Virginia Code

Va. Code Ann. § 13.1-637 (2026)

Service on corporation

✓ current as of May 2026
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A. A corporation's registered agent is the corporation's agent for service of process, notice, or demand required or permitted by law to be served on the corporation. The registered agent may by instrument in writing, acknowledged before a notary public, designate a natural person or persons in the office of the registered agent upon whom any such process, notice or demand may be served and may, by instrument in writing, authorize service of process by facsimile by the sheriff, provided acknowledgement of receipt of service is returned by facsimile to the sheriff. Whenever any person so designated by the registered agent accepts service of process or whenever service is by facsimile, a photographic copy of the instruments designating the person or authorizing the method of service and receipt shall be attached to the return.

B. Whenever a corporation fails to appoint or maintain a registered agent in this Commonwealth, or whenever its registered agent cannot with reasonable diligence be found at the registered office, then the clerk of the Commission shall be an agent of the corporation upon whom service may be made in accordance with § 12.1-19.1.

C. This section does not prescribe the only means, or necessarily the required means, of serving a corporation.

Code 1950, §§ 13-12, 13-14, 13.1-11; 1956, c. 428; 1985, c. 522; 1986, c. 622; 1991, c. 672; 1995, c. 411; 2001, cc. 517, 541.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 10 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1993–2025 · leading case: Joe Hand Promotions, Inc. v. Wing Spot Chicken & Waffles, Inc., 920 F. Supp. 2d 659 (E.D. Va. 2013).
Joe Hand Promotions, Inc. v. Wing Spot Chicken & Waffles, Inc., 920 F. Supp. 2d 659 (E.D. Va. 2013). · cites it 8× “” Va.Code § 13.1-637(B) (2012). The plaintiff, through process servers, attempted to serve the defendant through its registered agent, Walter Ricks.”
Dutan v. Sheet Metal Remodeling, LLC, 48 F. Supp. 3d 860 (E.D. Va. 2014). · cites it 6× “See Va.Code § 13.1-637(B). Under Va.Code § 12.”
Addison v. Gibson Equip. Co. (In Re Pittman Mech. Contractors, Inc.), 180 B.R. 453 (Bankr. E.D. Va. 1995). “Further, service on the registered agent of the corporation by mail is an easy solution to the Trustee’s concerns, and a registered agent is easily ascertained from the Virginia State Commission.”
John Deere Indus. Equip. Co. v. J. W. Wyne Excavating, Inc., 32 Va. Cir. 309 (Spotsylvania Cir. Ct. 1993). · cites it 3× “1-634 and § 13.1-637. Thus, in addition to officers and directors, service on the corporation may be by personal service on the registered agent.”
Brown v. Shenandoah Canteen Corp., 51 Va. Cir. 389 (Albemarle Cir. Ct. 2000). · cites it 3× “Therefore, the plaintiff served the clerk of the State Corporation Commission which is permitted by § 13.1-637 of the Code. On October 9, 1998, the Plea of the Statute of Limitations was filed by Shenandoah Canteen.”
Michael Grecco Prods., Inc. v. Black Connections LLC (E.D. Va. 2024). “By substituted service on stock corporations in accordance with § 13.1-637, on nonstock corporations in accordance with § 13.”
Michael Grecco Prods., Inc. v. Black Connections LLC (E.D. Va. 2025). “By substituted service on stock corporations in accordance with § 13.1-637, on nonstock corporations in accordance with § 13.”
Guerra v. Minx Holdings Inc. (E.D. Va. 2025). “Second, by “substituted service on stock corporations in accordance with § 13.1-637.” Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-299 (2).”
Hamlett v. Amsouth Bank (4th Cir. 2003). “" See Va. Code § 13.1-637(C) (Lexis Supp. 2002) (stating that provision of the code identifying registered agent as corporation’s agent for service of pro- cess does not prescribe the required means of serving a corporation); id.”
Carstea v. Colberts Const. Co., 65 Va. Cir. 185 (Fairfax Cir. Ct. 2004). “By substituted service on stock corporations in accordance with § 13.1-637 and on nonstock corporations in accordance with § 13.”
— Va. Code Ann. § 13.1-637(B) — 3 cases
Joe Hand Promotions, Inc. v. Wing Spot Chicken & Waffles, Inc., 920 F. Supp. 2d 659 (E.D. Va. 2013). “” Va.Code § 13.1-637(B) (2012). The plaintiff, through process servers, attempted to serve the defendant through its registered agent, Walter Ricks.”
Dutan v. Sheet Metal Remodeling, LLC, 48 F. Supp. 3d 860 (E.D. Va. 2014). “See Va.Code § 13.1-637(B). Under Va.Code § 12.”
John Deere Indus. Equip. Co. v. J. W. Wyne Excavating, Inc., 32 Va. Cir. 309 (Spotsylvania Cir. Ct. 1993). “1-634 and § 13.1-637. Thus, in addition to officers and directors, service on the corporation may be by personal service on the registered agent.”
— Va. Code Ann. § 13.1-637(C) — 2 cases
Brown v. Shenandoah Canteen Corp., 51 Va. Cir. 389 (Albemarle Cir. Ct. 2000). “Therefore, the plaintiff served the clerk of the State Corporation Commission which is permitted by § 13.1-637 of the Code. On October 9, 1998, the Plea of the Statute of Limitations was filed by Shenandoah Canteen.”
Hamlett v. Amsouth Bank (4th Cir. 2003). “" See Va. Code § 13.1-637(C) (Lexis Supp. 2002) (stating that provision of the code identifying registered agent as corporation’s agent for service of pro- cess does not prescribe the required means of serving a corporation); id.”
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