<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>57962</law_id><section_number>55.1-616</section_number><catch_line>&amp;#8220;Notarial acts&amp;#8221; defined; who may perform notarial acts outside the Commonwealth for use in the Commonwealth</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>55.1-600</reference><reference>55.1-617</reference><reference>55.1-619</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="55.1">Property and Conveyances</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Real Estate Settlements and Recordation</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="6">Recordation of Documents</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="3">Uniform Recognition of Acknowledgments Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> For the purposes of this article, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">notarial acts</span>&#x201D; means acts that the <span class="dictionary">laws</span> and regulations of the Commonwealth authorize notaries public of the Commonwealth to perform, including the administering of <span class="dictionary">oaths</span> and affirmations, taking proof of execution and acknowledgments of instruments, and attesting documents. <a id="paragraph-212293" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-616/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> <span class="dictionary">Notarial acts</span> may be performed outside the Commonwealth for use in the Commonwealth with the same effect as if performed by a notary public of the Commonwealth by the following persons authorized pursuant to the <span class="dictionary">laws</span> and regulations of other governments in addition to any other person authorized by the <span class="dictionary">laws</span> and regulations of the Commonwealth: <a id="paragraph-212294" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-616/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> A notary public authorized to perform <span class="dictionary">notarial acts</span> in the place in which the notarial act is performed; <a id="paragraph-212295" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-616/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> A <span class="dictionary">judge</span>, clerk, or deputy clerk of any <span class="dictionary">court</span> of record in the place in which the notarial act is performed; <a id="paragraph-212296" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-616/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> An officer of the foreign service of the United States, a consular agent, or any other person authorized by regulation of the U.S. Department of State to perform <span class="dictionary">notarial acts</span> in the place in which the notarial act is performed; <a id="paragraph-212297" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-616/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> A commissioned officer in active service with the Armed Forces of the United States and any other person authorized by regulation of the armed forces to perform <span class="dictionary">notarial acts</span> if the notarial act is performed for one of the following or his dependents: a merchant seaman of the United States, a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, or any other person serving with or accompanying a member of the Armed Forces of the United States; or <a id="paragraph-212298" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-616/#B4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Any other person authorized to perform <span class="dictionary">notarial acts</span> in the place in which the notarial act is performed. <a id="paragraph-212299" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-616/#B5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1970, c. 719, &#xA7; 55-118.1; 2019, c. 712.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
