{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/57-51.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/57-51.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/57-51.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/57-51.html"}],"law_id":83732,"edition_id":1,"section_id":83732,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-51","catch_line":"Nonresident registration","history":"1974, c. 574; 1979, c. 595; 1984, c. 268; 2023, c. 289.","full_text":"A\n\nAny unregistered charitable organization, professional fund-raising counsel, or professional solicitor, having his or its principal place of business outside of the Commonwealth or organized under and by virtue of the laws of a foreign state who or which shall solicit contributions from people in the Commonwealth, shall be deemed to have irrevocably appointed the Secretary of the Commonwealth as his or its agent upon whom may be served any summons, subpoena, subpoena duces tecum, or other process directed to such charitable organization, or any partner, principal, officer, or director thereof or to such professional fund-raising counsel or professional solicitor. Service shall be made by leaving two copies of the process, notice, order, or demand, together with any fee required by law, in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, together with an affidavit giving the last known post-office address of the defendant and such service shall be sufficient if notice of such service and a copy of the process, notice, order, or demand are forthwith sent by registered mail, with return receipt requested, by the Secretary of the Commonwealth or one of his staff to the defendant at the specified address. An affidavit by the Secretary of the Commonwealth showing compliance herewith shall be filed with the papers in the suit, action, or proceeding.B\n\nAny charitable organization, having no office or place of business within the Commonwealth and soliciting in the Commonwealth from outside of the Commonwealth solely by email, telephone or telegraph, direct mail, or advertising in national media, and any professional fund-raising counsel or professional solicitor engaged by such an organization, shall file with the Commissioner any report that would otherwise be required of it or request the Commissioner to determine that such organization is exempt under § 57-50 or 57-60.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":300134,"text":"Any unregistered charitable organization, professional fund-raising counsel, or professional solicitor, having his or its principal place of business outside of the Commonwealth or organized under and by virtue of the laws of a foreign state who or which shall solicit contributions from people in the Commonwealth, shall be deemed to have irrevocably appointed the Secretary of the Commonwealth as his or its agent upon whom may be served any summons, subpoena, subpoena duces tecum, or other process directed to such charitable organization, or any partner, principal, officer, or director thereof or to such professional fund-raising counsel or professional solicitor. Service shall be made by leaving two copies of the process, notice, order, or demand, together with any fee required by law, in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, together with an affidavit giving the last known post-office address of the defendant and such service shall be sufficient if notice of such service and a copy of the process, notice, order, or demand are forthwith sent by registered mail, with return receipt requested, by the Secretary of the Commonwealth or one of his staff to the defendant at the specified address. An affidavit by the Secretary of the Commonwealth showing compliance herewith shall be filed with the papers in the suit, action, or proceeding.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":300135,"text":"Any charitable organization, having no office or place of business within the Commonwealth and soliciting in the Commonwealth from outside of the Commonwealth solely by email, telephone or telegraph, direct mail, or advertising in national media, and any professional fund-raising counsel or professional solicitor engaged by such an organization, shall file with the Commissioner any report that would otherwise be required of it or request the Commissioner to determine that such organization is exempt under § 57-50 or 57-60.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13962,"edition_id":1,"name":"Solicitation of Contributions","identifier":"5","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13324,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:26","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:26","permalink":{"id":251837,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13962,"identifier":"5","token":"57\/5","url":"\/57\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13324,"edition_id":1,"name":"Religious and Charitable Matters; Cemeteries","identifier":"57","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:39","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:39","permalink":{"id":251501,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13324,"identifier":"57","token":"57","url":"\/57\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":78101,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-48","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/57-48\/","token":"57\/5\/57-48","metadata":false},{"id":86486,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-49","catch_line":"Registration of charitable organizations; prohibition