Step One:
File suit with appropriate Virginia court
Step Three:
Complete affidavit
Step Four:
Submit payment (online or mail with documents)
Step Five:
Mail hard copies of all documents to be served to the office of the secretary of the commonwealth
Service of Process
Virginians who have incurred financial loss and are pursuing civil remedies through the judicial system may request service through the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. The Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Service of Process Department will then serve notice of pending litigation to the defendant via certified mail.
Requests for service may be submitted either electronically via the online portal or via mail. Hard copies of all paperwork to be served must be received in the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth at least 10 business days prior to the court date, whether submitting requests for service electronically via the online portal below or via mail. Requests for service are then processed within ten business days of the court date.
A fee of $28 is required for each service. Payment can be submitted by credit card via the online portal below (Visa, Discover, MasterCard, American Express) or by mail via check or money order (Made Payable to: The Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Attn: Service of Process).
Hard copies of all documents to be served must be mailed to the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, whether requesting service via the online portal or through mail.
- 3 copies of the Affidavit
- Circuit Court Service of Process Affidavit Form (pdf, 17 k)
- or
- District Court Service of Process Affidavit Form (pdf, 123 k)
- 1 copy of papers being served
- 1 envelope addressed to the person/business being served, returnable to the plaintiff
- 1 self-addressed stamped envelope, returnable to plaintiff (for receipt of service) — not applicable if paperwork is mailed to our office via certified mail (your green card acts as your receipt.)
- 1 certified mail card (green), also addressed to the person/business being served, returnable to the plaintiff
- A check or money order for $28.00 per person/business being served. If it is a couple, two separate sets of papers are required.
Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth
Service of Process Department
Post Office Box 2452
Richmond, Virginia 23218-2452
If you are unable to take advantage of the online portal, please follow the steps below.
- File suit with appropriate Virginia court
- Download and complete affidavit
- Mail hard copies of all documents to be served and payment (check or money order) to the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth