# Va. Sup. Ct. R. 3A:4: Rule 3A:4. Arrest Warrant or Summons

> Virginia · Court rules · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_VA_P3A_R3A_4

## Section

- **Citation:** Va. Sup. Ct. R. 3A:4
- **Heading:** Rule 3A:4. Arrest Warrant or Summons
- **Jurisdiction:** Virginia
- **Kind:** Court rules
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia / Criminal Practice And Procedure / Part 3A - Criminal Practice And Procedure / Va. Sup. Ct. R. 3A:4

## Text

(a) Issuance. — More than one warrant or summons may issue on the same
complaint. A warrant may be issued by a judicial officer if the accused fails to appear in
response to a summons.

(b) Form of Summons. — A summons, whether issued by a magistrate or a law-
enforcement officer, must command the accused to appear at a stated time and place
before a court of appropriate jurisdiction in the county, city or town in which the
summons is issued. It must (i) state the name of the accused or, if his name is unknown,
set forth a description by which he can be identified with reasonable certainty, (ii)
describe the offense charged and state whether the offense is a violation of state, county,
city or town law, and (iii) be signed by the magistrate or the law-enforcement office, as
the case may be.

(c) Execution and Return. — If a warrant has been issued but the officer does not
have the warrant in his possession at the time of the arrest, he must (i) inform the accused
of the offense charged and that a warrant has been issued, and (ii) deliver a copy of the
warrant to the accused as soon thereafter as practicable.

PART THREE A
CRIMINAL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE

## Nearby sections

- [Va. Sup. Ct. R. 3A:1 Rule 3A:1. Scope](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_VA_P3A_R3A_1.md)
- [Va. Sup. Ct. R. 3A:2 Rule 3A:2. Purpose and Interpretation; Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_VA_P3A_R3A_2.md)
- [Va. Sup. Ct. R. 3A:2.1 Rule 3A:2.1. Venue in Criminal Cases](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_VA_P3A_R3A_2_1.md)
- [Va. Sup. Ct. R. 3A:3 Rule 3A:3. The Complaint](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_VA_P3A_R3A_3.md)
- [Va. Sup. Ct. R. 3A:4 Rule 3A:4. Arrest Warrant or Summons](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_VA_P3A_R3A_4.md)
- [Va. Sup. Ct. R. 3A:5 Rule 3A:5. The Grand Jury](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_VA_P3A_R3A_5.md)
- [Va. Sup. Ct. R. 3A:6 Rule 3A:6. The Indictment and the Information](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_VA_P3A_R3A_6.md)
- [Va. Sup. Ct. R. 3A:7 Rule 3A:7. Capias or Summons Upon Indictment or Information](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_VA_P3A_R3A_7.md)
- [Va. Sup. Ct. R. 3A:8 Rule 3A:8. Pleas](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_VA_P3A_R3A_8.md)
- [Va. Sup. Ct. R. 3A:9 Rule 3A:9. Pleadings and Motions for Trial; Defenses and Objections](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_VA_P3A_R3A_9.md)
- [Va. Sup. Ct. R. 3A:10 Rule 3A:10. Trial Together of More Than One Accused or More Than One](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_VA_P3A_R3A_10.md)
- [Va. Sup. Ct. R. 3A:11 Rule 3A:11. Discovery and Inspection](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_VA_P3A_R3A_11.md)
- [Va. Sup. Ct. R. 3A:12 Rule 3A:12. Subpoena](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_VA_P3A_R3A_12.md)
- [Va. Sup. Ct. R. 3A:13 Rule 3A:13. Trial by Jury or by Court](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_VA_P3A_R3A_13.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_VA_P3A_R3A_4. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.