VA Code § 25.1-211 (2021)
2021 Code of Virginia|Title 25.1 - Eminent Domain|Chapter 2 - Condemnation Procedures|§ 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 petitionerv.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.