NOTICE OF APPEARANCE

Commonwealth of Virginia — Circuit Court

1. COURT HEADER AND CAPTION

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF [________________________________]

Select the applicable court location:

☐ Circuit Court of [________________________________] County
☐ Circuit Court of the City of [________________________________]

Virginia Unique Feature: Virginia has an independent city system. There are 38 independent cities that are not part of any county. Each independent city has its own circuit court. Additionally, there are 95 counties, each with a circuit court. Practitioners must identify the correct court — city or county — when filing.

2. PARTY INFORMATION

The undersigned enters this appearance on behalf of the following party:

Party Name: [________________________________]

Party Role:
☐ Plaintiff
☐ Defendant
☐ Third-Party Plaintiff
☐ Third-Party Defendant
☐ Cross-Claimant
☐ Counter-Claimant
☐ Intervenor
☐ Garnishee
☐ Guardian ad Litem
☐ Other: [________________________________]

Case Type:
☐ Civil — At Law
☐ Civil — In Chancery (Equity)
☐ Domestic Relations
☐ Appeals from General District Court
☐ Other: [________________________________]

3. ATTORNEY INFORMATION

Additional Counsel (if applicable)

4. APPEARANCE STATEMENT

Pursuant to Rule 1:5 of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia, [________________________________], Virginia State Bar No. [________________________________], of the firm [________________________________], hereby enters an appearance as counsel for [________________________________], [________________________________] (party designation), in the above-styled matter.

The undersigned requests that all pleadings, motions, briefs, notices, orders, and other papers required to be served under Rule 1:12 of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia be served upon the undersigned at the address and email set forth above.

5. TYPE OF APPEARANCE

☐ General Appearance — The undersigned enters a general appearance for all purposes in this matter.

☐ Limited Scope Appearance (Rule 1:5A) — The undersigned enters a limited scope appearance as described in Section 7 below, consistent with Rule 1:5A and Virginia Rule of Professional Conduct 1.2(b).

☐ Substitution of Counsel — The undersigned enters an appearance as substitute counsel, replacing [________________________________] (prior attorney name), VSB No. [________________________________]. The prior counsel's consent or the Court's leave has been obtained.

☐ Additional Counsel — The undersigned enters an appearance as co-counsel alongside [________________________________], VSB No. [________________________________].

☐ Pro Hac Vice Appearance — The undersigned enters an appearance pursuant to pro hac vice admission. See Section 8 below.

☐ Guardian ad Litem Appearance — The undersigned enters an appearance as Guardian ad Litem appointed by Order dated [__/__/____].

6. CONSENT TO ELECTRONIC FILING AND SERVICE

Pursuant to Rule 1:17 of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia and Va. Code § 8.01-271.01:

Electronic Filing

☐ The undersigned is registered with the Virginia Judiciary Electronic Filing System (VJEFS) and will file documents electronically in accordance with Rule 1:17.
☐ The undersigned will register with VJEFS within [____] days of this filing.
☐ The undersigned requests an exemption from electronic filing. Basis: [________________________________]

Electronic Service

☐ The undersigned consents to electronic service through VJEFS at the following email address: [________________________________]

☐ The undersigned does not consent to electronic service. Service shall be made by other methods authorized under Rule 1:12.

Practice Note: Under Rule 1:17, courts that have implemented electronic filing may require attorneys to file and accept service electronically. Check whether the specific circuit court has implemented mandatory electronic filing. As of 2026, Virginia continues to expand VJEFS to additional circuit courts.

7. LIMITED SCOPE APPEARANCE (RULE 1:5A)

Complete this section only if a limited scope appearance is being entered.

