When any civil action is commenced in a circuit court, or any such action is removed to such court and the required writ tax and fees thereon paid, the clerk shall enter the same in the civil docket. These dockets may be either (i) a substantial, well-bound loose-leaf book, (ii) a visible card index or (iii) automated data processing media. Each case shall be entered on the civil docket, on which shall be entered:

Terms Used In Virginia Code 8.01-331

  • Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
  • Process: includes subpoenas, the summons and complaint in a civil action, and process in statutory actions. See Virginia Code 1-237
  • Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
  • Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.

1. The short style of the suit or action,

2. The names of the attorneys,

3. The nature of the suit or action, and

4. The date filed and case file number.

In addition the docket may contain the following information applicable in an individual case as deemed appropriate:

1. The names of the parties,

2. The date of the issuance of process,

3. A memorandum of the service of process,

4. A memorandum of the orders and proceedings in the case, and

5. The hearing date(s) and type(s) of hearing(s) conducted on such date(s).

The clerk may enter the clerk’s fees in the case on such docket instead of in the fee book.

Cases appealed from the juvenile and domestic relations district courts shall be docketed as provided in this section and, to the extent inconsistent with this section, § 16.1-302.

Code 1950, §§ 8-160, 8-165; 1954, c. 333; 1956, c. 307; 1977, c. 617; 1983, c. 293; 1990, c. 258; 2005, c. 681.

  Previous section
Next section  
 Chapter 10 Contents