Virginia Code

Va. Code Ann. § 16.1-77 (2026)

Civil jurisdiction of general district courts; amending amount of claim

✓ current as of May 2026

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Except as provided in Article 5 (§ 16.1-122.1 et seq.), each general district court shall have, within the limits of the territory it serves, civil jurisdiction as follows:

(1) Exclusive original jurisdiction of any claim to specific personal property or to any debt, fine, or other money, or to damages for breach of contract or for injury done to property, real or personal, or for any action for injury to person, regardless of theory, and any action for wrongful death as provided for in Article 5 (§ 8.01-50 et seq.) of Chapter 3 of Title 8.01 when the amount of such claim does not exceed $4,500, exclusive of interest and any attorney fees, and concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit courts having jurisdiction in such territory of any such claim when the amount thereof exceeds $4,500 but does not exceed $50,000, exclusive of interest and any attorney fees. However, the jurisdictional limit shall not apply with respect to distress warrants under the provisions of § 8.01-130.4, cases involving liquidated damages for violations of vehicle weight limits pursuant to § 46.2-1135, nor cases involving forfeiture of a bond pursuant to § 19.2-143. While a matter is pending in a general district court, upon motion of the plaintiff seeking to increase the amount of the claim, the court shall order transfer of the matter to the circuit court that has jurisdiction over the amended amount of the claim without requiring that the case first be dismissed or that the plaintiff suffer a nonsuit, and the tolling of the applicable statutes of limitations governing the pending matter shall be unaffected by the transfer. Except for good cause shown, no such order of transfer shall issue unless the motion to amend and transfer is made at least 10 days before trial. The plaintiff shall pay filing and other fees as otherwise provided by law to the clerk of the court to which the case is transferred, and such clerk shall process the claim as if it were a new civil action. The plaintiff shall prepare and present the order of transfer to the transferring court for entry, after which time the case shall be removed from the pending docket of the transferring court and the order of transfer placed among its records. The plaintiff shall provide a certified copy of the transfer order to the receiving court.

(2) Jurisdiction to try and decide attachment cases when the amount of the plaintiff's claim does not exceed $50,000, exclusive of interest and any attorney fees.

(3) Jurisdiction of actions of unlawful entry or detainer as provided in Article 13 (§ 8.01-124 et seq.) of Chapter 3 of Title 8.01, and in Chapter 14 (§ 55.1-1400 et seq.) of Title 55.1, and the maximum jurisdictional limits prescribed in subdivision (1) shall not apply to any claim, counter-claim, or cross-claim in an unlawful detainer action that includes a claim for damages sustained or rent against any person obligated on the lease or guarantee of such lease.

(4) Except where otherwise specifically provided, all jurisdiction, power, and authority over any civil action or proceeding conferred upon any general district court judge or magistrate under or by virtue of any provisions of the Code.

(5) Jurisdiction to try and decide suits in interpleader involving personal or real property where the amount of money or value of the property is not more than the maximum jurisdictional limits of the general district court. However, the maximum jurisdictional limits prescribed in subdivision (1) shall not apply to any claim, counter-claim, or cross-claim in an interpleader action that is limited to the disposition of an earnest money deposit pursuant to a real estate purchase contract. The action shall be brought in accordance with the procedures for interpleader as set forth in § 8.01-364. However, the general district court shall not have any power to issue injunctions. Actions in interpleader may be brought by either the stakeholder or any of the claimants. The initial pleading shall be either by motion for judgment, by warrant in debt, or by other uniform court form established by the Supreme Court of Virginia. The initial pleading shall briefly set forth the circumstances of the claim and shall name as defendant all parties in interest who are not parties plaintiff.

(6) Jurisdiction to try and decide any cases pursuant to § 2.2-3713 of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.) or § 2.2-3809 of the Government Data Collection and Dissemination Practices Act (§ 2.2-3800 et seq.), for writs of mandamus or for injunctions.

(7) Jurisdiction to try and decide any cases pursuant to § 55.1-1819 of the Property Owners' Association Act (§ 55.1-1800 et seq.) or § 55.1-1959 of the Virginia Condominium Act (§ 55.1-1900 et seq.).

(8) Concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit courts to submit matters to arbitration pursuant to Chapter 21 (§ 8.01-577 et seq.) of Title 8.01 where the amount in controversy is within the jurisdictional limits of the general district court. Any party that disagrees with an order by a general district court granting an application to compel arbitration may appeal such decision to the circuit court pursuant to § 8.01-581.016.

For purposes of this section, the territory served by a county general district court expressly authorized by statute to be established in a city includes the general district court courtroom.

1956, c. 555; 1968, c. 5; 1973, c. 440; 1978, c. 40; 1981, c. 404; 1983, c. 616; 1987, cc. 87, 93; 1988, c. 799; 1990, cc. 217, 471; 1991, c. 135; 1992, cc. 111, 777; 1995, c. 799; 1997, c. 753; 1998, cc. 482, 495; 1999, cc. 945, 987; 2001, cc. 473, 477; 2002, cc. 200, 506, 645; 2004, cc. 344, 460; 2008, cc. 840, 843; 2009, c. 663; 2010, c. 181; 2011, cc. 14, 76, 372, 378, 702; 2016, c. 181; 2017, c. 657; 2019, cc. 240, 787; 2020, cc. 898, 899; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 199, 463; 2025, c. 338.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 29 cases (6 in the last 5 years), 1966–2026 · 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 28× “Overton Harris, Judge In this appeal, we consider whether a general district court has subject matter jurisdiction under Code §§ 16.1-77(3) and 8.01-126 to adjudicate an action for unlawful detainer when a homeowner challenges the validity of a trustee’s deed after foreclosure,…”

Gilbreath v. Brewster, 463 S.E.2d 836 (Va. 1995). · cites it 2× “Rule 3:8 allows a defendant to plead as a counterclaim any claim, regardless of whether it relates to the original transaction and irrespective of the amount claimed. Although the amount of the counterclaim here was only $50, an amount which, in an independent suit, would place…”

Cartwright v. Commonwealth Transp. Comm'r, 613 S.E.2d 449 (Va. 2005). · cites it 2× “See Code § 16.1-77(6). The statute further provides that "[t]he petition for mandamus.”

