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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>72169</law_id><section_number>49-3</section_number><catch_line>Who may administer oaths to officers</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>18.2-271.4</reference><reference>24.2-120</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="49">Oaths, Affirmations and Bonds</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="1">Oaths and Affirmations</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The <span class="dictionary">oaths</span> to be taken by a person elected a member of either house of the General Assembly shall be administered by the clerk or presiding officer of the houses, respectively, or a notary. Those to be taken by any <span class="dictionary">judge</span> of any <span class="dictionary">court</span> of record elected by the General Assembly shall be administered in a <span class="dictionary">court</span> of record, or by any <span class="dictionary">judge</span>, or by any officer authorized by <span class="dictionary">law</span> to administer an <span class="dictionary">oath</span>. Those to be taken by any person elected or appointed an officer of either house of the General Assembly shall be administered by the person and in the manner prescribed by the rules of such house. The <span class="dictionary">oaths</span> to be taken by a person elected or appointed to any other office or post shall, except in cases in which it may be otherwise directed by <span class="dictionary">law</span>, be administered by the clerk of a <span class="dictionary">court</span> of record, by any <span class="dictionary">judge</span>, by a Commissioner or clerk of the State Corporation Commission or by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. A <span class="dictionary">magistrate</span> or person holding a comparable position in another state may administer the <span class="dictionary">oaths</span> to be taken by a commissioner or other person residing therein.
		Whenever a person required to take an <span class="dictionary">oath</span> of office is a member of the United States Armed Forces and is on active duty, or is deployed by the United States Department of Defense as a civilian, the <span class="dictionary">oath</span> set forth in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Form of general oath required of officers" href="/49-1/">49-1</a> may be administered by a notary public.</p></section></text><history>Code 1919, &#xA7; 273; 1968, c. 639; 1983, c. 228; 1986, c. 255; 1988, c. 255; 1992, c. 390; 1992, Sp. Sess., cc. 1, 2; 2008, cc. 57, 713.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
