CHAPTER 125

An Act to amend and reenact § 88.1-706 of the Code of Virginia, relating
to Secretary of Commonwealth being appointed attorney for service
of process and the procedure and fees therefor.

rrr Anh wes
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 38.1-706 of the Code of Virginia be amended and reenacted as

ollows:

§ 38.1-706. Secretary of Commonwealth to be appointed attorney
for service of process; procedure thereafter.—Every attorney of a domes-
tic reciprocal insurer who files the declaration required by § 38.1-709, and
every attorney for a foreign or alien reciprocal insurer who applies for a
license to transact insurance in this State, shall likewise file with the
Commission a written power of attorney executed in duplicate by the
attorney appointing the Secretary of the Commonwealth and his successor
in office agent of the reciprocal insurer upon whom may be served all
lawful process against or notice to such insurer, and who shall be author-
ized to enter an appearance in behalf of the insurer. A copy of the power
of attorney, duly certified by the Commission, shall be filed with the
Secretary of the Commonwealth, and copies thereof duly certified by the
Secretary of the Commonwealth shall be received in evidence in all courts
of this State. Whenever any such process or notice shall be served upon
the Secretary of the Commonwealth he shall forthwith mail a copy thereof
to the attorney at his address as shown on the power of attorney filed. The
fees for the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall be * two dollars and fifty
cents for each process served, and may be recovered by the plaintiff as
therein provided. A judgment, decree or order entered by the court against
such reciprocal insurer, after such service or notice, shall be valid and
binding upon it for all purposes. Nothing in this section shall limit or
abridge the right to serve any process or notice upon any reciprocal insurer
in any other manner permitted by law.