Insight Holding Grp., LLC v. Sitnasuak Native Corp., 685 F. Supp. 2d 582 (E.D. Va. 2010). · cites it 3× “See Va.Code §§ 16.1-77 (restricting jurisdiction of general district courts to claims under $15,000), 17.”

Anderson v. Denny, 365 F. Supp. 1254 (W.D. Va. 1973). · cites it 2× “Va.Code Ann. § 16.1-77, as amended, (Supp.”

Conner v. Rose, 471 S.E.2d 478 (Va. 1996). · cites it 2× “This language permits Conner to refile her action in the circuit court because the ad damnum clause in her motion for judgment exceeds the general district court’s jurisdictional limit of $10,000, see Code § 16.1-77. Therefore, the general district court is without jurisdiction…”

Texaco, Inc. v. Runyon, 150 S.E.2d 132 (Va. 1966). · cites it 2× “Section 16.1-77 provides that each court not of record, having jurisdiction of civil matters, shall have, within the limits of the territory it serves, “Exclusive original jurisdiction of any claim * * to any debt * * when the amount of such claim does not exceed three hundred…”

G & G Roofing Co. v. Harris, 5 Va. Cir. 332 (Clarke Cir. Ct. 1986). · cites it 2× “Section 16.1-77(1). In appeals from the General District Court the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court over the case is a jurisdiction derivative from the lower court and limited by the jurisdiction of that court.”

Khan v. Washington, 74 Va. Cir. 95 (Alexandria Cir. Ct. 2007). “1 provides, in pertinent part: In any case where an appeal is taken by a defendant, the circuit court may direct amendments to increase the amount of the claim above the jurisdictional amount set forth in § 16.1-77. This section shall be liberally construed, to the end that…”

Jill Ruderman v. Kathy Pritchard (Va. Ct. App. 2022). · cites it 8× “That statute further expressly authorizes the circuit court to permit an increase in the amount of the claim above the jurisdictional dollar amount of $25,000 set forth in Code § 16.1-77 in “an appeal . . . taken by a defendant.”

Brad Ferrell v. Playfly, LLC (Va. Ct. App. 2026). · cites it 4× “The then-$25,000 jurisdictional limit in the GDC was no impediment to doing so, Playfly argued, because Code § 16.1-77 permitted the district court to transfer the case upon such amendment to the circuit court.”

Bauer-Robertson v. Shiva Fin., LLC (E.D. Va. 2021). · cites it 2× “? Virginia Code § 16.1-77(1). As such, the Court holds that Defendant’s interpretation of the term “small-claims court” to include General District Court did not constitute a false representation of material fact.”

Show all 29 citing cases →

— Va. Code Ann. § 16.1-77(1) — 8 cases

G & G Roofing Co. v. Harris, 5 Va. Cir. 332 (Clarke Cir. Ct. 1986). “Section 16.1-77(1). In appeals from the General District Court the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court over the case is a jurisdiction derivative from the lower court and limited by the jurisdiction of that court.”

Jill Ruderman v. Kathy Pritchard (Va. Ct. App. 2022). “That statute further expressly authorizes the circuit court to permit an increase in the amount of the claim above the jurisdictional dollar amount of $25,000 set forth in Code § 16.1-77 in “an appeal . . . taken by a defendant.”

Bauer-Robertson v. Shiva Fin., LLC (E.D. Va. 2021). “? Virginia Code § 16.1-77(1). As such, the Court holds that Defendant’s interpretation of the term “small-claims court” to include General District Court did not constitute a false representation of material fact.”

Commonwealth v. Mattocks (Va. 2026).

Brad Ferrell v. Playfly, LLC (Va. Ct. App. 2026). “The then-$25,000 jurisdictional limit in the GDC was no impediment to doing so, Playfly argued, because Code § 16.1-77 permitted the district court to transfer the case upon such amendment to the circuit court.”

— Va. Code Ann. § 16.1-77(3) — 4 cases

Parrish v. Fed. Nat'l Mortg. Ass'n, 787 S.E.2d 116 (Va. 2016). “Overton Harris, Judge In this appeal, we consider whether a general district court has subject matter jurisdiction under Code §§ 16.1-77(3) and 8.01-126 to adjudicate an action for unlawful detainer when a homeowner challenges the validity of a trustee’s deed after foreclosure,…”

Bank of New York Mellon v. Nguyen, 80 Va. Cir. 249 (Fairfax Cir. Ct. 2010).

Colonial River Wealth Advisors, LLC v. Revolutionary Lion, LLC (Va. Ct. App. 2024).

Equitable Variable Life Ins. v. Advanced Corp. Servs., Inc., 33 Va. Cir. 95 (Fairfax Cir. Ct. 1993).

— Va. Code Ann. § 16.1-77(6) — 1 case

Cartwright v. Commonwealth Transp. Comm'r, 613 S.E.2d 449 (Va. 2005). “See Code § 16.1-77(6). The statute further provides that "[t]he petition for mandamus.”

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