Pursuant to Rule 1:5A of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia and Virginia Rule of Professional Conduct 1.2(b), the undersigned enters a limited scope appearance on behalf of [________________________________] for the following specific purposes only:

☐ Representation at the following hearing(s): [________________________________]
☐ Filing and arguing the following motion(s): [________________________________]
☐ Conducting or responding to specific discovery
☐ Attending mediation or settlement conference
☐ Trial representation for: [________________________________]
☐ Representation in connection with enforcement of judgment
☐ Drafting and filing specified pleading(s): [________________________________]
☐ Other specified purpose(s): [________________________________]

Scope and Duration

The limited scope representation shall:

Begin on: [__/__/____]

Terminate upon the earliest of:
☐ Completion of the specified purpose(s) described above
☐ The date of: [__/__/____]
☐ Entry of the Court's order on the specified matter
☐ Conclusion of the specified hearing(s) or trial
☐ Other: [________________________________]

Client Acknowledgment

The Client has been informed in writing that:

1. The undersigned's representation is limited to the purposes stated above;
2. The Client is responsible for all aspects of the case outside the scope of this limited appearance;
3. The undersigned will file a Notice of Completion of Limited Scope Representation upon conclusion of the limited engagement;
4. The Client must promptly inform the Court of any change in contact information.

Notice of Completion

Upon conclusion of the limited scope representation, the undersigned shall file a Notice of Completion as required by Rule 1:5A. No motion to withdraw or court order is required for termination of a properly noticed limited scope appearance.

8. PRO HAC VICE ADMISSION

Complete this section only if counsel is not a member of the Virginia State Bar.

☐ The undersigned has been admitted pro hac vice by Order dated [__/__/____].
☐ A Motion for Pro Hac Vice Admission is being filed concurrently with this Notice.

Pro Hac Vice Attorney Information

Virginia Sponsoring Attorney

Under Rule 1A:4 of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia, a pro hac vice attorney must associate with a member of the Virginia State Bar who will be present at all court proceedings.

Requirements: The pro hac vice applicant must: (1) be a member in good standing of a bar of another U.S. jurisdiction; (2) not be a Virginia resident; (3) pay the required fee; (4) comply with Rule 1A:4 of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia.

9. SIGNATURE BLOCK

DATED: [__/__/____]

[________________________________]
(Firm / Organization Name)

By: ______________________________________

[________________________________]
Virginia State Bar No. [________________________________]
Counsel for [________________________________]

[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________], Virginia [__________]
Telephone: [________________________________]
Email: [________________________________]

10. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that on [__/__/____], a true copy of the foregoing NOTICE OF APPEARANCE was served upon each of the following counsel of record and/or unrepresented parties by the method indicated below, in compliance with Rule 1:12 of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia:

Service Recipients

Recipient 1:
| | |
|---|---|
| Name | [________________________________] |
| Address / Email | [________________________________] |
| Method | ☐ VJEFS Electronic Service ☐ Email ☐ U.S. First-Class Mail, postage prepaid ☐ Hand Delivery ☐ Facsimile: [________________________________] |

Recipient 2:
| | |
|---|---|
| Name | [________________________________] |
| Address / Email | [________________________________] |
| Method | ☐ VJEFS Electronic Service ☐ Email ☐ U.S. First-Class Mail, postage prepaid ☐ Hand Delivery ☐ Facsimile: [________________________________] |

Recipient 3:
| | |
|---|---|
| Name | [________________________________] |
| Address / Email | [________________________________] |
| Method | ☐ VJEFS Electronic Service ☐ Email ☐ U.S. First-Class Mail, postage prepaid ☐ Hand Delivery ☐ Facsimile: [________________________________] |

(Attach additional pages if needed.)

______________________________________
[________________________________]

11. E-FILING INSTRUCTIONS FOR VIRGINIA CIRCUIT COURTS

Virginia Judiciary Electronic Filing System (VJEFS)

1. Access the System: Navigate to the VJEFS portal through the Virginia Judiciary website at https://www.vacourts.gov.
2. Log In: Use your registered attorney credentials linked to your VSB number.
3. Select the Court: Choose the appropriate circuit court (city or county).
4. Select the Case: Search by case number, party name, or attorney name.
5. Choose Document Type: Select "Notice of Appearance" from the filing type menu.
6. Upload Document: Upload the completed Notice of Appearance as a PDF in compliance with format requirements.
7. Service: VJEFS will electronically serve all registered e-filers upon acceptance.
8. Payment: Pay any applicable filing fee through the system.
9. Confirmation: Retain the VJEFS filing confirmation as proof of filing and service.

