Chap. 259.—An ACT to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a new section
numbered 276-a, providing for the performance of certain notarial acts by or
before certain commissioned officers in the armed forces of the United States.
and validating certain notarial acts heretofore done or performed. {S 240]

Approved March 16, 1944

Be it enacted hy the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. Section 276-a. (a) Any affidavit, oath, verification or other
notarial action, excepting acknowledgments or other such acts
provided for by section fifty-two hundred five-a of the Code, may be
done or performed by or before any commissioned officer in active
service with the armed forces of the United States with the rank of
second lieutenant or higher in the army or marine corps, or with the
rank of ensign or higher in the navy or coast guard, or with equivalent
rank in any other component part of the armed forces of the United
States, by any person who either is (1) a member of the armed forces
of the United States, or (2) serving as a merchant seaman outside the
limits of the United States included within the forty-eight states and
the District of Columbia, or (3) outside such limits by permission,
assignment or direction of any department or official of the United States
Government in connection with any activity pertaining to prosecution of
the war in which the United States is then engaged.

(b) Every such notarial act done or performed under the provisions
of this section or validated thereby, shall have the same force and effect
as if duly done or performed within this State before or by a notary
public or other officer otherwise authorized by law to do or perform
similar acts.

(c) The certificate of any such notarial act must be in writing
upon or attached to the subject matter to which it refers, must contain
all the substantial requirements of law, except that the place where
such act is done or performed need not be shown.

(d) If the signature, rank and branch of service or subdivision
thereof of any such commissioned officer appear upon any instrument,
document or certificate as authorized herein, no further proof of the
authority of such officer so to act shall be required, and such notarial act
shall be prima facie valid and effective.

(e) Every notarial act heretofore done or performed in such man-
ner as to substantially conform to the provisions of this act is validated
to the extent such act would have been valid and effective if done or
performed after the effective date of this act, provided that no inter-
vening rights have vested.

(f{) This act shall remain in effect until July first, nineteen hundred
forty-six, and shall thereafter be no longer in force.

2. An emergency exists and this act is in force from its passage.