(a)Commencement. A civil action is commenced by filing a complaint in the clerk’s office. When a statute or established practice requires, a proceeding may be commenced by a pleading styled “Petition.” Upon filing of the pleading, the action is then instituted and pending as to all parties defendant thereto. The statutory writ tax and clerk’s fees must be paid before the summons is issued.(b)Caption. The complaint must be captioned with the name of the court and the full style of the action, which must include the names of all the parties. The requirements of Code ยง 8.01-290 may be met by giving the address or other data after the name of each defendant.(c)Form and Content of the Complaint.(i) It is sufficient for the complaint to ask for the specific relief sought. Without more it will be understood that all defendants mentioned in the caption are made parties defendant and required to answer the complaint; that proper process against them is requested; that answers under oath are waived, except when required by law, and that all relief authorized by law and demanded in the complaint may be granted. No formal conclusion is necessary.(ii) Every complaint requesting an award of money damages must contain an ad damnum clause stating the amount of damages sought. Leave to amend the ad damnum clause is available under Rule 1:8.
Va. Sup. Ct. 3:2
Amended by order dated June 14, 2005, effective January 1, 2006; amended by order dated December 20, 2006, effective March 1, 2007; amended by order dated September 3, 2020, effective September 3, 2020; amended by order dated November 23, 2020, effective March 1, 2021.
