§ 16.1-77. Civil jurisdiction of general district courts.
Except as provided in Article 5 (§ 16.1-122.1 et seq.) of this chapter, eachgeneral district court shall have, within the limits of the territory itserves, civil jurisdiction as follows:
(1) Exclusive original jurisdiction of any claim to specific personalproperty or to any debt, fine or other money, or to damages for breach ofcontract or for injury done to property, real or personal, or for any injuryto the person that would be recoverable by action at law or suit in equity,when the amount of such claim does not exceed $4,500 exclusive of interestand any attorney's fees contracted for in the instrument, and concurrentjurisdiction with the circuit courts having jurisdiction in such territory ofany such claim when the amount thereof exceeds $4,500 but does not exceed$15,000, exclusive of interest and any attorney's fees contracted for in theinstrument. However, this $15,000 limit shall not apply with respect todistress warrants under the provisions of § 55-230, cases involvingliquidated damages for violations of vehicle weight limits pursuant to §46.2-1135, nor cases involving forfeiture of a bond pursuant to § 19.2-143.
(2) Jurisdiction to try and decide attachment cases when the amount of theplaintiff's claim does not exceed $15,000 exclusive of interest and anyattorney's fees contracted for in the instrument.
(3) Jurisdiction of actions of unlawful entry or detainer as provided inArticle 13 (§ 8.01-124 et seq.) of Chapter 3 of Title 8.01, and in Chapter 13(§ 55-217 et seq.) of Title 55, and the maximum jurisdictional limitsprescribed in subdivision (1) shall not apply to any claim, counter-claim orcross-claim in an unlawful detainer action that includes a claim for damagessustained or rent against any person obligated on the lease proved to beowing where the premises were used by the occupant primarily for business,commercial or agricultural purposes. Any counter-claim or cross-claim shallarise out of the same use of the property for business, commercial oragricultural purposes.
(4) Except where otherwise specifically provided, all jurisdiction, power andauthority over any civil action or proceeding conferred upon any generaldistrict court judge or magistrate under or by virtue of any provisions ofthe Code of Virginia.
(5) Jurisdiction to try and decide suits in interpleader involving personalor real property where the amount of money or value of the property is notmore 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 aninterpleader action that is limited to the disposition of an earnest moneydeposit pursuant to a real estate purchase contract. The action shall bebrought in accordance with the procedures for interpleader as set forth in §8.01-364. However, the general district court shall not have any power toissue injunctions. Actions in interpleader may be brought by either thestakeholder or any of the claimants. The initial pleading shall be either bymotion for judgment, by warrant in debt, or by other uniform court formestablished by the Supreme Court of Virginia. The initial pleading shallbriefly set forth the circumstances of the claim and shall name as defendantall parties in interest who are not parties plaintiff.
(6) Jurisdiction to try and decide any cases pursuant to § 2.2-3713 of theVirginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.) or § 2.2-3809 of theGovernment Data Collection and Dissemination Practices Act, for writs ofmandamus or for injunctions.
(7) Concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit courts having jurisdiction insuch territory to adjudicate habitual offenders pursuant to the provisions ofArticle 9 (§ 46.2-355.1 et seq.) of Chapter 3 of Title 46.2.
(8) Jurisdiction to try and decide cases alleging a civil violation describedin § 18.2-76.
(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.)
§ 16.1-77. Civil jurisdiction of general district courts.
Except as provided in Article 5 (§ 16.1-122.1 et seq.) of this chapter, eachgeneral district court shall have, within the limits of the territory itserves, civil jurisdiction as follows:
(1) Exclusive original jurisdiction of any claim to specific personalproperty or to any debt, fine or other money, or to damages for breach ofcontract or for injury done to property, real or personal, or for any injuryto the person that would be recoverable by action at law or suit in equity,when the amount of such claim does not exceed $4,500 exclusive of interestand any attorney's fees contracted for in the instrument, and concurrentjurisdiction with the circuit courts having jurisdiction in such territory ofany such claim when the amount thereof exceeds $4,500 but does not exceed$15,000, exclusive of interest and any attorney's fees contracted for in theinstrument. However, this $15,000 limit shall not apply with respect todistress warrants under the provisions of § 55-230, cases involvingliquidated damages for violations of vehicle weight limits pursuant to §46.2-1135, nor cases involving forfeiture of a bond pursuant to § 19.2-143.
(2) Jurisdiction to try and decide attachment cases when the amount of theplaintiff's claim does not exceed $15,000 exclusive of interest and anyattorney's fees contracted for in the instrument.
(3) Jurisdiction of actions of unlawful entry or detainer as provided inArticle 13 (§ 8.01-124 et seq.) of Chapter 3 of Title 8.01, and in Chapter 13(§ 55-217 et seq.) of Title 55, and the maximum jurisdictional limitsprescribed in subdivision (1) shall not apply to any claim, counter-claim orcross-claim in an unlawful detainer action that includes a claim for damagessustained or rent against any person obligated on the lease proved to beowing where the premises were used by the occupant primarily for business,commercial or agricultural purposes. Any counter-claim or cross-claim shallarise out of the same use of the property for business, commercial oragricultural purposes.
