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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>72019</law_id><section_number>8.01-294</section_number><catch_line>Sheriff to get from clerk&amp;#8217;s office process and other papers; return of papers; effect of late return</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>8.01-296</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="3">Who and Where to Serve Process</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Every <span class="dictionary">sheriff</span> who attends a <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall, every day when the clerk&#x2019;s office is open for business, go to such office and receive all process, and other papers to be served by him, and give receipts therefor, unless he has received notice from a regular employee of the clerk&#x2019;s office that there are no such papers requiring service and shall return all papers within 72 hours of service, except when such returns would be due on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. In such case, the return is due on the next day following such Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.
		Failure to make return of <span class="dictionary">service of process</span> by anyone authorized to serve process under &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Authorization to serve process, capias or show cause order; execute writ of possession or eviction and levy upon property" href="/8.01-293/">8.01-293</a> within the time specified in this section shall not invalidate any <span class="dictionary">service of process</span> or any <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> based thereon. In the event a late return prejudices a <span class="dictionary">party</span> or interferes with the <span class="dictionary">court</span>&#x2019;s administration of a case, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may, in its discretion, continue the case, require additional or substitute <span class="dictionary">service of process</span>, or take such other <span class="dictionary">action</span> or enter such <span class="dictionary">order</span> as the <span class="dictionary">court</span> deems appropriate under the circumstances.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 8-49; 1954, c. 545; 1977, c. 617; 1978, c. 831; 2002, c. 65; 2004, c. 627.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
