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Virginia court records

Who holds it: Unified state court system administered by the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia: circuit courts (all felonies; exclusive jurisdiction over almost all civil claims > $50,000; concurrent with general district courts for claims over $4,500 up to $50,000; divorce, wills/estates, real property), general district courts (misdemeanors, traffic, smaller civil), juvenile & domestic relations district courts1

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. What is public and what is sealed
  2. More details
  3. Related records in Virginia
  4. How Virginia handles it
  5. Court records in Virginia counties with a full guide
  6. Official warnings
  7. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  8. Sources

Fees

Circuit clerk copies $0.50/page, certification $2 (§ 17.1-275); district court clerk copies up to $1 for first two pages and $0.50 each page after2

Statewide case search

Free OES online systems: OCIS 2.0 statewide search (eapps.courts.state.va.us/ocis/landing) of general district criminal/traffic, J&DR adult criminal, and select circuit courts; plus per-locality General District Court Case Information and Circuit Court Case Information (select circuit courts)3

Free search

What is public and what is sealed

What is public
Circuit court records open to inspection by any person except as provided by law; requests go to the clerk; response within a reasonable time, max 30 days4
Online restrictions
Clerks may not post on the Internet documents containing signatures, SSNs, dates of birth, maiden names of parents, financial account numbers, or names/ages of minors5
Sealed and confidential records
Juvenile case files are confidential (§ 16.1-305); divorce records may be sealed on motion (§ 20-124); since July 1, 2026 automatic and petition-based sealing of many criminal records (Va. Code § 19.2-392.5 et seq.)6

More details

Circuit courts
31 judicial circuits, 120 circuit courts1
Directory
Circuit Courts Directory (PDF): vacourts.gov/static/directories/circ.pdf; district courts: vacourts.gov/directories/dist.pdf7
Criminal history checks: state repository
Virginia State Police, Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE)6
Criminal history checks: who may order
Anyone may use form SP-167 with the subject's signature notarized in Section 1 (a third-party recipient also signs Section 2, notarized); SP-230 is for Virginia employers/prospective employers and entities empowered under Va. Code § 19.2-389 (it cannot be used to search your own record)8
Criminal history checks: fee
$15 criminal history name search; $20 combined criminal history + sex offender registry; $15 sex offender search (SP-266); non-profit volunteer rates $16 / $89
Divorce records: who holds it
Circuit court clerk holds the divorce case file and final decree; VDH Office of Vital Records issues certified divorce certificates (1918-present)10
Probate: who holds it
Clerk of the Circuit Court (probate is handled by the clerk; disputes by the circuit court)11

How Virginia handles it

  • Independent cities: each county and each city elects its own clerk, treasurer, commissioner of revenue, sheriff and attorney for the Commonwealth, so records for a city are held by the city's officers, not the surrounding county's. Identify whether the property/event is in a city or a county.12
  • 120 circuit courts for 133 localities: some circuit court clerks serve both a county and a city (or several), so the records office may be in another jurisdiction's courthouse.1
  • Court case records are outside VFOIA: request them from the clerk under § 17.1-208 (circuit) or § 16.1-69.54:1 (district).7
  • Statewide criminal-record sealing effective July 1, 2026 removes many records from court/VSP public access.6

Court records in Virginia counties with a full guide

The local office, its official online search and its own fee, for each county with a full guide. Local fees can differ from the statewide figures above.

