Form DC-421 at a glance
What it is: Form DC-421 is the Summons for Unlawful Detainer (Civil Claim for Eviction) of the Commonwealth of Virginia, VA. CODE § 8.01-126, for a General District Court.
Where and when to file: (1) The preferred place for an Unlawful Detainer (Civil Claim for Eviction) to be filed is the city or county where the property is located.
A filled-in Form DC-421 example: a landlord files for unpaid rent
How to fill out Form DC-421, box by box
The court and the case number
Enter the CITY OR COUNTY of the General District Court and the STREET ADDRESS OF COURT.
Enter the CASE NO.
Plaintiff(s), Defendant(s) and their attorneys
Enter the NAME(S) (LAST, FIRST, MIDDLE), the ADDRESS and the TELEPHONE NUMBER of the PLAINTIFF(S) and of the DEFENDANT(S).
Enter the ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF(S) and the ATTORNEY FOR DEFENDANT(S), each with a TELEPHONE NUMBER.
Address/description of detained property
Enter the ADDRESS/DESCRIPTION OF DETAINED PROPERTY; Defendant should be removed from possession of the property (evicted) because of what is marked or written next.
Unpaid rent and damages
Mark unpaid rent, or use the line after the second box. Plaintiff states that rent is due and not paid and damages have been incurred as follows: enter the rent due for the RENT PERIOD and the late fee.
Enter the damages and what they are for, with interest, RATE(S) AND BEGINNING DATE(S), the costs, the civil recovery and the attorney's fees.
Mark the box for "Plaintiff asks for judgment for all amounts due as of the hearing date."
Signing and certifying
Mark the box if this summons is filed to end a tenancy not governed by the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, § 55.1-1200 et seq. of the Code of Virginia. All required notices have been given. I state under penalty of perjury that the foregoing on page 1 is true and correct.
Sign, then mark PLAINTIFF(S), PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEY or PLAINTIFF'S AGENT and enter the DATE.
Enter the DATE on which a copy of this document was mailed to the defendants named at the address shown, and mark PLAINTIFF, PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEY or PLAINTIFF'S AGENT.
More rules for Form DC-421
TO DEFENDANT: You are not required to come to court; however, if you do not come to court, judgment may be entered against you and you may be evicted. If you do not come to court and a judgment is entered against you, a writ of eviction may be issued immediately to give possession of the property to the Plaintiff.
Sources
[1] Form DC-421 (10/24), Summons for Unlawful Detainer (Civil Claim for Eviction), Commonwealth of Virginia (the Official source link on this page).