Portsmouth, Virginia Civil Procedures

Find the right Litigation attorney in Portsmouth, VA

  • /10
  • Client Overall
    Satisfaction Rate*
*TrustPilot score as of 010118

Litigation Lawyers in Portsmouth

In Portsmouth, Virginia, civil procedure is clearly what it sounds like: it refers to the rules that govern how civil litigation is conducted.

The rules of civil procedure in Portsmouth, Virginia are designed to make the process of civil litigation as efficient, affordable, simple, and fair as possible.

Civil litigation, however, is inherently difficult. So, there is no getting around the fact that the civil procedure rules in Portsmouth, Virginia are also going to be somewhat convoluted and obtuse (or at least parts of them are). Remember, these rules govern every single thing that happens in a civil lawsuit, from the first complaint, to the last appeal.

Major Portsmouth, Virginia Civil Procedure Issues

Complaint: The first, and perhaps most important, part of filing a lawsuit in Portsmouth, Virginia is the complaint. The complaint is filed with the court in Portsmouth, Virginia that's responsible for handling civil trials. It lists everything that the plaintiff (the person who is suing) alleges against the defendant (the person the plaintiff is suing). Normally, but not always, the end of the complaint will contain a "prayer for relief." The prayer for relief is simply a statement of what the plaintiff is asking the court to do to remedy the harm that the defendant allegedly caused.

Answer: The answer is a document filed by the defendant, in response to a complaint. The answer normally contains a few things: usually, it denies most of the allegations made by the plaintiff. If it does not deny the factual assertions in the complaint, it will normally raise legal defenses, known as affirmative defenses, arguing that even if everything the plaintiff alleges is true, the defendant should not be held liable, because of extenuating circumstances.

Discovery: Once both sides have fired their opening volleys in the form of the complaint and answer, the next process in civil litigation in Portsmouth, Virginia is discovery. Under the civil procedure rules of most jurisdictions in the U.S., each side of a lawsuit is required by law to disclose relevant information to the other side. These disclosures come in the form of depositions, the production of documents, and answers to written questions submitted by opposing counsel.

Trial: it's really very uncommon for lawsuits to go trial in Portsmouth, Virginia, because the rules of civil procedure in Portsmouth, and nearly everywhere else, encourage speedy resolution of legal disputes, before they ever see the inside of a courtroom. This is largely accomplished by judges dismissing cases that clearly have no merit, or the parties settling out of court. However, when neither of these things is possible, both sides of the lawsuit will have to hash it out in a trial, which can be the most stressful and expensive step in the process. It involves both sides of the case presenting their evidence and arguments to a jury and judge, and letting them decide the issues.

How Can a Portsmouth, Virginia Lawyer Help?

If you are facing a legal issue of any kind in Portsmouth, Virginia, you are going to face civil procedure issues.

In Portsmouth, Virginia, procedural pitfalls can derail an otherwise-valid case. They can also be some of the most obtuse and convoluted issues in the whole case. Thus, you should not go into something like this without the counsel of an attorney.

Talk to a Law Attorney now!

Life in Portsmouth

Portsmouth, Virginia is an independent city (meaning it is not part of any county) in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. Its population is about 95,000 people.

Portsmouth is home to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, a historic and still-active shipbuilding facility for the United States Navy. It was given the name "Norfolk" to avoid confusing it with the Naval shipyard that already existed in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

This shipyard employs thousands of people, and is one of the major economic drivers of Portsmouth, Virginia. The shipyard, and the associated military installations nearby, employ several Portsmouth, Virginia attorneys, both as military officers and civilians.

Because of its varied industries and large military presence, there are many lawyers in Portsmouth, Virginia practicing a wide variety of legal specialties. If you need legal advice, chances are good that you can find a Portsmouth, Virginia attorney who can help.

Clients Rate LegalMatch Attorneys
(click to read reviews)

Howard B.
Howard B.

Business - Litigation

Rye Brook, NY

Mark B.
Mark B.

Business - Litigation

Roseland, NJ

David A.
David A.

Business - Litigation

Walnut Creek, CA