Virginia Lawyers & Law Firms

The $5,000 limit (exclusive of interest) applies to the small claims division of the general district court, which shares jurisdiction with the general district court. Parties must represent themselves; a business may appear through an owner, officer or employee (§ 16.1-122.4). The defendant may remove the case to the general district court, which hears claims up to $50,000 exclusive of interest and attorney fees (§ 16.1-77). Claims above $50,000 go to circuit court. The Judicial System self-help site (selfhelp.vacourts.gov/page/11/small-claims) also states $5,000.

The 2-year period applies to "every action for personal injuries, whatever the theory of recovery." Medical-malpractice extensions apply in limited cases (foreign object, fraud or concealment, failure to diagnose cancer), with a 10-year outer limit. Sexual-abuse injury claims have longer periods of 10, 15 or 20 years. Injury to property has a 5-year period.

The mandatory Virginia State Bar (VSB) runs the VLRS, not the voluntary Virginia Bar Association. A $35 non-refundable fee covers a consultation of up to 30 minutes. When checked, the online service was closed for maintenance and the page directed users to phone referrals at (800) 552-7977.