SMALL CLAIMS COMPLAINT

Commonwealth of Virginia – General District Court,
Small Claims Division

[COURT NAME] – [CITY/COUNTY], VIRGINIA
Civil Action No.: ________

Plaintiff: [PLAINTIFF FULL LEGAL NAME], an individual residing at [FULL ADDRESS] ("Plaintiff")
Defendant: [DEFENDANT FULL LEGAL NAME], an individual/business entity with a principal place of business at [FULL ADDRESS] ("Defendant")

Filing Date: ________

[// GUIDANCE: Replace all bracketed language with case-specific facts. Attach or reference any written contracts, invoices, photographs, or other exhibits that substantiate the claim. File the original with the Clerk of the General District Court (Small Claims Division) and serve a copy on each Defendant in accordance with Va. Code Ann. § 16.1-122.2.]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Defined Terms
2. Jurisdiction, Venue & Monetary Limit
3. Operative Allegations
   3.1 Statement of Facts
   3.2 Causes of Action
4. Damages Sought
5. Appeal Rights Notice
6. Prayer for Relief
7. Verification
8. Certificate of Service
9. Signature Block

1. DEFINED TERMS

“Claim” means the monetary demand asserted by Plaintiff in this Complaint.

“Court” means the Small Claims Division of the General District Court identified in the caption.

All other capitalized terms have the meanings assigned in context.

2. JURISDICTION, VENUE & MONETARY LIMIT

2.1 Subject-Matter Jurisdiction.
This Court has subject-matter jurisdiction under Va. Code Ann. §§ 16.1-122.1 et seq. because the Claim is for monetary damages not exceeding $5,000.00, exclusive of interest and costs, the statutory maximum for Virginia small claims actions.

2.2 Personal Jurisdiction & Venue.
Defendant is a resident of, does business in, and/or committed the acts complained of within [CITY/COUNTY], Virginia, rendering venue proper in this Court pursuant to Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-261.

2.3 Attorneys.
Pursuant to Va. Code Ann. § 16.1-122.4, the parties will appear pro se unless leave of Court is obtained for representation by counsel.

3. OPERATIVE ALLEGATIONS

3.1 Statement of Facts

1. On or about [DATE], Plaintiff and Defendant entered into a written/oral agreement whereby Defendant agreed to [BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF AGREEMENT OR TRANSACTION].
2. Plaintiff fully performed all obligations required of Plaintiff under the agreement, including but not limited to [SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE].
3. Defendant breached the agreement by failing to [SPECIFIC BREACH, e.g., “pay the agreed purchase price of $4,750.00”] despite repeated demands.
4. As a direct and proximate result of Defendant’s breach, Plaintiff suffered monetary damages in the amount of $[AMOUNT], plus applicable interest and costs.

[// GUIDANCE: If the claim is based on property damage, negligence, or another theory, adapt the factual allegations accordingly. Attach Exhibit A (Contract), Exhibit B (Invoices), Exhibit C (Photographs), etc.]

3.2 Causes of Action

Count I – Breach of Contract (Va. common law)
a. Plaintiff realleges paragraphs 1–4 as if fully set forth herein.
b. A valid contract existed between the parties.
c. Plaintiff performed, Defendant breached, and Plaintiff was damaged.

[// GUIDANCE: Insert additional Counts—e.g., Unjust Enrichment, Property Damage, or Returned Check—within the small-claims subject-matter jurisdiction and monetary cap. Each Count should incorporate the facts, state the legal elements, and identify the damages.]

4. DAMAGES SOUGHT

Plaintiff seeks:
a. Compensatory damages: $[PRINCIPAL AMOUNT]
b. Pre-judgment interest at the statutory rate of [STAT RATE]% per annum from [DATE] to judgment;
c. Post-judgment interest at the statutory rate until paid in full; and
d. Court costs as allowed by law.

[// GUIDANCE: Punitive damages, injunctive relief, specific performance, or attorney-fee claims are outside small-claims jurisdiction and therefore omitted.]

5. APPEAL RIGHTS NOTICE

Pursuant to Va. Code Ann. § 16.1-106, any aggrieved party may appeal a final judgment of this Court to the Circuit Court within ten (10) days of the entry of judgment by filing a written notice of appeal and posting any required appeal bond.

6. PRAYER FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully requests that the Court enter judgment in favor of Plaintiff and against Defendant for:

1. Monetary damages in the amount of $[PRINCIPAL AMOUNT];
2. Pre- and post-judgment interest as set forth above;
3. Court costs; and
4. Such other and further relief as the Court deems just and equitable within the jurisdictional limits of this Court.

7. VERIFICATION

I, [PLAINTIFF NAME], declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing statements are true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief.

Date: ___ Signature: ____
Printed Name: _______

8. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I certify that on _____ [DATE], a true and correct copy of this Small Claims Complaint, together with all exhibits, was served on Defendant by [METHOD OF SERVICE AUTHORIZED BY VA LAW, e.g., “first-class mail, postage prepaid,” “sheriff,” or “private process server”] to the address stated above.

Signature: _____
Printed Name: ____

9. SIGNATURE BLOCK

Respectfully submitted,

[PLAINTIFF FULL LEGAL NAME]
[Street Address]
[City, State ZIP]
Telephone: [PHONE]
E-Mail (optional): [EMAIL]

EXHIBIT LIST (for Clerk’s indexing purposes)

• Exhibit A – Contract/Invoice/Receipt
• Exhibit B – Correspondence/Demand Letters
• Exhibit C – Photographs/Repair Estimates
• Exhibit D – [OTHER SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS]

[// GUIDANCE: Label each exhibit clearly and reference it in the factual allegations. File one copy with the Court and bring at least two extra sets—one for the judge and one for the Defendant—on the hearing date.]