Jury Duty Excuse Letter in Virginia
A short letter asking the court to excuse you from jury duty or postpone it. Follow the instructions on your summons first, because courts handle these requests differently, and keep following the summons until the court answers.
What Virginia law says
| Who can be excused from jury duty | Virginia lets certain people be exempt from jury service if they ask, including anyone over 73; a parent or guardian personally responsible for a child 16 or younger who needs continuous care during court hours, or for a child under 18 with a serious health condition; a breastfeeding mother; a caretaker (including a family member or close friend) of a person with a serious health condition; a spouse of someone summoned to the same panel; a person whose one-person business would have to close; members of the armed forces or diplomatic service serving outside the U.S.; and a person whose disability substantially impairs the ability to serve. Some legislative and election workers are exempt during set periods. The exemption must be requested; it is not automatic. Source: Va. Code § 8.01-341.1 |
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| Penalty for skipping jury duty | A Virginia juror who was given proper notice and fails to appear in court without a sufficient excuse is fined $50 to $200. Source: Va. Code § 8.01-356 |
| Jury duty pay and your job | A Virginia employee summoned for jury duty who gives the employer reasonable notice may not be fired, have any adverse personnel action taken, or be required to use sick leave or vacation time because of the absence. An employee who serves four or more hours (including travel) in a day cannot be required to start a shift beginning at or after 5:00 p.m. that day or before 3:00 a.m. the next day. An employer who violates this law is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. Jurors receive $50 per day of attendance for travel and other expenses. The statutes reviewed do not require employers to pay wages during jury service. Source: Va. Code §§ 18.2-465.1, 17.1-618 |
Fill it in
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[today's date]
[your name]
[your mailing address]
[your phone or email]
To: [court or jury office name and address, from your summons]
Re: Jury summons. Juror number: [juror number from your summons]. Reporting date: [date you are told to report].
Dear [jury commissioner, clerk or judge named on your summons]:
I received a jury summons for the date above. I am asking to be [excused from / postponed from] jury service because [your reason, in one or two plain sentences].
I have attached [documents supporting your request, such as a doctor's note, or none].
If my service can be postponed, I can serve on these dates: [dates you are available].
Please tell me in writing whether my request is approved. I understand that I must follow the summons until I hear from the court.
Sincerely,
[your name]
Jury Duty Excuse Letter for other states · Virginia tenant rights
Last verified against official sources: October 22, 2026.
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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.