Service of Process

Each Virginia and foreign business entity that is authorized by the Commission to transact business in Virginia is required to continuously maintain in Virginia a registered agent to accept delivery or service of any process, notice, order or demand on behalf of the business entity. Virginia law provides other methods for servicing process on a business entity, depending on the entity type. (See, for example, § 8.01-285 et seq. of the Code of Virginia.)

To determine the name of a business entity’s registered agent and the registered office address at which the registered agent may be found, search CIS or telephone the Clerk’s Office at (804) 371-9733 or toll free in Virginia, 1-866-722-2551.

The Clerk as Statutory Agent

Under certain provisions of the Code of Virginia, the Clerk of the Commission is appointed or is deemed to have been appointed the statutory agent of a business entity (or, in rare instances, an individual) for the purpose of accepting service of process, notice, order or demand. Often, there must have been a prior, unsuccessful attempt to serve a business entity’s registered agent before effective service can be made on the Clerk as a business entity’s statutory agent.

There are several requirements under Virginia law for service on the Clerk as statutory agent, including a $30.00 fee. To assist you in providing all required items, the Clerk’s Office has produced an optional form, SOP-19.1. Please read the Instructions to make sure it is properly completed and submitted.