<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>83732</law_id><section_number>57-51</section_number><catch_line>Nonresident registration</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="57">Religious and Charitable Matters; Cemeteries</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="5">Solicitation of Contributions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Any unregistered <span class="dictionary">charitable organization</span>, <span class="dictionary">professional fund-raising counsel</span>, or <span class="dictionary">professional solicitor</span>, having his or its principal place of business outside of the Commonwealth or organized under and by virtue of the <span class="dictionary">laws</span> of a foreign state who or which shall <span class="dictionary">solicit</span> <span class="dictionary">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 <span class="dictionary">summons</span>, subpoena, <span class="dictionary">subpoena duces tecum</span>, or other process directed to such <span class="dictionary">charitable organization</span>, or any partner, principal, officer, or director thereof or to such <span class="dictionary">professional fund-raising counsel</span> or <span class="dictionary">professional solicitor</span>. Service shall be made by leaving two copies of the process, notice, <span class="dictionary">order</span>, or demand, together with any fee required by <span class="dictionary">law</span>, in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, together with an <span class="dictionary">affidavit</span> giving the last known post-office address of the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> and such service shall be sufficient if notice of such service and a copy of the process, notice, <span class="dictionary">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 <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> at the specified address. An <span class="dictionary">affidavit</span> by the Secretary of the Commonwealth showing compliance herewith shall be filed with the papers in the suit, action, or proceeding. <a id="paragraph-300134" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/57-51/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">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 <span class="dictionary">professional fund-raising counsel</span> or <span class="dictionary">professional solicitor</span> engaged by such an organization, shall <span class="dictionary">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 &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Reciprocal agreements with other states; online filing" href="/57-50/">57-50</a> or <a class="law" title="Exemptions" href="/57-60/">57-60</a>. <a id="paragraph-300135" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/57-51/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1974, c. 574; 1979, c. 595; 1984, c. 268; 2023, c. 289.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
