                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

SHERIFF TO GET FROM CLERK&#8217;S OFFICE PROCESS AND OTHER PAPERS; RETURN OF
PAPERS; EFFECT OF LATE RETURN (§ 8.01-294)

Every sheriff who attends a court shall, every day when the clerk&#8217;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&#8217;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 service of process by anyone authorized to serve
process under § 8.01-293 within the time specified in this section shall not
invalidate any service of process or any judgment based thereon. In the event a
late return prejudices a party or interferes with the court&#8217;s
administration of a case, the court may, in its discretion, continue the case,
require additional or substitute service of process, or take such other action
or enter such order as the court deems appropriate under the circumstances.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 8-49; 1954, c. 545; 1977, c. 617; 1978, c. 831; 2002, c.
65; 2004, c. 627.