§ 8.01-216.13.Civil investigative demands; service and jurisdiction.

Section 8.01-216.13 governs how a civil investigative demand gets served and how far Virginia courts can reach to enforce it. An investigator, or anyone else authorized to serve process on individuals in the Commonwealth, may serve the demand. When the recipient is not found within Virginia, service follows the same methods the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia or the Code of Virginia prescribe for out-of-state service of process, and Virginia courts retain jurisdiction over that person to the same extent the courts would have if the person were personally within the Commonwealth, so long as exercising that jurisdiction is consistent with due process.

The section then prescribes specific delivery methods. Service on a partnership, corporation, association, or other entity can be made by delivering a copy to a partner, executive officer, managing or general agent, or any agent authorized to receive process; by delivering a copy to the entity’s principal office or place of business; or by certified or registered mail with a return receipt requested, addressed to that office. Service on a natural person can be made by personal delivery or by certified or registered mail with a return receipt requested, addressed to the person’s residence or place of business. Proof of service comes from a verified return describing how service was made, and where service was by mail, the return post office receipt must accompany that return.