Virginia § 16.1-122.5 Informal hearings; rules of evidence suspended

Virginia Statutes

§ 16.1-122.5 — Informal hearings; rules of evidence suspended

Virginia § 16.1-122.5

Title 16.1COURTS NOT OF RECORD

Ch. 6VENUE, JURISDICTION AND PROCEDURE IN CIVIL MATTERS

Art. 5SMALL CLAIMS COURT

This text of Virginia § 16.1-122.5 (Informal hearings; rules of evidence suspended) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Va. Code Ann. § 16.1-122.5 (2026).

Text

In trials before the small claims court, witnesses shall be sworn. The general district court judge shall conduct the trial in an informal manner so as to do substantial justice between the parties. The judge shall have the discretion to admit all evidence which may be of probative value although not in accordance with formal rules of practice, procedure, pleading or evidence, except that privileged communications shall not be admissible. The object of such trials shall be to determine the rights of the litigants on the merits and to dispense expeditious justice between the parties.

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In trials before the small claims court, witnesses shall be sworn. The general district court judge shall conduct the trial in an informal manner so as to do substantial justice between the parties. The judge shall have the discretion to admit all evidence which may be of probative value although not in accordance with formal rules of practice, procedure, pleading or evidence, except that privileged communications shall not be admissible. The object of such trials shall be to determine the rights of the litigants on the merits and to dispense expeditious justice between the parties.