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Virginia 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)1

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. How to search and order
  2. Who may order and what is restricted
  3. Related records in Virginia
  4. How Virginia handles it
  5. Divorce records in Virginia counties with a full guide
  6. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  7. Sources

Fees

$15 per certified copy or search (no refund if not found)2

How to search and order

Decree copies
Certified copy of the decree from the circuit court clerk: $0.50/page + $2 certification3

Who may order and what is restricted

Access
VDH divorce certificates restricted for 25 years (immediate family); court file may be sealed by order4
Courts: court system
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 courts5
Courts: 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)6
Courts: 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 after3
Marriage records: who holds it
License issued and recorded by the Clerk of the Circuit Court; record filed with the VDH Office of Vital Records (state copies 1853-present)1

How Virginia handles it

  • DMV customer service centers issue certified birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates ($15 + $2 DMV processing fee).7

Divorce 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 CountyCircuit Court Clerk's Office, Civil Division8—State fee: $15 per certified copy or search (no refund if not found)9
Alexandria CityClerk of Circuit Court10——
Arlington CountyClerk of the Circuit Court of Arlington County and the City of Falls Church11——
Chesapeake CityClerk of the Circuit Court, City of Chesapeake12——
Chesterfield CountyClerk of the Circuit Court - Civil Division13——
Fairfax CountyClerk of the Circuit Court, Civil Records / File Room14——
Hampton CityClerk of the Hampton Circuit Court15—Certificate fee: $15 per copy, 1918-present16
Loudoun CountyClerk of the Circuit Court, Civil Division17——
Newport News CityClerk of the Circuit Court18——
Norfolk CityClerk of the Circuit Court19——
Prince William CountyClerk of Circuit Court, Civil Division20——
Richmond CityClerk of the Richmond Circuit Court – Civil Section21——
Spotsylvania CountyClerk of the Spotsylvania Circuit Court22——
Stafford CountyClerk of the Circuit Court23——
Virginia Beach CityVirginia Beach Circuit Court Clerk24—State fee: $15 per certified copy or search (VDH)25

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

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: divorce 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. Vital Records Frequently Asked QuestionsVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordschecked November 4, 2026
  2. Online Application for a Vital RecordVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordschecked November 4, 2026
  3. Code of Virginia § 17.1-275. Fees collected by clerks of circuit courts; generallyVirginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System)checked November 4, 2026
  4. Code of Virginia § 20-124. Sequestration of recordVirginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System)checked November 4, 2026
  5. The Circuit Court (Circuit Courts Informational Pamphlet)Supreme Court of Virginia, Office of the Executive Secretarychecked November 4, 2026
  6. Case Status and InformationSupreme Court of Virginia, Office of the Executive Secretary (vacourts.gov)checked November 4, 2026
  7. Code of Virginia § 32.1-273. Fees for certified copies, searches of files, etc.Virginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System)checked November 4, 2026
  8. Albemarle Circuit CourtVirginia Judicial Systemchecked November 8, 2026
  9. Online Application for a Vital RecordVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordschecked November 8, 2026
  10. Alexandria Circuit Court (court page)Supreme Court of Virginiachecked November 4, 2026
  11. Courts & Judicial ServicesArlington Countychecked November 4, 2026
  12. Circuit Court ClerkCity of Chesapeake / Clerk of the Circuit Courtchecked November 5, 2026
  13. Chesterfield Circuit CourtVirginia Judicial Systemchecked November 4, 2026
  14. Circuit Court RecordsFairfax County, Virginiachecked November 4, 2026
  15. Hampton Circuit CourtSupreme Court of Virginia, Virginia Court Systemchecked November 7, 2026
  16. Vital Records - Hampton & Peninsula Health DistrictsVirginia Department of Healthchecked November 7, 2026
  17. Civil DivisionLoudoun County Clerk of the Circuit Courtarchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  18. Newport News Circuit CourtSupreme Court of Virginia (vacourts.gov)checked November 4, 2026
  19. Norfolk Circuit CourtSupreme Court of Virginia (vacourts.gov)checked November 4, 2026
  20. Circuit Court Clerk's OfficePrince William County, Virginiachecked November 4, 2026
  21. City of Richmond, VA home pageCity of Richmondchecked November 4, 2026
  22. Spotsylvania Circuit CourtSupreme Court of Virginia, Office of the Executive Secretarychecked November 4, 2026
  23. Circuit CourtStafford County, Virginiachecked November 7, 2026
  24. Circuit Court Clerk's OfficeVirginia Beach Circuit Court Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  25. Online Application for a Vital RecordVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordschecked November 4, 2026