                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

PLEADINGS AND OTHER PAPERS BY CERTAIN PARTIES NOT REPRESENTED BY ATTORNEYS (§
16.1-88.03)

A. Any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, limited partnership,
professional corporation, professional limited liability company, registered
limited liability partnership, registered limited liability limited partnership
or business trust, the Fort Monroe Authority, and the Department of Military
Affairs, when the amount claimed in any civil action pursuant to subdivision (1)
or (3) of &#xA7; 16.1-77 does not exceed the jurisdictional amounts authorized
in such subsections, exclusive of interest, may prepare, execute, file, and have
served on other parties in any proceeding in a general district court a warrant
in debt, motion for judgment, warrant in detinue, distress warrant, summons for
unlawful detainer, counterclaim, crossclaim, suggestion for summons in
garnishment, garnishment summons, order of possession, writ of eviction, writ of
fieri facias, interpleader and civil appeal notice without the intervention of
an attorney. Such papers may be signed by a corporate officer, a manager of a
limited liability company, a general partner of any form of partnership or a
trustee of any business trust, or such corporate officer, with the approval of
the board of directors, or manager, general partner or trustee may authorize in
writing an employee, a person licensed under the provisions of &#xA7;
54.1-2106.1, or the property manager or the managing agent of a landlord as
defined in &#xA7; 55.1-1200 pursuant to the written property management
agreement to sign such papers as the agent of the business entity. Only an
agency employee designated in writing by the Adjutant General may sign such
papers on behalf of the Department of Military Affairs. However, this section
shall not apply to an action under subdivision (1) or (3) of &#xA7; 16.1-77
which was assigned to a corporation, partnership, limited liability company,
limited partnership, professional corporation, professional limited liability
company, registered limited liability partnership, registered limited liability
limited partnership or business trust, or individual solely for the purpose of
enforcing an obligation owed or right inuring to another.

B. Nothing in this section shall allow a nonlawyer to file a bill of particulars
or grounds of defense or to argue motions, issue a subpoena, rule to show cause,
or capias; file or interrogate at debtor interrogatories; or to file, issue or
argue any other paper, pleading or proceeding not set forth in subsection A.

C. The provisions of &#xA7; 8.01-271.1 shall apply to any pleading, motion or
other paper filed or made pursuant to this section.

D. Parties not represented by counsel, and who have made an appearance in the
case, shall promptly notify in writing the clerk of court wherein the litigation
is pending, and any adverse party, of any change in the party&#8217;s address
necessary for accurate mailing or service of any pleadings or notices. In the
absence of such notification, a mailing to or service upon a party at the most
recent address contained in the court file of the case shall be deemed effective
service or other notice.

HISTORY: 1990, c. 645; 1992, c. 814; 1993, cc. 473, 478; 2003, cc. 665, 667;
2004, cc. 338, 365; 2005, c. 136; 2006, c. 374; 2017, c. 690; 2019, cc. 180,
477, 700; 2020, cc. 84, 194.