(4) Except where otherwise specifically provided, all jurisdiction, power andauthority over any civil action or proceeding conferred upon any generaldistrict court judge or magistrate under or by virtue of any provisions ofthe Code of Virginia.
(5) Jurisdiction to try and decide suits in interpleader involving personalor real property where the amount of money or value of the property is notmore 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 aninterpleader action that is limited to the disposition of an earnest moneydeposit pursuant to a real estate purchase contract. The action shall bebrought in accordance with the procedures for interpleader as set forth in §8.01-364. However, the general district court shall not have any power toissue injunctions. Actions in interpleader may be brought by either thestakeholder or any of the claimants. The initial pleading shall be either bymotion for judgment, by warrant in debt, or by other uniform court formestablished by the Supreme Court of Virginia. The initial pleading shallbriefly set forth the circumstances of the claim and shall name as defendantall parties in interest who are not parties plaintiff.
(6) Jurisdiction to try and decide any cases pursuant to § 2.2-3713 of theVirginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.) or § 2.2-3809 of theGovernment Data Collection and Dissemination Practices Act, for writs ofmandamus or for injunctions.
(7) Concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit courts having jurisdiction insuch territory to adjudicate habitual offenders pursuant to the provisions ofArticle 9 (§ 46.2-355.1 et seq.) of Chapter 3 of Title 46.2.
(8) Jurisdiction to try and decide cases alleging a civil violation describedin § 18.2-76.
(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.)
§ 16.1-77. Civil jurisdiction of general district courts.
Except as provided in Article 5 (§ 16.1-122.1 et seq.) of this chapter, eachgeneral district court shall have, within the limits of the territory itserves, civil jurisdiction as follows:
(1) Exclusive original jurisdiction of any claim to specific personalproperty or to any debt, fine or other money, or to damages for breach ofcontract or for injury done to property, real or personal, or for any injuryto the person that would be recoverable by action at law or suit in equity,when the amount of such claim does not exceed $4,500 exclusive of interestand any attorney's fees contracted for in the instrument, and concurrentjurisdiction with the circuit courts having jurisdiction in such territory ofany such claim when the amount thereof exceeds $4,500 but does not exceed$15,000, exclusive of interest and any attorney's fees contracted for in theinstrument. However, this $15,000 limit shall not apply with respect todistress warrants under the provisions of § 55-230, cases involvingliquidated damages for violations of vehicle weight limits pursuant to §46.2-1135, nor cases involving forfeiture of a bond pursuant to § 19.2-143.
(2) Jurisdiction to try and decide attachment cases when the amount of theplaintiff's claim does not exceed $15,000 exclusive of interest and anyattorney's fees contracted for in the instrument.
(3) Jurisdiction of actions of unlawful entry or detainer as provided inArticle 13 (§ 8.01-124 et seq.) of Chapter 3 of Title 8.01, and in Chapter 13(§ 55-217 et seq.) of Title 55, and the maximum jurisdictional limitsprescribed in subdivision (1) shall not apply to any claim, counter-claim orcross-claim in an unlawful detainer action that includes a claim for damagessustained or rent against any person obligated on the lease proved to beowing where the premises were used by the occupant primarily for business,commercial or agricultural purposes. Any counter-claim or cross-claim shallarise out of the same use of the property for business, commercial oragricultural purposes.
(4) Except where otherwise specifically provided, all jurisdiction, power andauthority over any civil action or proceeding conferred upon any generaldistrict court judge or magistrate under or by virtue of any provisions ofthe Code of Virginia.
(5) Jurisdiction to try and decide suits in interpleader involving personalor real property where the amount of money or value of the property is notmore 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 aninterpleader action that is limited to the disposition of an earnest moneydeposit pursuant to a real estate purchase contract. The action shall bebrought in accordance with the procedures for interpleader as set forth in §8.01-364. However, the general district court shall not have any power toissue injunctions. Actions in interpleader may be brought by either thestakeholder or any of the claimants. The initial pleading shall be either bymotion for judgment, by warrant in debt, or by other uniform court formestablished by the Supreme Court of Virginia. The initial pleading shallbriefly set forth the circumstances of the claim and shall name as defendantall parties in interest who are not parties plaintiff.
(6) Jurisdiction to try and decide any cases pursuant to § 2.2-3713 of theVirginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.) or § 2.2-3809 of theGovernment Data Collection and Dissemination Practices Act, for writs ofmandamus or for injunctions.
(7) Concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit courts having jurisdiction insuch territory to adjudicate habitual offenders pursuant to the provisions ofArticle 9 (§ 46.2-355.1 et seq.) of Chapter 3 of Title 46.2.
(8) Jurisdiction to try and decide cases alleging a civil violation describedin § 18.2-76.
(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.)