Important E-Filing Notes for Virginia

• Not all Virginia circuit courts have implemented VJEFS. Verify whether the specific circuit court accepts electronic filings.
• Where electronic filing is available, attorneys may be required to file electronically per local court order.
• Paper filings may still be required for certain document types (e.g., original wills, sealed documents).
• The VJEFS assigns a date-and-time stamp that constitutes the official filing time.
• Confirm local rules regarding working copies or courtesy copies for the judge.

12. PRACTITIONER NOTES AND VIRGINIA-SPECIFIC GUIDANCE

Virginia Circuit Court Structure

Virginia has 120 circuit courts organized into 31 judicial circuits, serving 95 counties and 38 independent cities. Each circuit court has general jurisdiction over civil matters where the amount in controversy exceeds $4,500 (or any amount if the relief sought is other than money).

Key Virginia Practice Points

1. Praecipe for Scheduling: Some circuit courts require a praecipe or scheduling order request to be filed contemporaneously with or shortly after an appearance. Check the local rules and practices for the specific circuit.

2. At Law vs. In Chancery: Virginia distinguishes between actions at law and suits in chancery (equity). The caption and procedures differ depending on the nature of the case. Ensure the Notice of Appearance reflects the correct designation.

3. Responsive Pleading Deadlines: Under Rule 3:5, a responsive pleading is generally due 21 days after service of process. Entering an appearance does not extend or restart this deadline.

4. Independent City Courts: Because Virginia's independent cities are not part of any county, practitioners must use the correct court designation. For example, filing must be in the "Circuit Court of the City of Richmond" rather than a county court.

5. Rule 1:12 Service Requirements: After the initial process, service of papers must be made on the attorney of record (not the party) by delivering or mailing a copy, or by electronic service if authorized. Service by email is permitted when the attorney has consented.

6. Withdrawal of Counsel: Withdrawal requires compliance with Rule 1:5 and Va. Code § 54.1-3909. The Court must approve withdrawal, and the attorney must give reasonable notice to the client. If the case is set for trial within 30 days, withdrawal is disfavored.

7. Limited Scope Representation: Rule 1:5A, adopted to expand access to justice, permits attorneys to enter limited scope appearances. The rule simplifies withdrawal by allowing filing of a Notice of Completion rather than requiring a motion and court order.

8. Pro Hac Vice Requirements: Under Rule 1A:4, out-of-state attorneys must be sponsored by a Virginia-licensed attorney who will attend all proceedings. The pro hac vice application requires payment of a fee and disclosure of all jurisdictions of admission.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using the wrong court designation (city vs. county) in the caption
• Failing to identify the case as "At Law" or "In Chancery" when required
• Not registering for VJEFS in courts where electronic filing is mandatory
• Omitting the VSB number from the filing
• Entering a general appearance when a limited scope appearance under Rule 1:5A was intended
• Not serving all counsel of record at the time of filing

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia: https://www.vacourts.gov/courts/scv/rules
• Virginia State Bar: https://www.vsb.org
• Virginia Judiciary Electronic Filing: https://www.vacourts.gov
• Va. Code § 8.01-271 (Signing of Pleadings): https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/8.01-271/
• Va. Code § 54.1-3909 (Withdrawal of Attorney): https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/54.1-3909/
• Rule 1:5A (Limited Scope Representation): https://www.vacourts.gov

This template is provided by ezel.ai for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. All legal documents should be reviewed by a licensed attorney in the applicable jurisdiction before filing.