against support of terrorists","url":"\/57-49\/","token":"57\/5\/57-49","metadata":false},{"id":65471,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-50","catch_line":"Reciprocal agreements with other states; online filing","url":"\/57-50\/","token":"57\/5\/57-50","metadata":false},{"id":83732,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-51","catch_line":"Nonresident registration","url":"\/57-51\/","token":"57\/5\/57-51","metadata":false},{"id":65077,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-52","catch_line":"Publication of warnings concerning certain charitable and civic organizations","url":"\/57-52\/","token":"57\/5\/57-52","metadata":false},{"id":64262,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-52.1","catch_line":"Publication of warnings concerning solicitation by professional solicitors","url":"\/57-52.1\/","token":"57\/5\/57-52.1","metadata":false},{"id":58234,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-53","catch_line":"Records to be kept by charitable organizations","url":"\/57-53\/","token":"57\/5\/57-53","metadata":false},{"id":71322,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-54","catch_line":"Contracts between charitable or civic organizations and professional fund-raising counsel or professional solicitors","url":"\/57-54\/","token":"57\/5\/57-54","metadata":false},{"id":81155,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-55","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/57-55\/","token":"57\/5\/57-55","metadata":false},{"id":73486,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-55.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/57-55.1\/","token":"57\/5\/57-55.1","metadata":false},{"id":62382,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-55.2","catch_line":"Charitable solicitation disclosure","url":"\/57-55.2\/","token":"57\/5\/57-55.2","metadata":false},{"id":57634,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-55.2:1","catch_line":"Solicitations by for-profit organizations","url":"\/57-55.2_1\/","token":"57\/5\/57-55.2_1","metadata":false},{"id":87184,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-55.3","catch_line":"Disclosure regarding financial statement required","url":"\/57-55.3\/","token":"57\/5\/57-55.3","metadata":false},{"id":70988,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-55.4","catch_line":"Collection receptacles; required disclosures","url":"\/57-55.4\/","token":"57\/5\/57-55.4","metadata":false},{"id":71585,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-56","catch_line":"Information filed to become public records","url":"\/57-56\/","token":"57\/5\/57-56","metadata":false},{"id":61492,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-57","catch_line":"Prohibited acts","url":"\/57-57\/","token":"57\/5\/57-57","metadata":false},{"id":83525,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-58","catch_line":"Ratio of fund-raising expenses to contributions to be included in registration statement","url":"\/57-58\/","token":"57\/5\/57-58","metadata":false},{"id":87099,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-59","catch_line":"Enforcement of chapter; seizure of property connected with terrorism; penalties","url":"\/57-59\/","token":"57\/5\/57-59","metadata":false},{"id":57956,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-60","catch_line":"Exemptions","url":"\/57-60\/","token":"57\/5\/57-60","metadata":false},{"id":87040,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-61","catch_line":"Registration of professional fund-raising counsels and solicitors","url":"\/57-61\/","token":"57\/5\/57-61","metadata":false},{"id":82886,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-61.1","catch_line":"Time and effect of registration","url":"\/57-61.1\/","token":"57\/5\/57-61.1","metadata":false},{"id":77549,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-61.2","catch_line":"Commercial co-ventures","url":"\/57-61.2\/","token":"57\/5\/57-61.2","metadata":false},{"id":84845,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-62","catch_line":"Liability imposed by other laws not decreased","url":"\/57-62\/","token":"57\/5\/57-62","metadata":false},{"id":58452,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-63","catch_line":"Local ordinances","url":"\/57-63\/","token":"57\/5\/57-63","metadata":false},{"id":87043,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-64","catch_line":"Out-of-state enforcement proceedings","url":"\/57-64\/","token":"57\/5\/57-64","metadata":false},{"id":57627,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-65","catch_line":"Fees and charges","url":"\/57-65\/","token":"57\/5\/57-65","metadata":false},{"id":68709,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-66","catch_line":"Rules and regulations; model ordinance","url":"\/57-66\/","token":"57\/5\/57-66","metadata":false},{"id":55022,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-67","catch_line":"Application to court for relief","url":"\/57-67\/","token":"57\/5\/57-67","metadata":false},{"id":59430,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-68","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/57-68\/","token":"57\/5\/57-68","metadata":false},{"id":85676,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-69","catch_line":"Effective date","url":"\/57-69\/","token":"57\/5\/57-69","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":65471,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-50","catch_line":"Reciprocal agreements with other states; online filing","url":"\/57-50\/","token":"57\/5\/57-50","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":65077,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-52","catch_line":"Publication of warnings concerning certain charitable and civic organizations","url":"\/57-52\/","token":"57\/5\/57-52","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/57-51\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1974. