Va. Code » Title 16.1. Courts Not of Record » Chapter 4.1. District Courts » Article 2. Districts; District Courts and Judges
Virginia Code

Va. Code Ann. § 16.1-69.7 (2026)

District courts

✓ current as of May 2026
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On and after July 1, 1973, in every county and city there shall be one court which shall be called the "________________ (Name of County or City) General District Court" and one court which shall be called the "________________ (Name of County or City) Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court," and for each such court there shall be one or more judges who shall be called the judge of such general district court or juvenile and domestic relations district court as appropriate. Unless the General Assembly specifically so provides to the contrary, however, no general district court shall be established in any city in which there is no municipal court with general civil or criminal jurisdiction in operation prior to July 1, 1973, and jurisdiction previously exercised in such city by a county court shall be vested in the general district court of such county.

1972, c. 708; 1973, c. 546.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 12 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 1999–2024 · leading case: Parrish v. Fed. Nat'l Mortg. Ass'n, 787 S.E.2d 116 (Va. 2016).
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Parrish v. Fed. Nat'l Mortg. Ass'n, 787 S.E.2d 116 (Va. 2016). · cites it 4× “VI, § 8; Code § 16.1-69.7. They are courts of limited jurisdiction and may exercise only such subject matter jurisdiction as has been expressly conferred by statute.”
Gary D. Knight, Jr. v. Howard Ottrix & Kahlilah Ottrix, 820 S.E.2d 411 (Va. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 2× “VI, § 8; Code § 16.1-69.7). “They are courts of limited jurisdiction and may exercise only such subject matter jurisdiction as has been expressly conferred by statute.”
J.M. v. A.A. (Va. Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 2× “12, Virginia’s J&DR courts have “jurisdiction to make an initial child custody determination only if” a case falls within one of four categories.”
J.M. v. A.A. (Va. Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 2× “12, Virginia’s J&DR courts have “jurisdiction to make an initial child custody determination only if” a case falls within one of four categories.”
J.M. v. A.A. (Va. Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 2× “12, Virginia’s J&DR courts have “jurisdiction to make an initial child custody determination only if” a case falls within one of four categories.”
A.A. v. J.M. (Va. Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 2× “12, Virginia’s J&DR courts have “jurisdiction to make an initial child custody determination only if” a case falls within one of four categories.”
Michael R. Agnew v. 1309 Taylors Point Road, LLC (Va. Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 2× “VI, § 8; Code § 16.1-69.7. Likewise, “when exercising its appellate jurisdiction in a de novo appeal, the circuit court’s subject matter jurisdiction is derivative of the court not of record from which that appeal is taken.”
Culpeper Cnty. Dep't of Soc. Servs. v. Vanessa Caison (Va. Ct. App. 2020). “VI, § 8; Code § 16.1-69.7. As such, “[t]hey are courts of limited jurisdiction and may exercise only such subject matter jurisdiction as has been expressly conferred by statute.”
Culpeper Cnty. Dep't of Soc. Servs. v. Vanessa Caison (Va. Ct. App. 2020). “VI, § 8; Code § 16.1-69.7. As such, “[t]hey are courts of limited jurisdiction and may exercise only such subject matter jurisdiction as has been expressly conferred by statute.”
Culpeper Cnty. Dep't of Soc. Servs. v. Vanessa Caison (Va. Ct. App. 2020). “VI, § 8; Code § 16.1-69.7. As such, “[t]hey are courts of limited jurisdiction and may exercise only such subject matter jurisdiction as has been expressly conferred by statute.”
Culpeper Cnty. Dep't of Soc. Servs. v. Vanessa Caison (Va. Ct. App. 2020). “VI, § 8; Code § 16.1-69.7. As such, “[t]hey are courts of limited jurisdiction and may exercise only such subject matter jurisdiction as has been expressly conferred by statute.”
Shirley v. Craig (4th Cir. 1999). “See Va. Code Ann. § 16.1-69.7 , 69.8 (Michie 1996).”
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