{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/8.01-285.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/8.01-285.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/8.01-285.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/8.01-285.html"}],"law_id":65534,"edition_id":1,"section_id":65534,"structure_id":16029,"section_number":"8.01-285","catch_line":"Definition of certain terms used in this chapter; process, return, statutory agent","history":"1977, c. 617; 1991, c. 672; 2005, c. 866; 2024, c. 454.","full_text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\n1\n\nThe term “process” shall be deemed to include notice;2\n\nThe term “return” shall be deemed to include the term “proof of service”;3\n\nThe term “statutory agent” means (i) the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Secretary of the Commonwealth, and the successors of either, when appointed pursuant to law for the purpose of service of process on the nonresident defined in subdivision 2 of § 8.01-307 or (ii) the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, when appointed pursuant to law for the purpose of service of process on any individual, corporation, limited partnership, or other entity under § 12.1-19.1, as the context may require; and4\n\nThe term “person” includes an individual, his executor, administrator, or other personal representative, or a corporation, partnership, association or any other legal or commercial entity, whether or not a citizen or domiciliary of the Commonwealth and whether or not organized under the laws of the Commonwealth.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":238247,"text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":238248,"text":"The term “process” shall be deemed to include notice;","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":238249,"text":"The term “return” shall be deemed to include the term “proof of service”;","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":238250,"text":"The term “statutory agent” means (i) the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Secretary of the Commonwealth, and the successors of either, when appointed pursuant to law for the purpose of service of process on the nonresident defined in subdivision 2 of § 8.01-307 or (ii) the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, when appointed pursuant to law for the purpose of service of process on any individual, corporation, limited partnership, or other entity under § 12.1-19.1, as the context may require; and","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":238251,"text":"The term “person” includes an individual, his executor, administrator, or other personal representative, or a corporation, partnership, association or any other legal or commercial entity, whether or not a citizen or domiciliary of the Commonwealth and whether or not organized under the laws of the Commonwealth.","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3"}},"ancestry":[{"id":16029,"edition_id":1,"name":"In General","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13353,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 04:04:16","date_modified":"2026-06-26 04:04:16","permalink":{"id":281475,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":16029,"identifier":"1","token":"8.01\/8\/1","url":"\/8.01\/8\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13353,"edition_id":1,"name":"Process","identifier":"8","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12747,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:42","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:42","permalink":{"id":281473,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13353,"identifier":"8","token":"8.01\/8","url":"\/8.01\/8\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12747,"edition_id":1,"name":"Civil Remedies and Procedure","identifier":"8.01","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":277029,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12747,"identifier":"8.01","token":"8.01","url":"\/8.01\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":65534,"structure_id":16029,"section_number":"8.01-285","catch_line":"Definition of certain terms used in this chapter; process, return, statutory agent","url":"\/8.01-285\/","token":"8.01\/8\/1\/8.01-285","metadata":false},{"id":85648,"structure_id":16029,"section_number":"8.01-286","catch_line":"Forms of writs","url":"\/8.01-286\/","token":"8.01\/8\/1\/8.01-286","metadata":false},{"id":82871,"structure_id":16029,"section_number":"8.01-286.1","catch_line":"Service of process; waiver, duty to save costs, request to waive, how served","url":"\/8.01-286.1\/","token":"8.01\/8\/1\/8.01-286.1","metadata":false},{"id":63470,"structure_id":16029,"section_number":"8.01-287","catch_line":"How process to be served","url":"\/8.01-287\/","token":"8.01\/8\/1\/8.01-287","metadata":false},{"id":80740,"structure_id":16029,"section_number":"8.01-288","catch_line":"Process received in time good though neither served nor accepted","url":"\/8.01-288\/","token":"8.01\/8\/1\/8.01-288","metadata":false},{"id":62808,"structure_id":16029,"section_number":"8.01-289","catch_line":"No service of process on Sunday; exceptions","url":"\/8.01-289\/","token":"8.01\/8\/1\/8.01-289","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":85648,"structure_id":16029,"section_number":"8.01-286","catch_line":"Forms of writs","url":"\/8.01-286\/","token":"8.01\/8\/1\/8.01-286","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/8.01-285\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1977. