Repayment of a personal loan for a business.

Asked in Winchester, VA - over 4 years

I loaned my daughters longtime live in boyfriend who is one of three partners in a local restaurant $10,000 in August of 2007 toward start up costs for the business with the understanding that the debt would be repaid when the business was up and running. He and my daughter have since split and he and his partners refuse to return my calls for repayment of the debt even though I have threatened legal action. i have gotten the paperwork neede to file a civil suit in the local juristiction. Is this something that I can pursue on my own or do I need a lawyer? I live in the state of Virginia.