How to Calculate Civil Filing Fees for General District Courts

IMPORTANT! Need more help on how to calculate civil filing fees? Please call your local General District court and ask to speak with someone in the Civil section. They will be able to assist you with the proper fees for their court.

General District Civil Filing Fees Calculation HELP
Step 1 What type of civil case do you want to file? Click the arrow on the drop-down menu to select your civil case type.
Step 2 How many civil cases of the type selected above are you filing? Type the total number of civil cases you are filing of the type selected.
Step 3 What is the amount of your lawsuit? Type the total number of cases being filed for claims of $500.00 or less in the first box.

Type the total number of cases being filed for claims of $500.01 to $50,000.00 in the second box. (A Courthouse Construction Fee specific to the court, is charged per case in this box.)
Step 4 Do you want to have the Virginia sheriff or high constable serve (deliver) a copy of the civil case to the Defendant/Respondent at the address you provide? There are fees for each party to be served by the Virginia sheriff or high constable and may vary by case type:

Click Yes to proceed to Step 5

Click No if you are using a service by other than a Virginia Sheriff, then proceed to Step 6
Step 5 How many defendants/respondents are to be served by the Virginia sheriff or high constable? Type the total number of defendants/respondents to be served by the Virginia sheriff or high constable.

Garnishments:

  1. To calculate the correct sheriff's fee for the Suggestion for Summons in Garnishment, the number of parties to be served is doubled because both the Judgment Debtor and Garnishee must be served.
    Example: A garnishment is served on both the debtor and the garnishee (usually the employer) - type 2 for each garnishment in Step 5. If only one party is to be served by the Virginia sheriff or high constable, type 1 in Step 5.
  2. If using a service by other than a Virginia sheriff or high constable for any of the parties, only type the applicable number for service by a Virginia sheriff or high constable in Step 5.
  3. The sheriff's fee for certain processes used in the execution (levy) of judgments is $25.00 per case. The case types are:
    • Detinue Seizure Order
    • Distress Warrant
    • Attachment Summons
    • Writ of Possession and Fieri Facias in Detinue
Step 6 Press the Calculate button to display the total filing fees required based on the information provided above. The Show Calculation Details button provides a detail listing of the fees charged. Click the Calculate button. The total fees required based on the answers provided are displayed. Click the Show Calculation Details button in order to be directed to a page with a detail listing of the fees charged in the calculation.
    Click the Change Court/Reset button to clear the screen and select another court.