Virginia · Richmond County

Small Claims Court in Richmond County

A complete filing guide.

Money disputes up to $5,000 are settled in the Richmond County small-claims court, which runs on simplified procedures, and no attorneys at the hearing.

This page sets out the ceiling on claims, what the court charges, the courthouse that covers Richmond County, how notice reaches the other party, the time limits, and the filing steps. Squabble can prepare and lodge the paperwork when you decide to go ahead.

Claims up to $5,000 Squabble handles the filing No lawyer at the hearing
Local Courts

Where to file small claims in Richmond County

Small claims in Richmond County are heard at the courthouse below. When you file, the court confirms the right location for your case based on where the defendant lives or where your dispute happened.

1
Richmond County

Tap a courthouse to see its details in the list below.

1
Richmond
Richmond General District Court-Civil Division
400 N 9th St #203, Richmond, VA, 23219
(804) 646-6461

Locations change. The court publishes its current small-claims address on its own page; Squabble confirms the courthouse for your case when you file.

The nearest counties to Richmond County are Essex County and Westmoreland County. Richmond General District Court-Civil Division, in Richmond, is the courthouse listed for Richmond County.

Filing

This court takes small-claims filings on paper, in person or by mail. Squabble prepares everything so your packet arrives filing-ready.

Remote hearings

A remote appearance is possible for some hearings here; courts differ on which cases qualify.

Documents and proof

Copies of the evidence go to the judge and to the other party, and some courts allow it to be sent in electronically beforehand.

On the ground

Filing in Richmond County

Small claims in Richmond County

Residents of Richmond County, Virginia, which has a population of 9,215, can bring small claims cases through the Virginia Small Claims Court system, which handles claims up to $5,000. Cases are heard at the Richmond General District Court-Civil Division, located in Richmond at 400 N 9th St #203, 23219, and the court can be reached by telephone at (804) 646-6461. The county includes the communities of Farnham, Haynesville, Sharps, Village, and Warsaw, along with Richmond itself, and covers ZIP codes including 22460, 22472, 22548, 22570, and 22572. Richmond County lies near Essex County, Westmoreland County, and Northumberland County. Electronic filing is not available for small claims matters in this county, so filings are handled directly with the court. The Virginia Small Claims Court provides a forum where parties present their claims and a judge decides the matter. Anyone seeking further detail about filing procedures or case scheduling can contact the Richmond General District Court-Civil Division using the telephone number listed above.

Richmond County court locations

Richmond General District Court-Civil Division

400 N 9th St #203, Richmond, VA 23219
Hours
Monday to Friday8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Saturday to SundayClosed

Richmond County at a glance

Population9,215
Court sits inRichmond
Court systemVirginia Small Claims Court
Claim limit$5,000
ZIP codes in county37
Towns and cities6
Electronic filingNot available

Towns and ZIP codes in Richmond County

A case filed here usually comes from one of these 6 communities:

Farnham, Haynesville, Richmond, Sharps, Village, Warsaw.

All 37 ZIP codes in Richmond County
22460224722254822570225722317323218232192322023221232222322423225232262323223240232412324923260232612326923274232762327823279232822328423285232862328923290232912329223293232952329723298

Richmond County in context

Around 9,215 people live in Richmond County.

Sources for Richmond County

The Essentials

Small claims filing requirements in Richmond County

$5,000
Maximum claim
The ceiling is $5,000
$46
Court filing fee
Court-set, rising with the claim
Paper
E-filing
On paper, posted or delivered
Not permitted
Lawyer at hearing
Self-represented
Jurisdiction

Small claims eligibility and court limits

The small claims track exists for routine money disputes: fewer formalities, no attorneys at the hearing, and a cap on what can be claimed.

Maximum claim

$5,000Maximum claimThe most you can sue for in Richmond County small claims
01

Where you can file

You generally file where the other party lives, not where the dispute happened.

02

No claim splitting

Splitting a single claim across multiple filings to dodge the ceiling is not permitted.

03

Money judgments only

The court decides who pays whom and how much. Anything beyond money goes to a higher court.

04

No lawyers at the hearing

Both sides appear without a lawyer at the hearing itself. Consulting one before or after is a separate matter.

05

Adults only, or a guardian

Under-18s are represented by a guardian the court appoints.

Over the limit? Two routes exist: reduce the claim to the cap and stay here, or take the full sum to regular civil court. Reducing it normally forfeits the difference.

Va. Code sec. 16.1-122.4Va. Code sec. 16.1-122.1

Richmond General District Court-Civil Division is the courthouse listed for Richmond County. These are the limits for Richmond County, population about 9,215.

What You Can Sue For

What can you sue for in Richmond County small claims court?

Small claims exists for money owed, up to $5,000. The categories below come up more than any others.

Richmond General District Court-Civil Division is the Richmond County courthouse listed below. Richmond County takes in Farnham, Haynesville and Richmond and the rest of the county.

The Process

How small claims court works in Richmond County

It's built to be navigable without a lawyer. Here's the shape of a case from start to finish.

Step 01

File your claim

Set out the claim on the court's form, identify the correct courthouse, and pay the fee.

Step 02

Serve & respond

Service puts the papers in the defendant's hands and starts their time to answer or settle.

Step 03

Hearing & decision

The hearing itself is short and informal. Some courts allow video. The ruling comes then or later in writing.

Richmond General District Court-Civil Division lists (804) 646-6461 as its number. Richmond General District Court-Civil Division publishes its counter hours; they are listed on this page.

Service of Process

Small claims service of process in Richmond County

A filed case still has to reach the defendant. Formal notice, known as service of process, does that, and delivering it personally is generally not allowed. the sheriff or constable, email service where the court allows it or delivery arranged by the court is what courts in Virginia normally accept.