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 574 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1974 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 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 1979, chapter 595; in 1984, chapter 268; in 2023, chapter 289<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":65471,"section_number":"57-50","catch_line":"Reciprocal agreements with other states; online filing","order_by":null,"url":"\/57-50\/"},{"id":57956,"section_number":"57-60","catch_line":"Exemptions","order_by":null,"url":"\/57-60\/"}],"permalink":{"id":251851,"object_type":"law","relational_id":83732,"identifier":"57-51","token":"57\/5\/57-51","url":"\/57-51\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/57-51\/","token":"57\/5\/57-51","dublin_core":{"Title":"Nonresident registration","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 57-51","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Any unregistered charitable organization<\/span>, professional fund-raising counsel<\/span>, or professional solicitor<\/span>, having his or its principal place of business outside of the Commonwealth or organized under and by virtue of the laws<\/span> of a foreign state who or which shall solicit<\/span> contributions<\/span> from people in the Commonwealth, shall be deemed to have irrevocably appointed the Secretary of the Commonwealth as his or its agent upon whom may be served any summons<\/span>, subpoena, subpoena duces tecum<\/span>, or other process directed to such charitable organization<\/span>, or any partner, principal, officer, or director thereof or to such professional fund-raising counsel<\/span> or professional solicitor<\/span>. Service shall be made by leaving two copies of the process, notice, order<\/span>, or demand, together with any fee required by law<\/span>, in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, together with an affidavit<\/span> giving the last known post-office address of the defendant<\/span> and such service shall be sufficient if notice of such service and a copy of the process, notice, order<\/span>, or demand are forthwith sent by registered mail, with return receipt requested, by the Secretary of the Commonwealth or one of his staff to the defendant<\/span> at the specified address. An affidavit<\/span> by the Secretary of the Commonwealth showing compliance herewith shall be filed with the papers in the suit, action, or proceeding. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Any charitable organization<\/span>, having no office or place of business within the Commonwealth and soliciting in the Commonwealth from outside of the Commonwealth solely by email, telephone or telegraph, direct mail, or advertising in national media, and any professional fund-raising counsel<\/span> or professional solicitor<\/span> engaged by such an organization, shall file with the Commissioner<\/span> any report that would otherwise be required of it or request the Commissioner to determine that such organization is exempt under § 57-50<\/a> or 57-60<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nNONRESIDENT REGISTRATION (\u00a7 57-51)\n\nA. Any unregistered charitable organization, professional fund-raising counsel,\nor professional solicitor, having his or its principal place of business outside\nof the Commonwealth or organized under and by virtue of the laws of a foreign\nstate who or which shall solicit contributions from people in the Commonwealth,\nshall be deemed to have irrevocably appointed the Secretary of the Commonwealth\nas his or its agent upon whom may be served any summons, subpoena, subpoena\nduces tecum, or other process directed to such charitable organization, or any\npartner, principal, officer, or director thereof or to such professional\nfund-raising counsel or professional solicitor. Service shall be made by leaving\ntwo copies of the process, notice, order, or demand, together with any fee\nrequired by law, in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, together\nwith an affidavit giving the last known post-office address of the defendant and\nsuch service shall be sufficient if notice of such service and a copy of the\nprocess, notice, order, or demand are forthwith sent by registered mail, with\nreturn receipt requested, by the Secretary of the Commonwealth or one of his\nstaff to the defendant at the specified address. An affidavit by the Secretary\nof the Commonwealth showing compliance herewith shall be filed with the papers\nin the suit, action, or proceeding.\n\nB. Any charitable organization, having no office or place of business within the\nCommonwealth and soliciting in the Commonwealth from outside of the Commonwealth\nsolely by email, telephone or telegraph, direct mail, or advertising in national\nmedia, and any professional fund-raising counsel or professional solicitor\nengaged by such an organization, shall file with the Commissioner any report\nthat would otherwise be required of it or request the Commissioner to determine\nthat such organization is exempt under § 57-50 or 57-60.\n\nHISTORY: 1974, c. 574; 1979, c. 595; 1984, c. 268; 2023, c. 289.","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}}