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Virginia Small Claims Court

General District Court, Small Claims Division, for claims up to $5,000.

Last checked November 1, 2026

The most you can ask for$5,000
LawyersLawyers not allowed
Time to sue on a contract5 years
Good to know

Not counting interest. Also covers return of personal property worth up to $5,000. The regular General District Court hears larger claims with lawyers allowed. A bill to raise the limit to $25,000 was continued to 2027.

Lawyers: A lawyer can appear only to move the case to regular General District Court, and a company can appear through an owner, officer or employee.

How it works in Virginia

  1. Complete a Warrant in Debt (DC-402) for money, or a Warrant in Detinue (DC-404) to get property back.
  2. File with the General District Court clerk and pay the filing fee and any sheriff’s fee. Ask the clerk which payment types are accepted.
  3. Bring two extra copies. Mail one to the defendant by first-class mail at least 10 days before the first court date and file a Certificate of Mailing (DC-413).
  4. Request any witness subpoenas on form DC-325 at least 10 days before trial.
  5. Represent yourself at the hearing. The defendant can move the case to regular General District Court before the judge decides.

What it costs

Varies by court. The state calculator shows $52 in Fairfax County for a claim over $500, before any sheriff’s fee

How long you have to sue

Written contract5 years
Spoken agreement3 years
Damage to property5 years
Personal injury2 years

Va. Code §§ 8.01-243(A), (B), 8.01-246. These are general limits. The clock can start late, pause or be much shorter, as it is for claims against a government agency.

If you lose

If more than $20 is in dispute, either side can appeal by filing form DC-475 within 10 days of judgment and posting the bond within 30 days, and the circuit court then retries the case formally.

HB 364 (2026) would have allowed small claims up to $25,000, up to twice per calendar year. It was continued to 2027 in House Courts of Justice on 4 February 2026, so the $5,000 limit stands for now. https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB364

Sources

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General information to help you get organized, last checked November 1, 2026. It isn't legal advice, and SueYou isn't a law firm. Laws change and every case is different, so confirm anything important with a lawyer or the court. No lawyer has reviewed this page yet.