General District Court
General District Court
About
There is a general district court in each city and county in Virginia. The general district court handles traffic violations, hears minor criminal cases known as misdemeanors, and conducts preliminary hearings for more serious criminal cases called felonies.
General district courts have exclusive authority to hear civil cases with claims of $4,500 or less and share authority with the circuit courts to hear cases with claims between $4,500 and $25,000. Examples of civil cases are landlord and tenant disputes, contract disputes and personal injury actions. See the General District Courts Informational Pamphlet for more information.
Contact Information
- All District Courts
- Individual General District Court Homepages
- Map of Virginia's Judicial Circuits and Districts
Case Status and Information
- General District Court Case Information
Online access to the case management system for general district courts. Cases may be searched using name, case number, or hearing date. - General District Court Civil Filing Fee Calculation
Calculates the fee to file a civil action in general district court by locality
Pay Traffic Tickets and Other Offenses
Programs
- Assistance with Protective Orders (I-CAN!)
- Drug Treatment Courts
- Foreign Language Services
- Mediation
Manuals
- Court-Appointed Counsel Procedures & Guidelines Manual
- Court-Appointed Counsel Eligibility
- District Court Forms Manual
- District Court Judges’ Benchbook
- General District Court Manual
Resources and Reference Materials
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Provides basic information about the requirements of the ADA as they pertain to Virginia’s Judicial System, including how to request an accommodation. - Code of Virginia
- Commonwealth of Virginia Agency Web sites
- General District Courts Informational Pamphlet
- Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia
- Small Claims Court Procedures
- Virginia Courthouse Facility Guidelines