District Court

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 Circuity Courts to hears cases with claims between $4,500 and $25,000 and up to $50,000 in civil cases for personal injury disputes and suit in debt.