The writ and a copy of the petition attached thereto may be directed to the sheriff of any county or city and shall be served as in other actions.
§ 8.01-639.How summons directed and served.
Chapter 25. Extraordinary Writs · Article 1. Writ of Quo Warranto · Last amended 1977 · Last verified July 16, 2026
In one sentenceSection 8.01-639 lets a quo warranto writ and the attached petition be directed to the sheriff of any Virginia county or city, with service carried out the same way as service in other civil actions.
Full Text of § 8.01-639
Plain-English Summary
This section keeps quo warranto service simple. The writ, along with a copy of the petition attached to it, can be directed to the sheriff of any county or city — the statute does not limit service to a sheriff tied to any particular jurisdiction over the defendant.
Once directed, service follows the same rules that apply in other actions, so there is no separate, specialized quo warranto service procedure to learn beyond Virginia’s ordinary process rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can the writ be directed to for service?
The sheriff of any county or city.
What must be served along with the writ?
A copy of the petition attached to it.
What standard governs how service is carried out?
The same manner as service in other actions.
Does this section limit which jurisdiction’s sheriff must serve the writ?
No — it may be directed to the sheriff of any county or city.
Does this section create a special quo warranto service method?
No — it incorporates the general rules governing service in other actions rather than a separate procedure.
Amendment History
Code 1950, § 8-861; 1977, c. 617.
Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Code of Virginia, published by the
Code of Virginia, Virginia Division of Legislative Automated Systems. Last verified July 16, 2026.
· Official source
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