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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>65534</law_id><section_number>8.01-285</section_number><catch_line>Definition of certain terms used in this chapter; process, return, statutory agent</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>16.1-80</reference><reference>16.1-82</reference><reference>20-60.5</reference><reference>20-61.3</reference><reference>32.1-269.1</reference><reference>57-11</reference><reference>58.1-3948</reference><reference>63.2-1913</reference><reference>64.2-2023</reference><reference>64.2-713</reference><reference>8.01-329</reference><reference>8.01-335</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="8.01">Civil Remedies and Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="8">Process</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">In General</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The term &#x201C;process&#x201D; shall be deemed to include notice; <a id="paragraph-238248" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-285/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The term &#x201C;return&#x201D; shall be deemed to include the term &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">proof of service</span>&#x201D;; <a id="paragraph-238249" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-285/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The term &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">statutory agent</span>&#x201D; 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 <span class="dictionary">law</span> for the purpose of <span class="dictionary">service of process</span> on the nonresident defined in subdivision 2 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definition of terms &quot;motor vehicle&quot; and &quot;nonresident&quot; in motor vehicle and aircraft accident cases" href="/8.01-307/">8.01-307</a> or (ii) the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, when appointed pursuant to <span class="dictionary">law</span> for the purpose of <span class="dictionary">service of process</span> on any individual, corporation, limited partnership, or other entity under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Service of process on the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission as statutory agent" href="/12.1-19.1/">12.1-19.1</a>, as the context may require; and <a id="paragraph-238250" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-285/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> The term &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">person</span>&#x201D; 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 <span class="dictionary">laws</span> of the Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-238251" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-285/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1977, c. 617; 1991, c. 672; 2005, c. 866; 2024, c. 454.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
