VACES Exhibit Filing Guide
VACES (Virginia Case Electronic System) is mandatory for Circuit Courts. With a 10 MB per file limit (smaller than most states) and strong notice pleading requirements, Virginia requires careful file management. Fairfax and Arlington Counties have Business Docket for commercial cases.
VACES Requirements
Va. SCR 4:1 Discovery
Discovery scope and limits. Parties must disclose documents to be used at trial per pretrial procedures.
Va. SCR 4:9 Production
Documents must be produced as kept in usual course of business or organized by request categories.
10 MB File Size Limit
VACES limits files to 10 MB, smaller than most state systems (25 MB typical). Requires careful file size management.
Business Docket
Fairfax and Arlington Counties have Business Docket for complex commercial disputes with specialized procedures.
Accepted File Formats
- • PDF format required
- • 10 MB per file limit
- • Mandatory for Circuit Courts
- • Text-searchable recommended
Common VACES Filing Issues
10 MB Limit Exceeded
Virginia 10 MB limit is smaller than typical 25 MB limit. Compress images more aggressively or split exhibits into more files.
Exhibit List Missing
Va. SCR 4:13 governs pretrial procedures. Exhibit lists are due per pretrial order, typically 21 days before trial. Check your scheduling order.
Production Format Wrong
Virginia requires documents produced as kept in usual course of business unless requesting party specifies organization by request categories per Va. SCR 4:9.
Notice Pleading Insufficient
Virginia has strong notice pleading requirements. Ensure exhibits support factual allegations in pleadings.
🆕 New: Trial Binder Mode for Multi-Exhibit Filings
Filing multiple exhibits with VACES? Use Trial Binder Mode to create court-ready exhibit books with alphabetic labels (A, B, C), per-exhibit page numbering (A1-A5), and auto-generated table of contents. Great for complex filings with numerous exhibits.
Learn about Trial Binder ModeWhy Use ExhibitPrep for VACES?
ExhibitPrep ensures your exhibits meet all VACES requirements before you upload.
Va. SCR Compliant
ExhibitPrep stamps meet Virginia Supreme Court Rules exhibit requirements.
File Size Monitoring
ExhibitPrep shows file sizes to help you stay under Virginia 10 MB limit.
Business Docket Ready
Works with Fairfax and Arlington Business Docket procedures.
Discovery Support
Stamp exhibits for production and trial in compliance with Va. SCR 4:9.
How to Prepare Exhibits for VACES
Upload exhibits under 10 MB
Ensure each document is under Virginia 10 MB limit. Compress or split as needed.
Select Virginia template
Choose P-# for plaintiffs or D-# for defendants per Virginia convention.
Add stamps and check file size
Position stamps and preview. Monitor file sizes for 10 MB compliance.
Download stamped exhibits
Export PDFs under 10 MB each, ready for VACES submission.
Upload to VACES portal
Log in to eapps.courts.state.va.us/vaces and upload exhibits.
Ready to File with VACES?
Stamp your exhibits now and upload to VACES in minutes.
VACES Guides by Practice Area
Practice-specific filing requirements and exhibit tips for VACES.
Frequently Asked Questions about VACES
What is the VACES file size limit?
VACES limits files to 10 MB per document, which is smaller than the typical 25 MB limit in most state courts. This requires more aggressive image compression or splitting exhibits into additional files. Plan file sizes carefully when preparing exhibits for Virginia courts.
Is VACES mandatory in Virginia?
Yes. VACES is mandatory for all attorneys filing in Virginia Circuit Courts. This statewide mandate ensures uniform e-filing procedures across all Circuit Courts. General District Courts and Juvenile Courts have separate e-filing procedures.
What is Virginia Business Docket?
Fairfax County Circuit Court and Arlington County Circuit Court have Business Docket programs for complex commercial cases. Business Docket offers specialized judges with commercial law expertise, expedited scheduling, and streamlined procedures. Cases must meet minimum thresholds for complexity and amount in controversy.
When are exhibit lists due in Virginia?
Per Va. Supreme Court Rule 4:13, pretrial procedures require exhibit lists per the pretrial order, typically 21 days before trial. Check your case-specific scheduling order for exact deadlines. Pretrial orders vary by court and case type.
How do I mark exhibits in Virginia courts?
Virginia typically uses P-1, P-2, P-3 for plaintiffs and D-1, D-2, D-3 for defendants. Exhibits should be organized and marked according to pretrial order requirements. Virginia strong notice pleading tradition means exhibits should clearly support factual allegations.