{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/17.1-268.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/17.1-268.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/17.1-268.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/17.1-268.html"}],"law_id":350044,"edition_id":2,"section_id":350044,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-268","catch_line":"Fee for effort to serve when person cannot be found","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 14-107; 1964, c. 386, \u00a7 14.1-96; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 155; 1998, c. 872.","full_text":"Whenever a sheriff is required to serve a declaration in ejectment or an order, notice, summons or other process in a pending civil case and make return thereon and shall after due effort and without fault be unable to locate such person or make service of such process in some method provided by law, the sheriff shall be paid the same fee provided by law for serving an order, notice or other process and making return thereof, to be taxed as other costs. When service is required in a proceeding not pending in a court then the service shall be paid for by the party at whose instance it is had. No fee shall be paid unless the sheriff returns such paper unexecuted and makes and files therewith an affidavit setting forth the fact that he has made diligent effort to execute such paper and without avail.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1304509,"text":"Whenever a sheriff is required to serve a declaration in ejectment or an order, notice, summons or other process in a pending civil case and make return thereon and shall after due effort and without fault be unable to locate such person or make service of such process in some method provided by law, the sheriff shall be paid the same fee provided by law for serving an order, notice or other process and making return thereof, to be taxed as other costs. When service is required in a proceeding not pending in a court then the service shall be paid for by the party at whose instance it is had. No fee shall be paid unless the sheriff returns such paper unexecuted and makes and files therewith an affidavit setting forth the fact that he has made diligent effort to execute such paper and without avail.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":50116,"edition_id":2,"name":"Fees","identifier":"7","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":8,"parent_id":50108,"metadata":{"child_laws":42,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:22:31","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:12","permalink":{"id":1390291,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50116,"identifier":"7","token":"17.1\/2\/7","url":"\/17.1\/2\/7\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50108,"edition_id":2,"name":"Clerks, Clerks' Offices and Records","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":2,"parent_id":50105,"metadata":{"child_laws":125,"child_structures":9},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:22:22","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:10","permalink":{"id":1389963,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50108,"identifier":"2","token":"17.1\/2","url":"\/17.1\/2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50105,"edition_id":2,"name":"Courts of Record","identifier":"17.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":50,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":322,"child_structures":25},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:22:16","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:09","permalink":{"id":1389801,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50105,"identifier":"17.1","token":"17.1","url":"\/17.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":350042,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-266","catch_line":"Services rendered in Commonwealth's cases","url":"\/17.1-266\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-266","metadata":false},{"id":350043,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-267","catch_line":"Services for which clerks may not charge","url":"\/17.1-267\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-267","metadata":false},{"id":350044,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-268","catch_line":"Fee for effort to serve when person cannot be found","url":"\/17.1-268\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-268","metadata":false},{"id":350045,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-269","catch_line":"To whom fees charged","url":"\/17.1-269\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-269","metadata":false},{"id":350046,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-270","catch_line":"Officer to state fees, etc., on affidavit, deposition or report","url":"\/17.1-270\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-270","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":350047,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-271","catch_line":"Deposit of money in bank","url":"\/17.1-271\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-271","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":350048,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-272","catch_line":"Process and service fees generally","url":"\/17.1-272\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-272","metadata":false},{"id":350049,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-273","catch_line":"Establishment and disposition of fees collected by certain high constable","url":"\/17.1-273\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-273","metadata":false},{"id":350050,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-274","catch_line":"Commission on forthcoming bond","url":"\/17.1-274\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-274","metadata":false},{"id":350066,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-275","catch_line":"Fees collected by clerks of circuit courts; generally","url":"\/17.1-275\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-275","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Johnson v. Clerk, Wise County Circuit Court (ORDER)","case_number":"1240012","citation":null,"date":"2024-08-15","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/10041279\/johnson-v-clerk-wise-county-circuit-court-order\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. VIRGINIA: .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"1":{"name":"Hines v. Commonwealth","case_number":"0481021","citation":"576 S.E.2d 781","date":"2003-02-25","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1064344\/hines-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 576 S.E.2d 781 (2003) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":350051,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-275.1","catch_line":"Fixed felony fee","url":"\/17.1-275.1\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-275.1","metadata":false},{"id":350052,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-275.10","catch_line":"Additional fee","url":"\/17.1-275.10\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-275.10","metadata":false},{"id":350053,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-275.11","catch_line":"Additional fee assessed for conviction of certain offenses","url":"\/17.1-275.11\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-275.11","metadata":false},{"id":350054,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-275.11:1","catch_line":"Additional fee assessed for conviction requiring computer analysis","url":"\/17.1-275.11_1\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-275.11_1","metadata":false},{"id":350055,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-275.12","catch_line":"Additional fee for Internet Crimes Against Children Fund","url":"\/17.1-275.12\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-275.12","metadata":false},{"id":350056,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-275.13","catch_line":"Additional fee for offenses related to sex trafficking","url":"\/17.1-275.13\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-275.13","metadata":false},{"id":350057,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-275.14","catch_line":"Additional fee for Virginia State Police Electronic Summons System Fund","url":"\/17.1-275.14\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-275.14","metadata":false},{"id":350058,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-275.2","catch_line":"Fixed fee for felony reduced to misdemeanor","url":"\/17.1-275.2\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-275.2","metadata":false},{"id":350059,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-275.3","catch_line":"Fixed felony revocation