Get Ready for a Virginia Small Claims Hearing
A Virginia small claims hearing is an informal trial decided on the first return date. How to organize your evidence, arrange witnesses, and understand the courtroom rules before the hearing.
Rachel Monroe
How Long You Have to Sue in Virginia Small Claims Court
Time limits for filing a small claims case in Virginia depend on the type of claim, five years for written contracts, three for oral, two for personal injury.
Evidence and Witnesses at a Virginia Small Claims Hearing
Virginia general district court hears small claims under suspended rules of evidence. This article covers the documents, witnesses, subpoenas, and exhibits that plaintiffs and defendants bring to the hearing.
Where to File a Virginia Small Claims Case
Where Virginia small claims cases are filed depends on venue rules in Title 8.01 Chapter 5. The proper court is usually the county or city where the defendant lives, where the contract was performed, or where the cause of action arose.
What It Costs to File a Virginia Small Claims Case
The court fee for filing a Virginia small claims civil warrant is $36, with sheriff service billed separately. Both costs are taxed as costs in the case, and an indigent plaintiff can proceed without paying fees under Va. Code § 17.1-606.
Filing a Small Claims Civil Warrant in Virginia
Filing a small claims case in Virginia means filing a civil warrant (form DC-402) at the general district court for the proper venue. The cap is $5,000, and the hearing happens on the first return date, at least five days after service.
Does a Washington Small Claims Judgment Expire?
A small claims judgment in Washington stays enforceable for 10 years from entry. Renewal under RCW 6.17.020 must be filed in the 90 days before the original 10-year period expires.
Writ of Execution: Bank Levies on a Washington Small Claims Judgment
How a Washington small claims judgment creditor uses a writ of garnishment against a bank or a writ of execution against personal property to collect, and what the debtor’s automatic exemptions protect under RCW 6.15.010.
Wage Garnishment After a Washington Small Claims Judgment
How a Washington small claims judgment creditor uses a writ of garnishment to reach a debtor’s wages: the writ procedure, the 60-day continuing lien, and the statutory exemptions under RCW 6.27.
Collecting a Washington Small Claims Judgment
Winning is the easy part. This article walks through how a Washington small claims judgment becomes enforceable, how garnishment and execution work through the district court, and how to record the judgment in superior court for a real-estate lien.
What It Takes to Appeal a Washington Small Claims Judgment
Washington requires a 30-day notice of appeal, the superior court filing fee, and a bond worth twice the judgment. Amount-based limits in RCW 12.40.120 block some appeals before the procedure begins.
When You Can’t Find the Defendant in Washington Small Claims
Washington small claims authorizes only two service methods: personal service and signed certified mail. When the defendant cannot be located, plaintiffs document search efforts and either request a continuance or dismiss without prejudice and refile after the address turns up.