2015 Code of Virginia
Title 25.1 - Eminent Domain
§ 25.1-211. Form of notice by publication

A. The form of the notice by publication pursuant to § 25.1-210, to which shall be attached the signature of the clerk, or the deputy clerk for and on behalf of the clerk, shall be substantially as follows:

Virginia: In the (here insert the name of the court)

Name of petitioner

v.At Law ......…

Name of one or more defendants, et al.,

and (......) acres, more or less, of land in

(city or county), Virginia.

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to an order entered on the ..…day of ........, 20 ...., this
notice is hereby given:

In this proceeding the petitioner seeks to acquire by condemnation ...…
(here state the estate, interest, or right to be acquired) to certain pieces
or parcels of land situated in ............(county or city), Virginia, for the
uses and purposes of the petitioner ............(here state briefly the uses
and purposes and nature of the works and improvements to be made), all of
which are described more particularly in the petition and exhibits attached
thereto on file in the office of the clerk of his court, to which reference is
hereby made for a full and accurate description thereof; and for the
appointment of commissioners or the empanelment of a jury to ascertain just
compensation to the owners of any estate or interest in the property to be
taken or affected as a result of the taking and use thereof by the petitioner.

For such purposes, the petitioner will apply to the court, sitting at
......, Virginia, on the ..… day of .........., 20 ...., at ..… o'clock
....m., or as soon thereafter as petitioner may be heard, for the appointment
of commissioners or the empanelment of a jury to ascertain just compensation
as aforesaid.

And it appearing by affidavit filed according to law that the following
owners are not residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia, or their names and
addresses are not known and that diligence has been used by and on behalf of
the petitioner to ascertain such names and addresses without effect: (here set
out the names of such owners or classes of owners and addresses where known),
it is ordered that the aforesaid owners do appear within 10days after due
publication of this order in the clerk's office of the (here insert the name
of the court) and do what is necessary to protect their interests; and it is
further ordered that if any of the above named owners desires to assert any
objection or defense to the taking or damaging of his property or to the
jurisdiction of the court to hear the case and to proceed with the appointment
of commissioners or the empanelment of a jury he shall file his answer and
grounds of defense designating the property in which he claims to be
interested, the grounds of any objection or defense to the taking or damaging
of his property or to the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case and to
proceed with the appointment of commissioners or the empanelment of a jury for
the determination of just compensation. Should any such owner fail to file his
answer and grounds of defense as hereinabove provided, such failure shall not
preclude the owner from appearing on the date set for the appointment of
commissioners or the empanelment of a jury nor from presenting evidence as to
valuation and damage nor from sharing in the award of just compensation
according to his interest therein or otherwise protecting his rights, but such
failure shall preclude such owner from any other defense by way of pleas in
bar, abatement or otherwise.

An extract, Teste:

.........................................................…
Clerk

(Here state name and address of counsel for petitioner)

B. Such notice by publication may also include notice of the petitioner's application for the right of entry as provided in § 25.1-223, whenever such application is included in the petition.

1962, c. 426, § 25-46.11; 1991, c. 520; 2000, c. 1029; 2003, c. 940.