CountyOfficeSearch onlineFee
Albemarle County—Albemarle Circuit Court13
Albemarle General District Court14		$0.50 per page (or per image for electronic records)15
Alexandria City—Alexandria General District Court16
Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court for the City of Alexandria17		Copies $0.50 per page; $2.00 per certified document18
Arlington County—Circuit Court of Arlington County19
Arlington General District Court20
Arlington Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court21		Circuit Court case-file copies $0.50 per page; $2.00 extra per certified copy; requests by email ([email protected] or [email protected])22
Chesapeake City—Chesapeake Circuit Court23
Chesapeake General District Court23
Chesapeake Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court23		Circuit Court orders: $0.50 per page plus $2.00 raised seal certification per copy24
Chesterfield County—Chesterfield Circuit Court25
Chesterfield General District Court26		Copies $.50 per page; certification additional $2 per document; $2 credit card convenience fee25
Fairfax County—Fairfax Circuit Court27
Fairfax County General District Court27		Copies $0.50 per page; certified copy additional $2.00 per document; triple seal additional $2.50 per document28
Hampton City—Hampton Circuit Court29
Hampton General District Court30
Hampton Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court29		Circuit: $0.50 per page, $2 certification. District courts: up to $1 for the first two pages, $0.50 each page after31
Loudoun County—Loudoun Circuit Court32
Loudoun General District Court33		—
Newport News City—Newport News Circuit Court34
Newport News Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court35
Newport News General District Court36		Copies $0.50 per page; certification $2 (Va. Code § 17.1-275)37
Norfolk City—Norfolk Circuit Court38
Norfolk General District Court and Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court38		Copies $0.50 per page (Va. Code § 17.1-275); certified copies stated by the city as $2.50 plus $0.50 per page39
Prince William County—Prince William Circuit Court40
Prince William General District Court41		Court case copies $.50 per page; certified copies $2.00 per document; digital files containing 100 pages or less $10.00, containing 100 pages or more $25.0042
Richmond City——Copies $.50/page; certification additional $2.00; subpoena duces tecum $17.0043
Spotsylvania County—Spotsylvania General District Court44
Spotsylvania Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court44		Circuit clerk copies $0.50 per page; certification $2 (statewide statute)45
Stafford County—Stafford Circuit Court46
Stafford General District Court47
Stafford Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court47		Circuit clerk copies $0.50 per page, $2 certification48
Virginia Beach City—Virginia Beach General District Court49Copies $0.50 per page or image (Code of Virginia § 17.1-275)50

For any other county, see the county list on the Virginia guide.

Official warnings

  • Virginia Attorney General (2014) warned of 'Deed Processing Notice' letters selling deed copies for $83; deed copies are available from some local court clerks for as little as $0.50 per page, plus $2 if certified.51
  • VADeed Alert is a free official deed-fraud email alert from the courts (OES), available where the clerk opts in.52

