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Arlington County resolves money disputes up to $5,000 in the small-claims court: simplified procedures, and no attorneys at the hearing.
Here you will find the claim limit that applies in Arlington County, what filing costs, where the case is heard, how the defendant is served, the deadlines, and the order of steps. Squabble can take the preparation and filing off your hands.
Arlington County hears small claims at the courthouse listed here, with the venue confirmed at filing from the defendant's address or the location of the dispute.
Tap a courthouse to see its details in the list below.
Check the filing location first. The court's small-claims page lists where papers are taken today, and Squabble confirms it for your case as part of filing.
Small claims filings from Arlington County are handled at Arlington General District Court in Arlington. About 239,807 people live in Arlington County.
This court works from paper filings, delivered in person or posted in. Squabble builds the packet so nothing is missing.
Some small claims hearings are eligible for remote appearance; availability varies by court and case type.
Have copies of your evidence for the bench and for the other party. Some courts take documents electronically before the hearing as well.
Residents of Arlington County, Virginia, which has a population of 239,807 and includes the communities of Arlington and Fort Myer along with ZIP codes such as 22201, 22204, and 22207, can bring claims through the Virginia Small Claims Court, which handles cases seeking up to $5,000. Cases in this county are heard at the Arlington General District Court, located in Arlington at 1425 North Courthouse Road Suite 2400 Second Floor-2622, 22201. The court can be reached by telephone at (703) 228-7900, and further information is posted at https://www.vacourts.gov/courts/gd/arlington/home.html. The courthouse is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and is closed on Saturday and Sunday. Electronic filing is not available for these cases. Arlington County lies near the City of Falls Church, the City of Alexandria, and Fairfax County, each of which maintains its own courts for matters arising within their boundaries.
Arlington County covers these 2 towns and cities:
Arlington, Fort Myer.
Around 239,807 people live in Arlington County. Arlington General District Court sits about 2 miles from the City of Falls Church courthouse in Falls Church and 3 miles from the City of Alexandria courthouse in Alexandria.
Counties nearest to this one:
The small claims track exists for routine money disputes: fewer formalities, no attorneys at the hearing, and a cap on what can be claimed.
Maximum claim
You generally file where the other party lives, not where the dispute happened.
A single argument stays a single case; it cannot be carved up to fit the limit.
A small-claims judge generally orders one side to pay money; other kinds of orders belong in higher courts.
Neither side is represented by a lawyer at the hearing. You can consult one before or after.
Minors take part through a guardian appointed by the court.
Over the limit? You can lower your claim to fit and stay in small claims, or file the full amount in regular civil court. Lowering usually means giving up the excess, so weigh it carefully.
They are the same across all 33 Arlington County ZIP codes, from 22201 onward. Arlington General District Court is the courthouse listed for Arlington County.
Small claims exists for money owed, up to $5,000. The categories below come up more than any others.
Arlington General District Court is the Arlington County courthouse listed below. Arlington County has about 239,807 residents.
It's built to be navigable without a lawyer. Here's the shape of a case from start to finish.
Prepare the claim form, work out which court covers it, and pay the court's charge.
Formal notice reaches the other party, who then has a window to respond or resolve it.
The hearing itself is short and informal. Some courts allow video. The ruling comes then or later in writing.
Everything below applies to a case filed in Arlington County, at the Arlington courthouse. This is the route an Arlington County case takes, whether it starts in 22201 or anywhere else among the county ZIP codes.
A filed case still has to reach the defendant. Formal notice, known as service of process, does that, and delivering it personally is generally not allowed. The usual route in Virginia is the sheriff or constable, email service where the court allows it or delivery arranged by the court.
Who may serve depends on the court: law enforcement, a paid process server, the clerk by certified mail, or a disinterested adult. Costs and rules are local.
How long before the hearing notice must be given is set by the court. That deadline arrives with your hearing date. Sheriff service: $12 extra, court handles it. ABC has issues sending Proof of service before hearing (wet signature requirement).
A completed proof of service records who delivered the papers and when, and it is filed with the court beforehand.
Service is where many self-filed cases stall. Squabble can coordinate professional Service of Process so it's done correctly and on time.
City of Falls Church and City of Alexandria are the counties nearest to Arlington County. An Arlington County address carries one of its 33 ZIP codes, 22201, 22202 and 22203 among them.
A claim has to be filed inside a set period that starts when the dispute arose. After that point the court may decline to hear it.
| Kind of claim | Time limit to file |
|---|---|
| Written contract | 5 years |
| Oral contract | 3 years |
| Property damage | 5 years |
| Personal injury | 2 years |
They do not change from one Arlington County ZIP code to another, 22201 included. The same periods apply in Arlington County as in nearby City of Falls Church and City of Alexandria, which are in the same state.
Money owed under a contract in Virginia generally accrues interest at 6% per year before judgment (Va. Code §8.01-382, §6.2-302).
To see what interest has added so far, the Squabble interest calculator works out the running total.
It is the same rate across all 33 Arlington County ZIP codes. Arlington County is under the same state rate as nearby City of Falls Church and City of Alexandria.
Make sure the claim is under the maximum and that the limitation period has not expired.
State the party's full legal name, explain the events, and set out the calculation.
File with the Arlington County small-claims court on paper, by mail or at the counter, and pay the $52 fee (or request a waiver if you qualify).
After the hearing date is issued, arrange delivery of the papers and file the proof with the court.
Gather the paperwork and label your exhibits so each point can be shown quickly.
Attend the hearing, in person or by video if that is offered, make your case, and receive the outcome.
Describe the dispute to Eleanor. Squabble drafts the paperwork, puts it through a Triple-Check™ for administrative and jurisdictional accuracy, and lodges it with the court.
Start for FREE →A claim form opens the case, a proof of service records that notice was given, and a fee waiver applies where you qualify. Titles differ between courts, and Squabble uses the ones your courthouse expects.
Arlington County has a population of about 239,807. Arlington County takes in filings from 33 ZIP codes, 22201 first in the list.
These hearings are informal and do not take long. Neither side has a lawyer and the judge leads the questioning.
Arlington and Fort Myer are among the Arlington County places a hearing can draw parties from. Hearings in Arlington County cases are listed at Arlington General District Court in Arlington.
The decision settles who owes what. Turning it into money is a separate stage, and the tools the court makes available differ by state.
Where the law allows, an employer can be directed to send part of the debtor's pay to the court.
With a bank levy, the court reaches funds held in the debtor's account directly.
Recording the judgment locally can place a lien against real property in the debtor's name.
There is also an examination procedure: the debtor is ordered to attend and give sworn answers about earnings and assets. Interest normally accrues at the statutory rate until payment.
City of Falls Church and City of Alexandria are the counties nearest to Arlington County. The judgment in an Arlington County case comes from Arlington General District Court in Arlington.
Last reviewed August 2026. Court fees, limits, and procedures change. Verify current details with the court before filing.
Talk with Eleanor about what happened. Squabble prepares your demand letter and court-ready documents, Triple-Checks them for administrative and jurisdictional accuracy, and files your Arlington County case for you.
