Charlottesville Circuit Court

16th Judicial Circuit of Virginia

The Circuit Court is the trial court with the broadest powers in Virginia. The Circuit Court handles all civil cases with claims of more than $25,000. It shares authority with the General District Court to hear matters involving between $3,000 and $25,000. The Circuit Court has the authority to hear serious criminal cases called felonies. The Circuit Court also handles family matters and hears cases appealed from the General District Court and from the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.

Total Courts & Terms

There is a Circuit Court in each incorporated city and county in Virginia (for a total of 121 Circuit Courts in the Commonwealth of Virginia) with Circuit court judges elected by the General Assembly for 8-year terms.

Terms of Court & General Information

  • Terms begin on the 3rd Monday of:
    • April
    • June
    • August
    • October
    • December 
      • Tuesday immediately following the 3rd Monday in February
  • Grand Juries are held on the 1st day of each term
  • Felony Criminal cases set at 9:30 am at term.
  • Misdemeanor Appeal Criminal and Traffic cases set beginning at 11:30 am at term.
  • Civil cases set at 2 pm at term.
  • Jury Orientation held at 3:30 pm on 1st day of each Term.
  • Commissioners in Chancery utilized for partition suits, suits to sell land of incompetents and occasional divorce cases.
  • A Cover Sheet for Filing Civil Actions (Form CC-1416) (PDF) is required for all Civil Suits filed in our Clerk’s Office.