In the Virginia General District Court, the summons is referred to as either a "warrant" or as a "notice of motion for judgment" depending on the kind of case brought.
As in federal court, the plaintiff may seek a waiver of service by mailing the defendant two copies a request to waive service of process along with a form provided by the court, and a prepaid envelope for return delivery.
Virginia has a number of alternatives for service of process, statutorily ordered by preference.
First, substituted service may be delivered to the usual place of abode of the party, so long as the person receiving it is: If no person is available to accept delivery of service, then it may simply be posted on the party's front door (or whichever door appears to be the main entrance).
Where service is effected by posting in this manner, the plaintiff must then also mail a copy of the process to the defendant and certify the same to the clerk of the court at least ten days in advance of the issuance of a default judgment.
Because the party's last known address will be accepted by the court as their "usual place of abode", a renter who has skipped out on the rent will deemed effectively served even if the notice is posted on, and mailed to, the apartment which that person has abandoned.