US · rules
E.D. Va. LAR(e)
Actions in Rem and Quasi in Rem: General Provisions
(1) Itemized Demand for Judgment. The demand for judgment in every complaint filed under
Supplemental Rule B or C shall allege the dollar amount of the debt or damages for which the action was
commenced; and the demand for judgment shall also allege the dollar amount of every claim for interest,
costs, attorneys' fees, and other items of damage. The amount of the special bond posted under
Supplemental Rule E(5) may be based upon these allegations.
(2) Salvage Actions Complaints. In an action for a salvage reward, the complaint shall allege the dollar
value of the vessel, cargo, freight, and other property salved, and the dollar amount of the reward claimed.
(3) Verification of Pleadings. Every complaint in Supplemental Rule B, C and D actions shall be
verified on oath or solemn affirmation by a party or by an authorized officer of a corporate party. If no
party or authorized corporate officer is available, verification of a complaint may be made by an agent,
attorney-in-fact, or attorney of record, who shall state the sources of the knowledge, information, and
belief contained in the complaint; declare that the document verified is true to the best of that knowledge,
information, and belief; state why verification is not made by the party or an authorized corporate officer;
and state that the affiant is authorized so to verify. Such a verification will be deemed to have been made
by the party to whom a document might apply as if verified personally. Any interested party may move
the Court, with or without requesting a stay, for the personal oath of a party or of all parties, or the oath of
an authorized corporate officer. If required by the Court, such verification shall be procured by
commission or as otherwise ordered.
(4) Review by Judicial Officer. Unless otherwise required by a judicial officer, the review of complaints
and papers called for by Supplemental Rules B(1) and C(3) does not require the affiant party or attorney
to be present. The applicant for review shall include a form of order from the Clerk to the Marshal or
other person or organization which, upon signature by the judicial officer, will set in motion the arrest,
attachment or garnishment sought by the applicant.
(5) (A) Service of Warrants and Process of Attachment. Warrants for the arrest of a vessel, or
cargo aboard a vessel, and process to attach a vessel or property aboard a vessel, shall be
served only by the Marshal. If other property, tangible or intangible is the subject of the
action, the warrant shall be delivered by the Clerk to a person or organization authorized
to enforce it, who may be a Marshal, a person or organization contracted with by the
United States, a person specially appointed by the Court for that purpose, or, if the action
is brought by the United States, any officer or employee of the United States.
(B) If the tangible property to be attached or arrested is a vessel, the Marshal shall affix a
copy of the process on the forward bulkhead of the wheelhouse, and at the head of one
accommodation where it is visible to people embarking or disembarking the vessel at the
ladder. In addition, if the vessel is moored at a shoreside facility, the Marshal shall notify
the owner or manager of the facility of the fact of the arrest or attachment.
(6) Marshal's Forms. The party who requests a warrant of arrest or process of attachment or
garnishment shall provide instructions to the Marshal or other process server on forms supplied by the
Marshal and available from the Marshal's Office.
(7) Property in Possession of United States Officer. When the property to be attached or arrested is in
the custody of an employee or officer of the United States, the Marshal will deliver a copy of the
complaint and warrant of arrest or summons and process of attachment or garnishment to that officer or
employee if present, and otherwise to the custodian of the property. The Marshal will instruct the officer
or employee or custodian to retain custody of the property until ordered to do otherwise by the Court.
(8) Security for Costs. In an action under Supplemental Rule E, a party may file and serve upon an
adverse party a notice to post security for costs. Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, the amount of
security shall be $500.00. The party notified shall post security within five days after service. A party
who fails to post security when due may not participate further in the proceedings, except for the purpose
of seeking relief from the order.
(9) Increased Security for Costs. A party may apply to the Court for an order increasing the amount of
security for costs. The Marshal shall notify the Court if a party fails to advance sums as requested, after
property has been arrested, attached or garnished, and the Marshal may apply to the Court for directions if
a question arises concerning the obligation of a party to advance moneys required under this rule.