Who is allowed to serve

The options usually include a sheriff or constable, a licensed process server, certified mail sent by the clerk, or any adult with no stake in the case. What is allowed, and what it costs, differs from county to county.

The cut-off

Courts set their own cut-off for how many days before the hearing notice must land. The clerk gives you that date along with the hearing date. Sheriff service: $12 extra, court handles it. ABC has issues sending Proof of service before hearing (wet signature requirement).

The proof that goes on file

Whoever serves the papers completes a proof of service, which is filed with the court before the hearing.

Service is where many self-filed cases stall. Squabble can coordinate professional Service of Process so it's done correctly and on time.

A Richmond County address carries one of its 37 ZIP codes, 22460, 22472 and 22548 among them. Essex County and Westmoreland County are the counties nearest to Richmond County.

Deadlines

Deadlines for filing small claims in Virginia

Claims do not stay open indefinitely. Time runs from the events themselves, and a filing made afterwards may be shut out.

Claim typeHow long you have
Written contract5 years
Oral contract3 years
Property damage5 years
Personal injury2 years
Each period begins at the breach, damage or injury. Certain categories of claim differ, and the court can confirm which applies.
Va. Code sec. 8.01-246Va. Code sec. 8.01-243(A)Va. Code sec. 8.01-243(B)

They do not change from one Richmond County ZIP code to another, 22460 included. The same periods apply in Richmond County as in nearby Essex County and Westmoreland County, which are in the same state.

Interest

Small claims interest in Richmond County

Money owed under a contract in Virginia generally accrues interest at 6% per year before judgment (Va. Code §8.01-382, §6.2-302).

The Squabble interest calculator shows what the accrued figure comes to on top of the principal.

The rate above is the one for Richmond County, population about 9,215. It is the same rate across all 37 Richmond County ZIP codes.

Step by Step

How to file a small claims case in Richmond County

01

Confirm your claim qualifies

Check that the amount is within the limit and that you're inside the statute of limitations for your claim type.

02

Prepare the claim form

Use the other side's correct legal name, describe the dispute, and show how the money adds up.

03

File and pay the fee

File with the Richmond County small-claims court on paper, by mail or at the counter, and pay the $46 fee (or request a waiver if you qualify).

04

Serve the defendant

Service comes after the date is set. File the server's proof once the papers have been delivered.

05

Prepare your evidence

Put the evidence in order, with exhibits marked, so the account is easy to follow.

06

Attend the hearing

Attend, in the courtroom or by video where the court allows it, put your case, and hear the ruling.

Or let Squabble do it

Talk with Eleanor about what happened. Squabble prepares the documents, runs a Triple-Check™ for administrative and jurisdictional accuracy, and files your case for you.

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Forms you'll see

A claim form opens the case, a proof of service records that notice was given, and a fee waiver applies where you qualify. Titles differ between courts, and Squabble uses the ones your courthouse expects.

Richmond County takes in filings from 37 ZIP codes, 22460 first in the list. Richmond County has a population of about 9,215.

The Hearing

What happens at a small claims hearing?

These hearings are informal and do not take long. Neither side has a lawyer and the judge leads the questioning.

Richmond County has about 9,215 residents. Hearings in Richmond County cases are listed at Richmond General District Court-Civil Division in Richmond.

After a Judgment

How to collect a small claims judgment

The decision settles who owes what. Turning it into money is a separate stage, and the tools the court makes available differ by state.

Taking it from wages

Some states permit part of the debtor's wages to be diverted to the judgment until it is cleared.

Taking it from a bank account

With a bank levy, the court reaches funds held in the debtor's account directly.

Property lien

Registering the judgment at county level can fix a lien on real estate the debtor holds.

There is also an examination procedure: the debtor is ordered to attend and give sworn answers about earnings and assets. Interest normally accrues at the statutory rate until payment.

Essex County and Westmoreland County are the counties nearest to Richmond County. Farnham, Haynesville and Richmond are among the Richmond County places a judgment debtor may live in.

FAQ

Richmond County small claims court FAQs

How much can you sue for in Richmond County small claims?+
Generally up to $5,000 in Richmond County. Some states set a lower limit for businesses, so confirm your figure with the court.
How much is the court fee?+
The court sets the filing fee, and it rises with the amount claimed ($46 in this county). Where you qualify, the fee can be waived.
Where do you file in Richmond County?+
At Richmond General District Court-Civil Division. When you file, the court confirms the right location based on where the defendant lives or where the dispute happened.
Do people represent themselves?+
No. Virginia law does not allow attorneys to represent either party at the small-claims hearing (Va. Code sec. 16.1-122.4). You can consult one before or after, but you present your own case.
When is the hearing set?+
Expect roughly 30-60 days between filing and the hearing, subject to how busy the court is. The judge decides then or sends the outcome on.
How late can a claim be filed?+
It depends on the claim: 5 years for a written contract, 3 years for an oral contract, 5 years for property damage, and 2 years for personal injury. Some claim types run differently, and the court can refuse a claim filed late.
Can you file online in Richmond County?+
Filing in Richmond County is done on paper, in person or by mail. Squabble prepares and files the paperwork for you either way.
Where is the courthouse in Richmond County?+
Richmond General District Court-Civil Division is at 400 N 9th St #203, Richmond, VA 23219. Public hours are Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM; Saturday to Sunday Closed. The clerk can be reached on (804) 646-6461.
Which towns does Richmond County cover?+
Richmond County covers 6 towns and cities across 37 ZIP codes, including Farnham, Haynesville, Richmond, Sharps, Village, Warsaw. A dispute with an address in any of them is generally handled by this county.

Official sources

Last checked in August 2026. Court fees, limits and procedures move; verify them with the court first.

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