fee","url":"\/17.1-275.3\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-275.3","metadata":false},{"id":350060,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-275.4","catch_line":"Fixed misdemeanor reduced from felony revocation fee","url":"\/17.1-275.4\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-275.4","metadata":false},{"id":350061,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-275.5","catch_line":"Amounts to be added; judgment in favor of the Commonwealth","url":"\/17.1-275.5\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-275.5","metadata":false},{"id":350062,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-275.6","catch_line":"Fees collected from court reporter fund","url":"\/17.1-275.6\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-275.6","metadata":false},{"id":350063,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-275.7","catch_line":"Fixed misdemeanor fee","url":"\/17.1-275.7\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-275.7","metadata":false},{"id":350064,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-275.8","catch_line":"Fixed drug misdemeanor fee","url":"\/17.1-275.8\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-275.8","metadata":false},{"id":350065,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-275.9","catch_line":"Fixed misdemeanor revocation fee","url":"\/17.1-275.9\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-275.9","metadata":false},{"id":350067,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-276","catch_line":"Fee allowed for providing secure remote access to land records","url":"\/17.1-276\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-276","metadata":false},{"id":350068,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-277","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/17.1-277\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-277","metadata":false},{"id":350069,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-278","catch_line":"Additional fees in certain courts; use by Virginia State Bar","url":"\/17.1-278\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-278","metadata":false},{"id":350071,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-279","catch_line":"Additional fee to be assessed by circuit court clerks for information technology","url":"\/17.1-279\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-279","metadata":false},{"id":350070,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-279.1","catch_line":"Additional assessment for electronic summons system","url":"\/17.1-279.1\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-279.1","metadata":false},{"id":350072,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-280","catch_line":"What costs chargeable against prosecutor","url":"\/17.1-280\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-280","metadata":false},{"id":350073,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-281","catch_line":"Assessment for courthouse construction, renovation or maintenance","url":"\/17.1-281\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-281","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":350074,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-282","catch_line":"Reserved","url":"\/17.1-282\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-282","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":350075,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-283","catch_line":"Statements required of clerks of courts of record; exceptions","url":"\/17.1-283\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-283","metadata":false},{"id":350076,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-284","catch_line":"How excess payable into state or local treasury determined","url":"\/17.1-284\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-284","metadata":false},{"id":350077,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-285","catch_line":"Payment of excess","url":"\/17.1-285\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-285","metadata":false},{"id":350078,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-286","catch_line":"Disposition of state funds locally collected","url":"\/17.1-286\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-286","metadata":false},{"id":350079,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-287","catch_line":"Salaries of clerks of circuit courts","url":"\/17.1-287\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-287","metadata":false},{"id":350080,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-288","catch_line":"Compensation and expenses of clerks of circuit courts in Cities of Richmond and Newport News","url":"\/17.1-288\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-288","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":350081,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-289","catch_line":"Commission on certain local collections not otherwise provided for","url":"\/17.1-289\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-289","metadata":false},{"id":350082,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-290","catch_line":"Contracts by cities","url":"\/17.1-290\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-290","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":350083,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-291","catch_line":"Penalty for officers","url":"\/17.1-291\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-291","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":350043,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-267","catch_line":"Services for which clerks may not charge","url":"\/17.1-267\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-267","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":350045,"structure_id":50116,"section_number":"17.1-269","catch_line":"To whom fees charged","url":"\/17.1-269\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-269","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/17.1-268\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1964, chapter 386; in 1998, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?981+ful+CHAP0872\">872<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1390301,"object_type":"law","relational_id":350044,"identifier":"17.1-268","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-268","url":"\/17.1-268\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/17.1-268\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-268","dublin_core":{"Title":"Fee for effort to serve when person cannot be found","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 17.1-268","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>Whenever a sheriff is required to serve a declaration in ejectment or an <span class=\"dictionary\">order<\/span>, notice, <span class=\"dictionary\">summons<\/span> or other process in a pending civil case and make return thereon and shall after due effort and without fault be unable to locate such person or make service of such process in some method provided by <span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span>, the sheriff shall be paid the same fee provided by <span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span> for serving an <span class=\"dictionary\">order<\/span>, notice or other process and making return thereof, to be taxed as other costs. When service is required in a proceeding not pending in a <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> then the service shall be paid for by the <span class=\"dictionary\">party<\/span> at whose instance it is had. No fee shall be paid unless the sheriff returns such paper unexecuted and makes and files therewith an <span class=\"dictionary\">affidavit<\/span> setting forth the <span class=\"dictionary\">fact<\/span> that he has made diligent effort to execute such paper and without avail.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nFEE FOR EFFORT TO SERVE WHEN PERSON CANNOT BE FOUND (\u00a7 17.1-268)\n\nWhenever a sheriff is required to serve a declaration in ejectment or an order,\nnotice, summons or other process in a pending civil case and make return thereon\nand shall after due effort and without fault be unable to locate such person or\nmake service of such process in some method provided by law, the sheriff shall\nbe paid the same fee provided by law for serving an order, notice or other\nprocess and making return thereof, to be taxed as other costs. When service is\nrequired in a proceeding not pending in a court then the service shall be paid\nfor by the party at whose instance it is had. No fee shall be paid unless the\nsheriff returns such paper unexecuted and makes and files therewith an affidavit\nsetting forth the fact that he has made diligent effort to execute such paper\nand without avail.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 14-107; 1964, c. 386, \u00a7 14.1-96; 1971, Ex. Sess., c.\n155; 1998, c. 872.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}