{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/13.1-928.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/13.1-928.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/13.1-928.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/13.1-928.html"}],"law_id":84182,"edition_id":1,"section_id":84182,"structure_id":13538,"section_number":"13.1-928","catch_line":"Service of process on foreign corporation","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 13-214 to 13-217, 13.1-274; 1956, c. 428; 1975, c. 500; 1985, c. 522; 1986, cc. 571, 622; 1991, c. 672; 2001, cc. 517, 541; 2007, c. 925.","full_text":"A\n\nThe registered agent of a foreign corporation authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth shall be an agent of such corporation upon whom any process, notice, order or demand required or permitted by law to be served upon the corporation may be served. The registered agent may by instrument in writing, acknowledged before a notary public, designate a natural person or persons in the office of the registered agent upon whom any such process, notice, order or demand may be served. Whenever any such person accepts service of process, a photographic copy of such instrument shall be attached to the return.B\n\nWhenever a foreign corporation authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth fails to appoint or maintain a registered agent in the Commonwealth, or whenever its registered agent cannot with reasonable diligence be found at the registered office, then the clerk of the Commission shall be an agent of the corporation upon whom service may be made in accordance with § 12.1-19.1.C\n\nNothing in this section shall limit or affect the right to serve any process, notice, order or demand, required or permitted by law to be served upon a corporation in any other manner now or hereafter permitted by law.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":301720,"text":"The registered agent of a foreign corporation authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth shall be an agent of such corporation upon whom any process, notice, order or demand required or permitted by law to be served upon the corporation may be served. The registered agent may by instrument in writing, acknowledged before a notary public, designate a natural person or persons in the office of the registered agent upon whom any such process, notice, order or demand may be served. Whenever any such person accepts service of process, a photographic copy of such instrument shall be attached to the return.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":301721,"text":"Whenever a foreign corporation authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth fails to appoint or maintain a registered agent in the Commonwealth, or whenever its registered agent cannot with reasonable diligence be found at the registered office, then the clerk of the Commission shall be an agent of the corporation upon whom service may be made in accordance with § 12.1-19.1.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":301722,"text":"Nothing in this section shall limit or affect the right to serve any process, notice, order or demand, required or permitted by law to be served upon a corporation in any other manner now or hereafter permitted by law.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13538,"edition_id":1,"name":"Foreign Corporations","identifier":"14","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13004,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:09","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:09","permalink":{"id":147775,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13538,"identifier":"14","token":"13.1\/10\/14","url":"\/13.1\/10\/14\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13004,"edition_id":1,"name":"Virginia Nonstock Corporation Act","identifier":"10","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12744,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:07","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:07","permalink":{"id":147501,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13004,"identifier":"10","token":"13.1\/10","url":"\/13.1\/10\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12744,"edition_id":1,"name":"Corporations","identifier":"13.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":147493,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12744,"identifier":"13.1","token":"13.1","url":"\/13.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":54666,"structure_id":13538,"section_number":"13.1-919","catch_line":"Authority to transact business required","url":"\/13.1-919\/","token":"13.1\/10\/14\/13.1-919","metadata":false},{"id":72522,"structure_id":13538,"section_number":"13.1-920","catch_line":"Consequences of transacting business without authority","url":"\/13.1-920\/","token":"13.1\/10\/14\/13.1-920","metadata":false},{"id":54503,"structure_id":13538,"section_number":"13.1-921","catch_line":"Application for certificate of authority","url":"\/13.1-921\/","token":"13.1\/10\/14\/13.1-921","metadata":false},{"id":63821,"structure_id":13538,"section_number":"13.1-922","catch_line":"Amended certificate of authority","url":"\/13.1-922\/","token":"13.1\/10\/14\/13.1-922","metadata":false},{"id":61375,"structure_id":13538,"section_number":"13.1-923","catch_line":"Effect of certificate of authority","url":"\/13.1-923\/","token":"13.1\/10\/14\/13.1-923","metadata":false},{"id":82842,"structure_id":13538,"section_number":"13.1-924","catch_line":"Corporate name of foreign corporation","url":"\/13.1-924\/","token":"13.1\/10\/14\/13.1-924","metadata":false},{"id":69490,"structure_id":13538,"section_number":"13.1-925","catch_line":"Registered office and registered agent of foreign corporation","url":"\/13.1-925\/","token":"13.1\/10\/14\/13.1-925","metadata":false},{"id":75911,"structure_id":13538,"section_number":"13.1-926","catch_line":"Change of registered office or registered agent of a foreign corporation","url":"\/13.1-926\/","token":"13.1\/10\/14\/13.1-926","metadata":false},{"id":61343,"structure_id":13538,"section_number":"13.1-927","catch_line":"Resignation of registered agent