Which Virginia court hears your civil case
Civil jurisdiction thresholds with statutory authority. Source: 1Court Directory, verified 2026-08-20 (official source).
| Tier | Court | Amount in controversy | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small claims | General District Court: Small Claims Division | Up to $5,000 | Va. Code § 16.1-122.2 |
| Limited civil | General District Court Exclusive at or below $4,500; concurrent with Circuit above $4,500 to $25,000. | Up to $25,000 | Va. Code § 16.1-77 |
| General civil | Circuit Court Over $25,000. | No limit | Va. Code § 17.1-513 |
Answer deadline after service
A defendant generally has 21 days after service of the summons and complaint to file an answer (Va. Sup. Ct. R. 3:8).
Estimates from the statutory answer period; service-method extensions and local rules can change these dates. Verify before relying on them. Not legal advice.
19 Virginia forms SimpleCase prepares
Generated from your uploaded complaint, with captions and terminology matched to Virginia practice. Every document is a draft for attorney review.
- Notice of Appearance(pattern) Appearance of counsel; service on undersigned requested
- Motion for Continuance(pattern) Good-cause continuance with proposed order
- Notice of Deposition(pattern) Oral deposition with optional duces tecum; recording method per rule
- Civil Subpoena(pattern) Testimony and/or production (duces tecum); issuance and witness-fee rules vary
- Answer(pattern) Responsive pleading: denials and affirmative defenses
- Satisfaction of Judgment(pattern) acknowledgment of satisfaction for entry on the docket
- Proof of Service by MailProof of service by first-class mail: VA
- Civil Cover Sheet (CC-1416)VA civil cover sheet: required in Circuit Court
- SummonsVa. Code § 8.01-296: 21-day answer
- Petition to Proceed Without Payment of Fees or Costs(pattern) Va. Code § 17.1-606: form CC-1414 pattern; in forma pauperis
- Motion for Default JudgmentVa. Code § 8.01-428: failure to respond within 21 days
- Affidavit of Military StatusVa. Code § 8.01-15.2 / SCRA: mandatory for all defaults
- Affidavit of Amount DueSum certain computation for default judgment
- Default Judgment OrderProposed order for judge signature
- Nonsuit / Voluntary DismissalVa. Code § 8.01-380: nonsuit of right before verdict
- Writ of Fieri FaciasVa. Code § 8.01-466: execution on personal property
- Suggestion for Summons in GarnishmentVa. Code § 8.01-511: VA's unique garnishment process
- Summons to Answer InterrogatoriesVa. Code § 8.01-506: post-judgment debtor examination
- Abstract of JudgmentVa. Code § 8.01-449: creates lien on debtor's real property
Filing packages
One click assembles the forms a Virginia matter typically needs at each stage.
General Civil
Civil Cover Sheet (CC-1416) · Summons · Proof of Service by Mail
Collections: File & Serve
Civil Cover Sheet (CC-1416) · Summons
Collections: Default Judgment
Motion for Default Judgment · Affidavit of Military Status · Affidavit of Amount Due · Default Judgment Order
Collections: Enforce Judgment
Satisfaction of Judgment · Writ of Fieri Facias · Suggestion for Summons in Garnishment · Summons to Answer Interrogatories · Abstract of Judgment
Nonsuit
Nonsuit / Voluntary Dismissal
County-level court details
Filing fees, clerk contacts, e-filing portals, and courthouse addresses for every Virginia county are in the 1Court Directory: Virginia.
How it works
Upload your case document
PDF, Word, image, or text. SimpleCase extracts parties, claims, amounts, and dates.
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Every required form, filled and assembled as a ZIP, ready for attorney review and filing.
Turn a complaint into a filing-ready case
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Try SimpleCase freeSimpleCase prepares document drafts for attorney review; it is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by using it. Court data on this page is sourced from the 1Court Directory with the verification date shown, and statutes and court rules change: always confirm current requirements, deadlines, and fees with the clerk of the court before filing.