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VA State Guide

Virginia Small Claims Court

Small Claims Court (General District Court)

$5,000
Maximum Claim
$40 - $75
Filing Fees
30-60 days
Timeline
In-person
Hearing Format

Court Information

Court Name

Small Claims Court (General District Court)

Attorneys

Allowed

Appeal Rights

Appeal to Circuit Court within 10 days

Court Website

https://www.vacourts.gov

Statute of Limitations

5 years
Written Contracts
3 years
Oral Contracts
5 years
Property Damage

Unique Rules in Virginia

No discovery in small claims
Simplified evidence rules

How to File in Virginia

1

Determine if your case qualifies for small claims court

2

Send a demand letter to the other party

3

File your claim at the correct courthouse

4

Serve the defendant with the lawsuit

5

Prepare your evidence and presentation

6

Attend the hearing and present your case

Amendment Filing Fees in Virginia

Amendment Fee Range

Amendment fees in Virginia typically range from $15-$50, depending on the court and type of amendment.

Important Note
Contact your local court clerk for exact amendment fees, as they vary by jurisdiction.

When Amendments Are Allowed

Before the defendant is served
To correct clerical errors or add necessary details
With court permission after service
Cannot increase claim amount beyond court limits

Common Amendment Types

Correct Defendant Name
Fix misspellings or add proper legal names
Add Damages
Include additional damages discovered later
Clarify Facts
Provide clearer description of the dispute

State-Specific Resources

Additional guides and information for Virginia small claims cases

Complete Small Claims Guide

Comprehensive guide to filing, preparing, and winning your small claims court case nationwide.

Demand Letter Templates

Free templates and examples for writing effective demand letters before filing your case.

Frequently Asked Questions

The maximum you can sue for in Virginia small claims court is $5,000.

Filing fees in Virginia range from $40 - $75, depending on the claim amount.

Yes, attorneys are allowed to represent parties in Virginia small claims court.

From filing to hearing typically takes 30-60 days in Virginia.

Appeal to Circuit Court within 10 days

Counties We Serve in Virginia

Find small claims court information for your county

Fairfax County

Population: 1,150,309
Max claim: $5,000

Prince William County

Population: 482,204
Max claim: $5,000

Virginia Beach city

Population: 459,470
Max claim: $5,000

Loudoun County

Population: 420,959
Max claim: $5,000

Chesterfield County

Population: 364,548
Max claim: $5,000

Henrico County

Population: 334,389
Max claim: $5,000

Chesapeake city

Population: 249,422
Max claim: $5,000

Arlington County

Population: 238,643
Max claim: $5,000

Norfolk city

Population: 238,005
Max claim: $5,000

Richmond city

Population: 226,610
Max claim: $5,000
View all 133 counties

All 133 Counties in Virginia

Accomack County Albemarle County Alexandria city Alleghany County Amelia County Amherst County Appomattox County Arlington County Augusta County Bath County Bedford County Bland County Botetourt County Bristol city Brunswick County Buchanan County Buckingham County Buena Vista city Campbell County Caroline County Carroll County Charles City County Charlotte County Charlottesville city Chesapeake city Chesterfield County Clarke County Colonial Heights city Covington city Craig County Culpeper County Cumberland County Danville city Dickenson County Dinwiddie County Emporia city Essex County Fairfax city Fairfax County Falls Church city Fauquier County Floyd County Fluvanna County Franklin city Franklin County Frederick County Fredericksburg city Galax city Giles County Gloucester County Goochland County Grayson County Greene County Greensville County Halifax County Hampton city Hanover County Harrisonburg city Henrico County Henry County Highland County Hopewell city Isle of Wight County James City County King and Queen County King George County King William County Lancaster County Lee County Lexington city Loudoun County Louisa County Lunenburg County Lynchburg city Madison County Manassas city Manassas Park city Martinsville city Mathews County Mecklenburg County Middlesex County Montgomery County Nelson County New Kent County Newport News city Norfolk city Northampton County Northumberland County Norton city Nottoway County Orange County Page County Patrick County Petersburg city Pittsylvania County Poquoson city Portsmouth city Powhatan County Prince Edward County Prince George County Prince William County Pulaski County Radford city Rappahannock County Richmond city Richmond County Roanoke city Roanoke County Rockbridge County Rockingham County Russell County Salem city Scott County Shenandoah County Smyth County Southampton County Spotsylvania County Stafford County Staunton city Suffolk city Surry County Sussex County Tazewell County Virginia Beach city Warren County Washington County Waynesboro city Westmoreland County Williamsburg city Winchester city Wise County Wythe County York County

State-Specific Resources

Additional guides and information for Virginia small claims cases

Complete Small Claims Guide

Comprehensive guide to filing, preparing, and winning your small claims court case nationwide.

Demand Letter Templates

Free templates and examples for writing effective demand letters before filing your case.

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