Subject to § 8.01-286.1, when any corporation is operated by a trustee or by a receiver appointed by any court, in any action against such corporation, process may be served on its trustee or receiver; and if there is more than one such trustee or receiver, then service may be on any one of them. In the event that no service of process may be had on any such trustee or receiver, then process may be served by any other mode of service upon corporations authorized by this chapter.
§ 8.01-303.On whom process served when corporation operated by trustee or receiver.
Chapter 8. Process · Article 4. Who to Be Served · Last amended 2005 · Last verified July 16, 2026
In one sentenceSection 8.01-303 lets process against a corporation operated by a court-appointed trustee or receiver be served on that trustee or receiver, or on any one of them if there is more than one, and falls back on any other authorized corporate-service method if no trustee or receiver can be served.
Full Text of § 8.01-303
Plain-English Summary
When a corporation is being run by a trustee or by a court-appointed receiver rather than its usual officers, Section 8.01-303 directs process to that person instead. In any action against the corporation, service may be made on its trustee or receiver, and if there is more than one, service on any single one of them suffices to bind the corporation.
If no trustee or receiver can be reached for service, the section does not leave a plaintiff without recourse. Process may instead be served by any other mode of service upon corporations that this chapter authorizes, meaning the general corporate-service provisions of § 8.01-299 and related sections remain available as a backup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is served when a corporation is in receivership?
Its trustee or receiver, appointed by a court, may be served on behalf of the corporation.
What if there is more than one trustee or receiver?
Service on any one of them is enough to bind the corporation.
What if the trustee or receiver cannot be served?
Process may then be served by any other mode authorized for corporations under this chapter, such as the methods in § 8.01-299.
Does the receiver need to be court-appointed for this section to apply?
Yes, the section applies to a receiver appointed by any court, as well as to a trustee operating the corporation.
Is this section subject to any other statute?
Yes, it is expressly subject to § 8.01-286.1.
Amendment History
Code 1950, § 8-64; 1977, c. 617; 2005, c. 866.
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
Also known as: serving a corporation in receivership virginiaprocess on corporate trustee virginia8.01-303 receiver service of processsuing a company under receivership virginia