(10) Marshal's Fees and Expenses. The party who first seeks arrest or attachment of property in an
action under Supplemental Rule E or Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(n) shall deposit a sum of money with the Marshal
to cover fees, expenses of arrest, and safekeeping charges for ten days. The Marshal is not required to
execute process until the deposit is made. The sum of $5,000.00 shall suffice in any case, subject to
increase or to reduction following execution, and the party shall advance additional sums from time to
time as requested to cover the Marshal's estimated fees and expenses until the property is released or
disposed of as provided in Supplemental Rule E.
(11) Appraisal. An order for appraisal of property so that security may be given or altered will be
entered by the Clerk at the request of any interested party. If the parties do not agree in writing upon an
appraiser, a judicial officer will appoint the appraiser. The appraiser shall be sworn to the faithful and
impartial discharge of the appraiser's duties before any federal or state officer authorized by law to
administer oaths. The appraiser shall give one day's notice of the time and place of making the appraisal
to counsel of record. The appraiser shall promptly file the appraisal with the Clerk and serve it upon
counsel of record. The appraiser's fee normally will be paid by the moving party, but it is a taxable cost
of the action.
(12) Adversary Hearing. The adversary hearing following arrest or attachment and garnishment that is
called for in Supplemental Rule E(4)(f) shall be conducted by a judicial officer.
(13) Intervenors' Claims.
(a) When a vessel or other property has been arrested, attached, or garnished and is in the
hands of the Marshal or custodian substituted therefore, anyone having a claim against
the vessel or property is required to present the claim by filing an intervening complaint,
and not by filing an original complaint, unless otherwise ordered by a judicial officer.
Upon the filing of an intervening complaint, the Clerk shall forthwith deliver a
conformed copy to the Marshal, who shall deliver the copy to the vessel or custodian of
the property, but the Marshal need not re-arrest or re-attach the vessel or property.
Intervenors shall thereafter be subject to the rights and obligations of parties.
(b) No party may intervene without first obtaining leave of Court if intervention is sought
within 15 days prior to the date for which a sale of the vessel or property has been set by
the Court.
(c) An intervenor shall share the deposit for Marshal's fees and expenses in the proportion
that its claim bears to the sum of all the claims.
(14) Custody of Property.
(a) Safekeeping of Property. When a vessel or other property is brought into the Marshal's
custody by arrest or attachment, the Marshal shall arrange for adequate safekeeping,
which may include the placing of keepers on or near the vessel, or the appointment of a
facility or person as custodian of the property in place of the Marshal.
(b) Cargo Handling, Repairs, and Movement of the Vessel. Following arrest or attachment
of a vessel, no cargo handling, repairs, or movement may be made without an order of
Court. The applicant for such an order shall give notice to the Marshal and to all parties
of record. Upon proof of adequate insurance coverage of the applicant to indemnify the
Marshal for his liability, the Court may direct the Marshal to permit cargo handling,
repairs, movement of the vessel, or other operations.
(c) Motion for Change in Arrangements. Before or after the Marshal has taken custody of a
vessel, cargo, or other property, any party of record may move for an order to dispense
with keepers or to remove or place the vessel, cargo or other property at a specified
facility, to designate a substitute custodian, or for similar relief. Notice of the motion
shall be given to the Marshal and to all parties of record. The judicial officer will require
that adequate insurance on the property will be maintained by the successor to the
Marshal, before issuing the order to change arrangements.
(d) Insurance. The Marshal may order insurance to protect the Marshal, his deputies,
keepers, and substitute custodians, from liabilities assumed in arresting and holding the
vessel, cargo, or other property, and in performing whatever services may be undertaken
to protect the vessel, cargo, or other property, and to maintain the Court's custody. The
party who applies for arrest or attachment of the vessel, cargo, or other property shall
reimburse the Marshal for premiums paid for the insurance. The party who applies for
removal of the vessel, cargo, or other property to another location, for designation of a
substitute custodian, or for other relief that will require an additional premium, shall
reimburse the Marshal therefor. The premiums charged for the liability insurance are
taxable as administrative costs while the vessel, cargo, or other property is in custody of
the Court.
(e) Claims by Suppliers for Payment of Charges. A person who furnishes supplies or
services to a vessel, cargo, or other property in custody of the Court who has not been
paid and claims the right to payment as an expense of administration shall submit an
invoice to the Court for approval in the form of a verified claim at any time before the
vessel, cargo, or other property is released or sold. The supplier must serve copies of the
claim on the Marshal, substitute custodian (if one has been appointed), and all parties of
record. The Court may consider the claims individually or schedule a single hearing for
all claims.
(15) Sale of Property Not Subject to Admiralty – Rule E (9)(b) Interlocutory Sales.
(a) Notice. Unless otherwise ordered upon good cause shown or as provided by law, a notice
of sale of property in an action in rem, including the terms of sale, shall be published
daily for a period of six days prior to the day of sale in a newspaper of general circulation
in the Division where arrest occurred and sale is to take place.
(b) Sale and Report. All sales shall be made by the United States Marshal or his authorized
deputy Marshal in the name of the Marshal or by other person or organization authorized
to execute the warrant or by any other person assigned by the Court. All sales are subject
to confirmation by the Court. The Marshal may, without leave of Court, decline to knock
down a vessel or other property to the highest bidder when the highest bid is, in his or her
opinion, grossly inadequate. On the day of the sale, the Marshal shall file his report with
the Clerk giving all pertinent information, including the fact of the sale, the date, the price
obtained and how paid or to be paid, and the name and address of the successful bidder.
(c) Objection to Sale. An interested person may object to the sale by filing a written
objection with the Clerk within two Court days following the sale, serving the objection
on all parties of record, the successful bidder, and the Marshal. The Marshal is
authorized to demand and receive from the objecting party a sum sufficient to pay the
expense of keeping the property for at least seven days. The written objection must be
endorsed by the Marshal prior to filing with the Clerk, as evidence of the
acknowledgment of receipt of the deposit of the required expense funds.
(d) Confirmation of the Sale Without Motion. A sale shall stand confirmed as of course
without any action by the Court unless (1) written objection is filed with the Court within
the time allowed under these rules, or (2) the purchaser is in default for failure to pay the
balance due to the Marshal. The purchaser in a sale so confirmed as of course shall
present a form of order reflecting the confirmation of the sale for entry by the Clerk on
the fourth Court day following the sale or after the balance of sale funds have been paid,
whichever last occurs. The Marshal shall transfer title to the purchaser upon presentation
of such order signed by the Clerk.
(e) Confirmation of the Sale Upon Motion. If an objection has been filed or if the successful
bidder is in default, the Marshal, the objector, the successful bidder, or a party, may move
the Court for relief. The motion will be heard summarily by a judicial officer. The
person seeking the hearing on such a motion shall apply to the Court for an order fixing
the date and time of the hearing and directing the manner of giving notice and shall give
written notice of the motion to the Marshal, all parties, the successful bidder, and the
objector. The Court may confirm the sale, order a new sale, or grant such other relief as
justice requires. Notice of any hearing on such motion may be informal and, if approved
by the Court, by telephone. The parties are expected to be prepared to go forward with
any hearing so ordered.
(f) Disposition of Deposits.
(1) Objection Sustained. If an objection is sustained, sums deposited by the
successful bidder will be returned to the bidder forthwith. The sum deposited by
the objector will be applied to pay the fees and expenses incurred by the Marshal
in keeping the property until it is resold, and any balance remaining shall be
returned to the objector. The objector will be reimbursed for the expense of
keeping the property from the proceeds of a subsequent sale.
(2) Objection Overruled. If the objection is overruled, the sum deposited by the
objector will be applied to pay the expense of keeping the property from the day
the objection was filed until the day the sale is confirmed, and any balance
remaining will be returned to the objector forthwith.
Provenance
- Source
- www.vaed.uscourts.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-09-18
- Edition
- fed-district-2026-09-18
- Content hash
d03c64d3dc0b2c5634ac7b9fb359d2d6374318c8f92e3283ca897b29bb3f2b47
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