Raises Small Claims Court Limit to $25,000
Virginia · HB364 · Introduced Jan 12, 2026
Why it matters
People with larger unpaid debts could bring them to small claims court, which has simpler, lower-cost procedures. Claims over $5,000 would no longer have to go to the regular court.
What it does
- Raises the small claims court limit for most claims from $5,000 to $25,000
- Lets a plaintiff file up to two small claims warrants in Virginia each calendar year
- Lets plaintiffs raise or lower a claim amount to move a case to the right court
- Sets claims against the state or transportation districts at up to $4,500 in general district court
Status
Latest action (2026-07-21): Continued from last session
About this bill
Would let people file small claims cases for amounts up to $25,000, not counting interest, up to two times a year. The current limit is $5,000.
Perspectives
💬 The case for
Consumer and small business groups would likely say higher limits help people recover larger debts without hiring lawyers. Simpler court procedures would make it easier to get paid.
💬 The case against
Some court and legal groups would likely say larger claims need full court procedures. They may also worry about more cases crowding the small claims docket.
Sponsored by
Sponsor details for this state bill are at the source link.
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