Responsible for the serving of court papers issued from all Virginia State courts and those processes issued from other states, being served in the City of Virginia Beach. Civil Process is tasked with executing warrants, evictions, repossessions, levies, and sheriff sales. To deliver processes in a timely, efficient manner, the city is divided into 13 zones. One deputy is assigned to each zone, however, two clustered zones are partnered together to aid in continuous service when deputies are on leave. There are 13 deputies, one Captain , one Sergeant, one Master Deputy II, and 8 clerks assigned to Civil Process. To check on how a process was served: send e-mail to: Sergeant Raymond Kowalski  rkowalski@vbso.net or Captain Erin Crean  ecrean@vbso.net. When requesting status of service, please provide the following: Plaintiff name, Defendant name, defendant address, date issued from the court and which court issued it.

Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday (7am to 5pm) Phone Number: (757) 385-6336 (after hours-voice mail- messages answered the following business day) Fax Number: (757) 385-6348 Location: Building 7      Directions (Map)

Important Information Sheriff's Office Sales    Levy Booklet    Eviction Guidelines

Info on Sheriff sales:

Advertising: Advertising of sheriff sales are posted in the lobby of Civil Process, in the lobby of General District Court, at the Farmers Market office, and at the location of sale. Sheriff sales are also advertised on VBTV Channel 48 and on our Web site.

Who may Bid: Anyone may bid at sheriff's sales, except employees and relatives of employees of any constitutional officer in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Bidding procedures: The terms of sale vary from sale to sale. Therefore, it is important the bidder listens carefully when the terms of sale are announced. The following are consistent terms:

• Everything is sold as is; No warranties apply.

• Everything is sold subject to any liens.

• Everything is sold to the highest bidder for cash.

• The property must be removed immediately at the conclusion of the sale.

Therefore, if moving arrangements need to be made, the bidder should give this some thought before bidding.

Any person who bids on property but fails to pay at the conclusion of the sale is liable for any difference if the property resells for a lower amount at another auction.

All bids must be reasonable and the deputy reserves the right to refuse a bid which is considered unreasonable.

Note: There are many reasons a sale could be canceled. Therefore, bidders should call our office at 757-385-6336 the morning of any scheduled sale to inquire if it has been canceled.

Fees for Service of Process:

Fees for service are generally governed by 17.1-272 of the Virginia State code, which are:

A. The fees for process and service in the following instances shall be twelve dollars:

1. For service on any person, firm or corporation, a order, notice, summons or any other civil process, except as herein otherwise provided, and for serving on any person, firm, or corporation any process when the body is not taken and making a return thereof, except that no fees shall be charged for service pursuant to 9-6.14:13 of the Virginia State code. (Administrative agencies. Subpoenas, depositions and requests for admissions. The agency or its designated subordinates shall have power to, and on request for any party to a case shall, issue subpoenas requiring testimony or the production of books, papers, and physical or other evidence.)

2. Summonsing a witness or garnishee on an attachment.

3. Service on any person an attachment or other process under which the body is taken and making a return thereon.

4. Service of any order of court not otherwise provided for, except that no fees shall be charged for protective orders issued pursuant to 16.1-226 of the Virginia State code.  

5. Making a return of a writ of fieri facias when no levy was made or forthcoming bond taken.

6. Summoning a witness in any case in which custody or visitation of a minor child or children is at issue.

B. The fees for process and service in the following instances shall be $25.00

1. Service and publication of any notice of a publicly-advertised public sale.

2. Service of a writ of possession, except that there shall be an additional fee of $12.00 for each additional defendant.

3. Levying upon current money, bank notes, goods or chattels of a judgment debtor pursuant to 8.01-478 of the Virginia State code.

4. Service of a declaration in ejectment of any person, firm or corporation, except that there shall be an additional fee of $12.00 for each additional defendant.

5. Levying distress warrant or an attachment.

6. Levying an execution.

C. The process and service fee for serving any papers returnable out of state, seventy five dollars ($75.00).

Pursuant to Va. Code §17.1-272 as amended...Sheriff and High Constable fees for processes returnable to states outside the Commonwealth of Virginia are to paid in advance, and are as follows:

• $75.00 per entity--corporation, individual

• $75.00 per address where service is to be attempted.

• $75.00 per document served

• $75.00 per case number assigned

• Two persons at one address, $150.00

• One person at two different addresses $150.00

• $5.00 Notary fee effective July 1, 2005 Virginia Code § 47.1-19

• Service will be 'IN HAND' ONLY, unless substitute service is authorized by you.

Our Tax ID number is 540722061

**Please note that the Virginia Code makes no distinction for the type of process served, nor the respective courts to which they are returnable when they are returnable to states outside our Commonwealth. “For serving any paper returnable out of state, seventy five dollars.”

The fees shall be allowable for services provided by such officer in the circuit and district courts. (17.1-272 of the Virginia State code)

Out of State Services (those coming from another state which are being served in Virginia Beach):

To reduce postage costs, it is not necessary that we have a full set of the process for our office copy. We make a copy of the first process for our records. When mailing your papers for service, please include a cover letter indicating to where the affidavit of service should be returned. If you would like your affidavit of service completed, please indicate so. Otherwise, we will use our affidavit of service. If you have special instructions on service, or information detrimental to obtaining service, please spell that out in your letter. Of course, if you feel the individual may avoid service, a photograph is helpful but not mandatory. The fee for out of state services is $75.00 per person, per address, effective July 1, 2004.