What does Virginia call proof of service?
Sheriff return or affidavit
Document Guides
Virginia private-server return
The 72-hour return and the private-server annotation are the Virginia facts. The word affidavit does not name an oath officer in section 8.01-325.
iRemoteNotary Editorial Team
Published and reviewed by iRemoteNotary
Last reviewed October 7, 2026
Quick Answer
What proof does Virginia use, and does it explicitly require a notary?
Sheriff return or affidavit. The 72-hour return and the private-server annotation are the Virginia facts. The word affidavit does not name an oath officer in section 8.01-325.
Do not assume a notary is required from the document title. Send the unsigned page if the signature block is unclear.
Proof at a glance
| Question | This jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Proof name | Sheriff return or affidavit |
| Private server | Affidavit plus annotation |
| Officer | Supreme Court sheriff return |
| Traditional notary explicit? | No |
| Perjury alternative? | No |
| Recipient acceptance of remote notarization | No express recipient-acceptance source was identified in the official materials reviewed. |
Current controlling rule
Virginia proof is controlled, for this guide, by Va. Code § 8.01-325. The 72-hour return and the private-server annotation are the Virginia facts. The word affidavit does not name an oath officer in section 8.01-325.
No single effective date is stored beyond the source that was reviewed on October 7, 2026.
What this jurisdiction calls the proof
The opened materials call it: Sheriff return or affidavit. Classification used in the authority record: affidavit admin officer not specified.
Private process server
Any other qualified person files an affidavit of qualifications, date, manner, and the name of the party served, plus a private-server annotation and the server's name, address, and telephone number. No declaration alternative was found in this section.
Sheriff, officer, or other listed server
A sheriff uses the Supreme Court return form.
Is an oath or notary explicitly required?
The controlling proof sentence reviewed here does not name a notary or other oath officer.
No penalty-of-perjury alternative was identified for this proof path.
Fields the server has to complete
- Qualifications
- Date and manner
- Name of the party served
- Private-server annotation
- Name, address, and telephone number
Filing or service timing
Within 72 hours. A weekend or holiday carries to the next day.
Remote online notarization and court acceptance
No express recipient-acceptance source was identified in the official materials reviewed.
Remote online notarization is performed under the law of the online notary's commissioning state. When the commission is a Florida commission, Florida's remote online notarization statute governs the notarial act. The court or other recipient still decides whether to accept the return.
If the page is only a declaration, certificate, or signed return, do not add a notary certificate.
Send the unsigned proof
Not sure whether your exact proof or return requires a notarial act? Send the unsigned document for review before scheduling.
What to send iRemoteNotary
- The unsigned proof, return, or affidavit
- The court, and that the case is connected to Virginia
- The form number and revision if one is printed
- Whether the signature block is a jurat or a perjury declaration
Send the unsigned proof
Not sure whether your exact proof or return requires a notarial act? Send the unsigned document for review before scheduling.
Process-serving companies and law firms
A coordinator can submit the request. The signer is the person named on the certificate. There is no organization account, dashboard, volume price, or court-filing service.
One signer and one notarization is $25 domestically. Each additional notarization is $15. An additional signer is $10. A witness is $15. An international session coordination fee of $25 applies when a signer is outside the United States. An international session commonly starts at $50 for one signer and one notarization.
Send the unsigned proof
Not sure whether your exact proof or return requires a notarial act? Send the unsigned document for review before scheduling.
Frequently asked questions
Does a sheriff or officer use the same signature block?
A sheriff uses the Supreme Court return form.
Is a penalty-of-perjury declaration an alternative?
No alternative of that kind was identified for this proof path.
Did the official materials expressly accept remote notarization of the proof?
No express recipient-acceptance source was identified in the official materials reviewed.
Related pages
Sources and Official References
The following primary sources support the legal and procedural information in this guide. Requirements can change, so confirm current rules with the receiving organization before relying on a notarized document.
Code of Virginia § 8.01-325(opens in a new tab)
Virginia
Accessed October 7, 2026
Send the unsigned page
Not sure whether your exact proof or return requires a notarial act? Send the unsigned document for review before scheduling.