of foreign corporation","url":"\/13.1-927\/","token":"13.1\/10\/14\/13.1-927","metadata":false},{"id":84182,"structure_id":13538,"section_number":"13.1-928","catch_line":"Service of process on foreign corporation","url":"\/13.1-928\/","token":"13.1\/10\/14\/13.1-928","metadata":false},{"id":65982,"structure_id":13538,"section_number":"13.1-928.1","catch_line":"Merger of foreign corporation authorized to transact business in Commonwealth","url":"\/13.1-928.1\/","token":"13.1\/10\/14\/13.1-928.1","metadata":false},{"id":69949,"structure_id":13538,"section_number":"13.1-928.2","catch_line":"Entity conversion of foreign corporation authorized to transact business in Commonwealth","url":"\/13.1-928.2\/","token":"13.1\/10\/14\/13.1-928.2","metadata":false},{"id":66931,"structure_id":13538,"section_number":"13.1-929","catch_line":"Withdrawal of foreign corporation","url":"\/13.1-929\/","token":"13.1\/10\/14\/13.1-929","metadata":false},{"id":68819,"structure_id":13538,"section_number":"13.1-930","catch_line":"Automatic revocation of certificate of authority","url":"\/13.1-930\/","token":"13.1\/10\/14\/13.1-930","metadata":false},{"id":81299,"structure_id":13538,"section_number":"13.1-931","catch_line":"Involuntary revocation of certificate of authority","url":"\/13.1-931\/","token":"13.1\/10\/14\/13.1-931","metadata":false},{"id":74850,"structure_id":13538,"section_number":"13.1-931.1","catch_line":"Reinstatement of foreign corporation whose certificate of authority has been withdrawn or revoked","url":"\/13.1-931.1\/","token":"13.1\/10\/14\/13.1-931.1","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":61343,"structure_id":13538,"section_number":"13.1-927","catch_line":"Resignation of registered agent of foreign corporation","url":"\/13.1-927\/","token":"13.1\/10\/14\/13.1-927","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":65982,"structure_id":13538,"section_number":"13.1-928.1","catch_line":"Merger of foreign corporation authorized to transact business in Commonwealth","url":"\/13.1-928.1\/","token":"13.1\/10\/14\/13.1-928.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/13.1-928\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 7 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1956, chapter 428; in 1975, chapter 500; in 1985, chapter 522; in 1986, chapters 571 and 622; in 1991, chapter 672; in 2001, chapters 517<\/a> and 541<\/a>; in 2007, chapter 925<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":80689,"section_number":"8.01-301","catch_line":"How process served on foreign stock or nonstock corporations and foreign limited liability companies generally","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-301\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":147813,"object_type":"law","relational_id":84182,"identifier":"13.1-928","token":"13.1\/10\/14\/13.1-928","url":"\/13.1-928\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/13.1-928\/","token":"13.1\/10\/14\/13.1-928","dublin_core":{"Title":"Service of process on foreign corporation","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 13.1-928","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The registered agent of a foreign corporation<\/span> authorized to transact business<\/span> in the Commonwealth shall be an agent of such corporation upon whom any process, notice, order<\/span> or demand required or permitted by law<\/span> to be served upon the corporation may be served. The registered agent may by instrument in writing<\/span>, acknowledged before a notary public, designate a natural person<\/span> or persons<\/span> in the office of the registered agent upon whom any such process, notice, order<\/span> or demand may be served. Whenever any such person<\/span> accepts service of process<\/span>, a photographic copy of such instrument shall be attached to the return. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Whenever a foreign corporation<\/span> authorized to transact business<\/span> in the Commonwealth fails to appoint or maintain a registered agent in the Commonwealth, or whenever its registered agent cannot with reasonable diligence be found at the registered office, then the clerk of the Commission<\/span> shall be an agent of the corporation upon whom service may be made in accordance with § 12.1-19.1<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Nothing in this section shall limit or affect the right to serve any process, notice, order<\/span> or demand, required or permitted by law<\/span> to be served upon a corporation in any other manner now or hereafter permitted by law<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nSERVICE OF PROCESS ON FOREIGN CORPORATION (\u00a7 13.1-928)\n\nA. The registered agent of a foreign corporation authorized to transact business\nin the Commonwealth shall be an agent of such corporation upon whom any process,\nnotice, order or demand required or permitted by law to be served upon the\ncorporation may be served. The registered agent may by instrument in writing,\nacknowledged before a notary public, designate a natural person or persons in\nthe office of the registered agent upon whom any such process, notice, order or\ndemand may be served. Whenever any such person accepts service of process, a\nphotographic copy of such instrument shall be attached to the return.\n\nB. Whenever a foreign corporation authorized to transact business in the\nCommonwealth fails to appoint or maintain a registered agent in the\nCommonwealth, or whenever its registered agent cannot with reasonable diligence\nbe found at the registered office, then the clerk of the Commission shall be an\nagent of the corporation upon whom service may be made in accordance with §\n12.1-19.1.\n\nC. Nothing in this section shall limit or affect the right to serve any process,\nnotice, order or demand, required or permitted by law to be served upon a\ncorporation in any other manner now or hereafter permitted by law.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 13-214 to 13-217, 13.1-274; 1956, c. 428; 1975, c. 500;\n1985, c. 522; 1986, cc. 571, 622; 1991, c. 672; 2001, cc. 517, 541; 2007, c.\n925.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}