"Notarial acts" defined; who may perform notarial acts outside the Commonwealth for use in the Commonwealth
Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-616
in effectA. For the purposes of this article, "notarial acts" means acts that the laws and regulations of the Commonwealth authorize notaries public of the Commonwealth to perform, including the administering of oaths and affirmations, taking proof of execution and acknowledgments of instruments, and attesting documents.
B. Notarial acts may be performed outside the Commonwealth for use in the Commonwealth with the same effect as if performed by a notary public of the Commonwealth by the following persons authorized pursuant to the laws and regulations of other governments in addition to any other person authorized by the laws and regulations of the Commonwealth:
1. A notary public authorized to perform notarial acts in the place in which the notarial act is performed;
2. A judge, clerk, or deputy clerk of any court of record in the place in which the notarial act is performed;
3. An officer of the foreign service of the United States, a consular agent, or any other person authorized by regulation of the U.S. Department of State to perform notarial acts in the place in which the notarial act is performed;
4. A commissioned officer in active service with the Armed Forces of the United States and any other person authorized by regulation of the armed forces to perform notarial acts if the notarial act is performed for one of the following or his dependents: a merchant seaman of the United States, a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, or any other person serving with or accompanying a member of the Armed Forces of the United States; or
5. Any other person authorized to perform notarial acts in the place in which the notarial act is performed.
1970, c. 719, § 55-118.1; 2019, c. 712 .
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/55.1-616/Fetched: 10/16/2026