Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia

Article VI, Section 5 of the Constitution of Virginia authorizes the Supreme Court of Virginia to make rules governing the course of appeals and the practice and procedures used in the courts of the Commonwealth. Virginia Code § 8.01-3 also addresses the rulemaking authority of the Supreme Court of Virginia.

Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia
These are the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia as currently effective. Amended Rules are posted when they become effective.

Amendments
Orders of the Supreme Court of Virginia amending the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia.

Amendments Arranged by Rule, with Amendments Tracked
Unofficial versions of Rules recently amended, showing additions and deletions. Additions to a Rule are shown in red and underlined; deletions are noted in blue and struck through.

• Rules 1:1B, 1:4, 1:5, 1:24, 1:25, 4:7A, 5:1B, 5:26, 5:29, 5A:1, 5A:10, 5A:12, 5A:13, 5A:19, 5A:20, 5A:21, 5A:22, 5A:25, and Part Five A, Appendix, Form 10. (Effective August 20, 2024.)
• Amendment to Rule 1A:8 (effective March 4, 2024).

Call for Comment on Draft Rules and Revisions to Rules of Court

Prior Requests for Comments on Draft Revisions to Rules of Court

• April 2023
  • Proposed Rule 3:26: Preliminary Injunctions - Standard for Granting.
  • Proposed amendments to Rules of Court, Rule 1A:1.
  • Proposed amendments to Part Six, Section IV, Paragraph 13-25(C).
  • Proposed rule regarding intervention by the Commonwealth where the constitutionality of a law is challenged
  • Proposed amendments to Part One, Rule 1:5(f)
  • Proposed amendments to Part Six, Section IV, Paragraph 20
  • Proposed amendments to Rules 1A:1, Regulations and Rule 1A:9
  • Proposed amendments to Part Six, Section III, Canons of Judicial Conduct
  • Proposed amendments to Part One, Part Five and Part Five A addressing Court of Appeals Jurisdiction
  • Proposed amendments to Rules 1:19, 3:8, and 4:5(b)(6)
  • Proposed Rule 1A:8. Military Spouse Provisional Admission
  • Proposal to Replace “Shall” in the Rules of Court (September 4, 2020)
    
    • Draft Rules Replacing “Shall"
    • Proposed amendments to the Alternative Pretrial Order for Eminent Domain Cases, Form 3-A
    • Proposed amendments to Rule 4:5(b)(6)
    • Proposal on Live Testimony from Remote Locations Using Video Technology
    • The Advisory Committee on Rules of Court in Virginia Seeks Public Comment on Two Pending Proposed Rule Amendments Relating to Depositions in Discovery
    • The Supreme Court of Virginia Requests Public Comment on a Proposed Comment to a Rule of Professional Conduct
      
    • Proposal to Replace “Shall” in the Rules of Court (April 12, 2019 through July 12, 2019)
      • Draft Rules Replacing “Shall"
      • The Supreme Court of Virginia to Consider New Rule Related to Digital Exhibits and Pleadings
      • The Supreme Court of Virginia to Consider New Rules Related to Access to Judicial Records
      • Supreme Court of Virginia to Consider New Rules Related to Jurisdictional Transfer During Appeal of Final Judgment and Amendments to Rules Related to the Filing of a Notice of Appeal
      • Revised Proposal for Limited Scope Representation Rule (April 17, 2018 through August 1, 2018)
      • Limited-Scope Representation (December 1, 2017 to March 1, 2018)
      • Extension of Deadline of Call for Comment on Draft Rules and Revisions to Rules of Court: The Supreme Court of Virginia is considering adopting a Rule Related to Specialty Dockets.
      • Rule 1:5 Counsel
      • The Supreme Court of Virginia is considering proposed amendments to Rules 5:21A and 5A:38 related to appeals of injunctions.
      • Business Records Rule Reformatting; Rule 2:803(6)
      • Numerical Limit of Requests for Admissions; Rule 4:11(e)
        
      • Proposed Amendment to Rule 1:18
      • The Supreme Court of Virginia is considering proposed amendments to Rule 3A:11 related to Criminal Discovery
      • Proposed Amendments to Rules 1A:1 and 1A:3 remain pending with the Supreme Court. An order will be entered when a decision is made on these Rules.
      • Draft Amendments to the Rules of Court re Electronic Filing of Papers
        
      • Proposed Amendment to Rule 4:5
      • Proposed Draft Rule for Part Three of the Rules of Court Governing_Voir Dire in Civil Cases
      • Proposed Draft Part Nine of the Rules of Court Governing Involuntary Commitment Proceedings
      • Proposed Amendment to Rule 5:21
      • Proposed Amendments to Rules 1:8 and 3:16
      • Proposed Amendment to Rule 3:2 Addressing Dismissal of Actions Filed by Counsel Not Licensed to Practice Law in Virginia
      • Preliminary Draft E-filing Rules
      • Preliminary Draft Rules Governing Unlicensed Attorney Filings
      • Revised Draft Rule for Confidentiality of Juror Information