Virginia's Address Confidentiality Program shields addresses for domestic violence victims

In observance of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares is urging Virginians impacted by domestic violence, stalking, sexual violence, human trafficking, and child abduction to seek protection under the Address Confidentiality Program.

The program, managed by the Office of the Attorney General’s Victim Services Unit, offers a legal substitute address for survivors, shielding their actual location from public records and abusers.

The ACP provides a confidential mailing address for all first-class mail, legal matters, and government interactions. The Attorney General's Office securely forwards mail to the participant's actual address, ensuring no direct link to their new location. The protection extends to both adults and children under the protection of a parent or guardian enrolled in the program.

“Every survivor in Virginia should know that they are not alone,” Miyares said.

Upon enrollment, participants must notify state and local agencies of their ACP status; those agencies are legally bound to accept the ACP address as the official residential address. The program offers a three-year certification with the option to renew. Participants receive an ACP authorization card as official verification during interactions with government entities.

For details, visit the Office of the Attorney General's website or email or domestic.violence@oag.state.va.us.