How long does it take to pursue a claim in small claims court?

It depends on the case, but generally it takes a few months to pursue a claim in small claims court in Virginia. After the plaintiff (the person making the claim) has filed their claim with the court, the court will mail a summons to the defendant (the person being sued). The defendant then has 21 days from the date of service to respond and file an answer to the claim. After the defendant has responded, the court will set a date for a hearing. This hearing can be anywhere from several weeks to several months after the claim was filed. During the hearing, both the plaintiff and the defendant will present their arguments and evidence to the judge. The judge will then decide on the outcome of the case. In some cases, the judge may take a few days or weeks to make a decision, while in other cases they may take longer. It all depends on the complexity of the case, the workload of the court, and the availability of the parties. Overall, it can take anywhere from a few months to over a year to pursue a claim in small claims court in Virginia.

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