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 617 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 1977 \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 1991, chapter 672; in 2005, chapter 866<\/a>; in 2024, chapter 454<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":73585,"section_number":"16.1-80","catch_line":"Service of warrant and return thereof","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-80\/"},{"id":80374,"section_number":"16.1-82","catch_line":"Service of motion; return thereon and delivery to the court; how disposed of","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-82\/"},{"id":58182,"section_number":"20-60.5","catch_line":"Support payment provisions; how paid","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-60.5\/"},{"id":57689,"section_number":"20-61.3","catch_line":"Consequences of a putative father failing to appear","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-61.3\/"},{"id":59473,"section_number":"32.1-269.1","catch_line":"Amending death certificates; change and correction of demographic information by affidavit or court order","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-269.1\/"},{"id":85753,"section_number":"57-11","catch_line":"Suits by and against trustees","order_by":null,"url":"\/57-11\/"},{"id":72853,"section_number":"58.1-3948","catch_line":"Notice to tenant prior to such leasing","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-3948\/"},{"id":59354,"section_number":"63.2-1913","catch_line":"Administrative establishment of paternity","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1913\/"},{"id":70953,"section_number":"64.2-2023","catch_line":"Estate planning","order_by":null,"url":"\/64.2-2023\/"},{"id":63870,"section_number":"64.2-713","catch_line":"Pleadings; parties; orders; notice","order_by":null,"url":"\/64.2-713\/"},{"id":64837,"section_number":"8.01-329","catch_line":"Service of process or notice; service on Secretary of Commonwealth","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-329\/"},{"id":81821,"section_number":"8.01-335","catch_line":"Certain cases struck from dockets after certain period; reinstatement","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-335\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":71702,"section_number":"12.1-19.1","catch_line":"Service of process on the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission as statutory agent","order_by":null,"url":"\/12.1-19.1\/"},{"id":71881,"section_number":"8.01-307","catch_line":"Definition of terms \"motor vehicle\" and \"nonresident\" in motor vehicle and aircraft accident cases","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-307\/"}],"permalink":{"id":281477,"object_type":"law","relational_id":65534,"identifier":"8.01-285","token":"8.01\/8\/1\/8.01-285","url":"\/8.01-285\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/8.01-285\/","token":"8.01\/8\/1\/8.01-285","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definition of certain terms used in this chapter; process, return, statutory agent","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 8.01-285","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> The term “process” shall be deemed to include notice; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> The term “return” shall be deemed to include the term “proof of service<\/span>”; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> The term “statutory agent<\/span>” means (i) the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Secretary of the Commonwealth, and the successors of either, when appointed pursuant to law<\/span> for the purpose of service of process<\/span> on the nonresident defined in subdivision 2 of § 8.01-307<\/a> or (ii) the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, when appointed pursuant to law<\/span> for the purpose of service of process<\/span> on any individual, corporation, limited partnership, or other entity under § 12.1-19.1<\/a>, as the context may require; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> The term “person<\/span>” includes an individual, his executor, administrator, or other personal representative, or a corporation, partnership, association or any other legal or commercial entity, whether or not a citizen or domiciliary of the Commonwealth and whether or not organized under the laws<\/span> of the Commonwealth. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITION OF CERTAIN TERMS USED IN THIS CHAPTER; PROCESS, RETURN, STATUTORY\nAGENT (\u00a7 8.01-285)\n\nAs used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\n1. The term “process” shall be deemed to include notice;\n\n2. The term “return” shall be deemed to include the term\n“proof of service”;\n\n3. The term “statutory agent” means (i) the Commissioner of the\nDepartment of Motor Vehicles and the Secretary of the Commonwealth, and the\nsuccessors of either, when appointed pursuant to law for the purpose of service\nof process on the nonresident defined in subdivision 2 of § 8.01-307 or\n(ii) the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, when appointed pursuant to\nlaw for the purpose of service of process on any individual, corporation,\nlimited partnership, or other entity under § 12.1-19.1, as the context may\nrequire; and\n\n4. The term “person” includes an individual, his executor,\nadministrator, or other personal representative, or a corporation, partnership,\nassociation or any other legal or commercial entity, whether or not a citizen or\ndomiciliary of the Commonwealth and whether or not organized under the laws of\nthe Commonwealth.\n\nHISTORY: 1977, c. 617; 1991, c. 672; 2005, c. 866; 2024, c. 454.","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}}