Virginia
Virginia: statutes read at the official source for people acting for themselves, each with its citation and the date it was read.
Acting for yourself
Penalty for practicing without authority
Va. Code § 54.1-3904 · law.lis.virginia.gov · read 2026-08-19 · official source
Renting and landlord-tenant
security deposit, amount cap
No landlord may demand or receive a security deposit, however denominated, in an amount or value in excess of two months' periodic rent.
Va. Code § 55.1-1226(A) · read 2026-08-21 · official source
security deposit, return deadline
The security deposit and any deductions, damages, and charges shall be itemized by the landlord in a written notice given to the tenant, together with any amount due to the tenant, within 45 days after the termination date of the tenancy or the date the tenant vacates the dwelling unit, whichever occurs last.
Va. Code § 55.1-1226(A) · read 2026-08-21 · official source
Not verified for Virginia: Month-to-month notice (§ 55.1-1253), the nonpayment notice (§ 55.1-1245) and the unlawful-ouster provision were not fetched, only § 55.1-1226 was read.
Small claims
The court that hears these in Virginia is the Small claims court (a division of the general district court).
$5,000
Exclusive of interest. Jurisdiction is concurrent with the general district court, whose own civil limit is higher.
Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the small claims court shall have jurisdiction, concurrent with that of the general district court, over the civil action specified in § 16.1-77 (1) when the amount claimed does not exceed $5,000, exclusive of interest.
Va. Code § 16.1-122.2 · read 2026-08-21 · official source
Lawyers in small claims
All parties shall be represented by themselves in actions before the small claims court except as follows: 1. A corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other legal or commercial entity may be represented by an owner, a general partner, an officer, a member, or an employee of that corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other legal or commercial entity who shall have all the rights and privileges given an individual to represent, plead, and try a case without an attorney. An attorney may serve in this capacity if he is appearing pro se, but he may not serve in a representative capacity.
Va. Code § 16.1-122.4(A) · read 2026-08-21 · official source
Virginia publishes its own self-help pages
Not verified: § 16.1-122.4(B) gives the defendant a right to remove the case to the general district court; read but not modelled.
How long you have to bring a claim
| Kind of claim | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|
| written contract | 5 years | Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-246(2) · read 2026-08-21 |
| oral contract | 3 years | Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-246(4) · read 2026-08-21 |
| personal injury | 2 years | Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-243(A) · read 2026-08-21 |
| property damage | 5 years | Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-243(B) · read 2026-08-21 |
Limitation periods have exceptions: when the clock starts (accrual), tolling, discovery rules, and claims against government bodies often differ. These entries record the general period as the statute states it, on the date read. They are not a calculation of any particular deadline.
Not verified: Wage claims and debt-on-account not read. § 8.01-246(B) contains a separate rule for actions to collect medical debt that was seen but not fully transcribed.
What this page is, and is not
Everything above was read at the source named next to it, on the date named next to it. Nothing is summarised from memory and nothing is carried over from a neighbouring state. Statutes are amended, so read the source before relying on it.
This is general legal information about Virginia. It is not advice about your situation, and it is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.