Cir. 396 (Roanoke County Cir. Ct. 2006). · cites it 3× “Nonetheless, the defendant asks the Court to reach deeply into its equitable powers and reform the contract to reflect Kelly’s intent, though she has passed away.”
Meeko Corp. v. Chesterfield Com. Ctr., 14 Va. Cir. 149 (Chesterfield Cir. Ct. 1988). · cites it 2× “Code Section 8.01-275 (1950) as amended. A demurrer admits the truth of all material facts that are properly pleaded.”
Fenney v. Wade, 30 Va. Cir. 53 (Richmond County Cir. Ct. 1993). · cites it 6× “” Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-275 . On appeal, judgments are not to be reversed “[f]or any .”
Allison v. Brown, No. 160314 (Va. July 27, 2017). · cites it 2× “The court shall not regard any defect or imperfection in the pleading, whether it has been heretofore deemed mispleading or insufficient pleading or not, unless there be omitted something so essential to the action or defense that judgment, according to law and the very right of…”
Est. of Sara A. McCorkle, by Charlotte A. Shirey v. Erickson Senior Living, LLC., No. 0614234 (Va. Ct. App. Mar. 11, 2025). · cites it 2× “14 The 13 Code § 8.01-275 provides: No action or suit shall abate for want of form where the motion for judgment or bill of complaint sets forth sufficient matter of substance for the court to proceed upon the merits of the cause.”
Avery v. United Leasing Corp., 12 Va. Cir. 197 (Richmond County Cir. Ct. 1988). · cites it 2× “Code Section 8.01-275. "No action or suit shall abate for want of form where the motion for judgment or bill of complaint sets forth sufficient matter of substance for the court to proceed upon the merits of the cause.”
Disc. Homes, Inc. v. McFarlane, 16 Va. Cir. 306 (Frederick Cir. Ct. 1989). · cites it 2× “After discussing the statute, now Code § 8.01-275, on lack of form in pleadings the opinion states at page 450, "A decision of an issue of law on a demurrer is a decision on the merits and constitutes res adjudicata as to any other proceedings when the same parties and the same…”
Lux v. Potter, 37 Va. Cir. 69 (Spotsylvania Cir. Ct. 1995). · cites it 2× “Virginia Code § 8.01-275 provides that demurrers as to form are abolished where the pleading sets forth sufficient matter of substance for the court to proceed upon the merits of the case.”
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