Richmond City Circuit Court, Virginia Service and Proof of Service Rules

CRITICAL

Applies to

Brief

Briefs must be served on counsel and/or unrepresented parties early enough for the issues to be considered before the hearing.

Briefs shall be filed with the Court and served on counsel and/or unrepresented parties far enough in advance of hearing to allow for consideration of the issues involved.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion notice

Civil motions must be preceded by reasonable written notice served at least seven days before the hearing, unless the Court waives the requirement.

Pursuant to Rule 4:15(b), all civil motions must be preceded by reasonable notice, in writing and served at least seven days before the hearing unless this requirement is waived by the Court.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

The moving party must provide a copy of the motion to all parties and certify that it did so before a motion date is scheduled.

No motions dates will be scheduled until the moving party has filed their motion with the clerk’s office and certified that they have provided a copy of their motion to all parties.

CRITICAL

Pursuant to Rule 1:15(c) and Rule 3A:16 (b), this Court directs that counsel for all parties, unless compliance is waived by the judge assigned to hear the case, must, two days prior to a jury trial date, submit to the court a copy of all instructions such counsel proposes to request via hand-delivery of a hard copy to the attention of the Law Clerk assigned to the Presiding Judge, copying all parties.

Pursuant to Rule 1:15(c) and Rule 3A:16 (b), this Court directs that counsel for all parties, unless compliance is waived by the judge assigned to hear the case, must, two days prior to a jury trial date, submit to the court a copy of all instructions such counsel proposes to request via hand-delivery of a hard copy to the attention of the Law Clerk assigned to the Presiding Judge, copying all parties.

CRITICAL

A matter cannot be scheduled on the docket until service is complete and 21 days have passed, unless counsel agree otherwise or a rule or statute provides otherwise.

Matters in which the moving party has not issued service cannot be scheduled on the docket until service is complete and twenty-one days have passed, unless otherwise agreed upon by counsel or provided by rule or statute.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Brief

Absent leave of Court, briefs must be served at least 14 days before the hearing.

Absent leave of the Court, a brief shall be filed and served at least 14 days before the hearing and any brief in opposition generated in response must be filed and served at least 7 days before the hearing.

WARNING

Emails or cover letters accompanying courtesy copies should be copied to all parties.

Any emails or cover letters should be copied to all parties.

WARNING

Applies to

Written pleading

A written pleading reflecting any scheduled hearing or trial date should be timely filed and provided to all parties by Notice of Hearing, Praecipe, or consent Pretrial Scheduling Order.

A written pleading reflecting any scheduled hearing or trial date should be timely filed and provided to all parties by Notice of Hearing, Praecipe, or consent Pretrial Scheduling Order.

WARNING

The Court encourages parties to share exhibits with one another at least five days before trial.

To avoid the issues that arise due to last minute preparation, the Court strongly encourages: • The Court encourages the parties to share exhibits at least 5 days in advance of trial to allow for the opportunity to address objections in advance of trial via a motion in limine.