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Virginia office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Rules in other states: court records in every state. Everything else in Virginia: Virginia public records guide.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. The Circuit Court (Circuit Courts Informational Pamphlet)Supreme Court of Virginia, Office of the Executive Secretarychecked November 4, 2026
  2. Code of Virginia § 17.1-275. Fees collected by clerks of circuit courts; generallyVirginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System)checked November 4, 2026
  3. Case Status and InformationSupreme Court of Virginia, Office of the Executive Secretary (vacourts.gov)checked November 4, 2026
  4. Code of Virginia § 17.1-208. Records, etc., open to inspection; copies; exceptionVirginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System)checked November 4, 2026
  5. Code of Virginia § 17.1-293. Posting and availability of certain information on the Internet; prohibitionsVirginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System)checked November 4, 2026
  6. Petition-Based Record SealingVirginia State Policechecked November 4, 2026
  7. Requesting Public Records from Clerks of CourtSupreme Court of Virginia, Office of the Executive Secretarychecked November 4, 2026
  8. Virginia Criminal History Record CheckVirginia State Policechecked November 4, 2026
  9. Instructions for Completion of Criminal History Background Search forms (SP-167)Virginia State Policechecked November 4, 2026
  10. Vital Records Frequently Asked QuestionsVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordschecked November 4, 2026
  11. Code of Virginia § 64.2-444. Clerks may probate willsVirginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System)checked November 4, 2026
  12. Constitution of Virginia, Article VII, Section 4. County and city officersVirginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System)checked November 4, 2026
  13. Albemarle Circuit CourtVirginia Judicial Systemchecked November 8, 2026
  14. Albemarle General District CourtVirginia Judicial Systemchecked November 8, 2026
  15. Code of Virginia § 17.1-275. Fees collected by clerks of circuit courts; generallyVirginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System)checked November 8, 2026
  16. General District CourtCity of Alexandria, Virginiachecked November 4, 2026
  17. Clerk of Circuit CourtCity of Alexandria, Virginiachecked November 4, 2026
  18. Clerk of the Circuit Court - DivorceCity of Alexandria, Virginiachecked November 4, 2026
  19. Land Records FAQsArlington County Circuit Court Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  20. General District CourtArlington Countychecked November 4, 2026
  21. Juvenile & Domestic Relations CourtArlington Countychecked November 4, 2026
  22. Copy/Document RequestsArlington County Circuit Court Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  23. Case Status and InformationSupreme Court of Virginiachecked November 5, 2026
  24. Circuit Court ClerkCity of Chesapeake / Clerk of the Circuit Courtchecked November 5, 2026
  25. Circuit Court / Circuit Court ClerkChesterfield County, VAchecked November 4, 2026
  26. General District CourtChesterfield County, VAchecked November 4, 2026
  27. Circuit CourtFairfax County, Virginiachecked November 4, 2026
  28. Circuit Court RecordsFairfax County, Virginiachecked November 4, 2026
  29. Case Status and InformationSupreme Court of Virginia, Office of the Executive Secretary (vacourts.gov)checked November 7, 2026
  30. General District CourtCity of Hampton, Virginiachecked November 7, 2026
  31. Code of Virginia § 17.1-275. Fees collected by clerks of circuit courts; generallyVirginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System)checked November 7, 2026
  32. Civil DivisionLoudoun County Clerk of the Circuit Courtarchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  33. General District CourtLoudoun Countyarchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  34. Newport News Circuit CourtSupreme Court of Virginia (vacourts.gov)checked November 4, 2026
  35. Newport News Juvenile and Domestic Relations District CourtSupreme Court of Virginia (vacourts.gov)checked November 4, 2026
  36. General District Court Online Case Information SystemOffice of the Executive Secretary, Supreme Court of Virginiachecked November 6, 2026
  37. Code of Virginia § 17.1-275. Fees collected by clerks of circuit courts; generallyVirginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System)checked November 4, 2026
  38. Norfolk Circuit CourtSupreme Court of Virginia (vacourts.gov)checked November 4, 2026
  39. Code of Virginia § 17.1-275Virginia General Assembly (law.lis.virginia.gov)checked November 4, 2026
  40. Court Case InformationPrince William County, Virginiachecked November 4, 2026
  41. Prince William Circuit CourtSupreme Court of Virginia (vacourts.gov)checked November 4, 2026
  42. Record Copy RequestsPrince William County, Virginiachecked November 4, 2026
  43. Records ResearchClerk of the Richmond Circuit Courtchecked November 4, 2026
  44. Spotsylvania Circuit CourtSupreme Court of Virginia, Office of the Executive Secretarychecked November 4, 2026
  45. Code of Virginia § 17.1-275 Fees collected by clerks of circuit courtsVirginia General Assembly (LIS)checked November 4, 2026
  46. Circuit Court Case Information (court selection list)Virginia Judicial System (Office of the Executive Secretary)checked November 7, 2026
  47. Case Status and InformationSupreme Court of Virginia, Office of the Executive Secretary (vacourts.gov)checked November 7, 2026
  48. Code of Virginia § 17.1-275. Fees collected by clerks of circuit courts; generallyVirginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System)checked November 7, 2026
  49. Case Status and InformationSupreme Court of Virginia, Office of the Executive Secretary (vacourts.gov)checked November 4, 2026
  50. Code of Virginia § 17.1-275. Fees collected by clerks of circuit courts; generallyVirginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System)checked November 4, 2026
  51. Attorney General Herring Warns Homeowners To Be Cautious Of Letters That Urge Them To Buy Copies Of Their Home DeedOffice of the Attorney General of Virginiachecked November 4, 2026
  52. VADeed Alert Promotional Toolkit (Brunswick Circuit Court)Supreme Court of Virginia / Brunswick Circuit Court Clerk (vacourts.gov)checked November 4, 2026