Virginia Court Records Search

Virginia Court Records & Case Lookup

Virginia courts preside over 1.9 million cases annually. Criminal cases account for over 75% of cases tried, with over 1.4 million lawsuits every year. Similarly, civil cases heard across Virgimia's courts amount to over 464,000 cases yearly.

Generally, court records are public records in Virginia. Per the Virginia Public Records Act, all recorded information documenting any transaction or activity by a public body constitutes a public record, open to the public. Therefore, Virginia law supports the inspection and copying of government records, including court records.

Although the state permits public access to court records, certain documents or information are exempted from disclosure. Per the Act, court documents containing sensitive or confidential information are excluded from public view to protect privacy. Similarly, the courts redact personal identifiers on court documents to prevent fraud or harassment of the record holder.

State of Virginia Court System

Virginia courts are organized into 32 judicial districts and 31 judicial circuits. The Virginia court system comprises appellate courts, trial courts, and specialty courts. The appellate courts in Virginia consist of the courts of appeals and the Supreme Court of Virginia. The appellate courts in Virginia review cases decided in trial courts to ensure proper legal procedures were followed and the state's law accurately interpreted.

The Court of Appeals presides over appeals from criminal and civil cases from the Circuit Courts. They also attend to appeals from state agencies, including family law and administrative cases. It reviews cases for errors in procedures of law rather than accepting new facts. The Supreme Court of Virginia has appellate jurisdiction over civil, criminal, and administrative cases. It is the final authority on state legal matters and hears cases on appeals from the Court of Appeals.

Virginia Trial Courts

The trial courts in Virginia hear cases for the first time. At the trial courts, evidence is reviewed, witnesses provide testimony, and verdicts or judgments are issued. The trial court system in Virginia is organized into three levels. Virginia trial courts are:

Circuit Courts in Virginia

Circuit courts have general jurisdiction over a broad range of cases, including civil and criminal matters. Circuit Courts preside over felony crimes punishable by more than one year in prison and misdemeanor appeals from criminal cases. Civil cases heard at the Circuit include claims for amounts exceeding $25,000, equitable relief cases such as injunctions and property disputes, and family law matters. 31 Judicial Circuits are serving the 95 counties in Virginia.

General District Courts in Virginia

Serving the Commonwealth through 32 judicial districts, the General District Courts are trial courts with limited jurisdiction. The courts focus primarily on minor civil and criminal matters. The court has jurisdiction over misdemeanors and traffic violations. It also has authority over preliminary hearings for felony cases, and civil cases involving amounts up to $25,000. The General District Courts has a separate division for small claims for amounts not exceeding $5,000.

Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts In Virginia

The Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts in Virginia focus on family law and cases involving juveniles. The court takes a specialized approach to addressing cases involving families, children, and juvenile matters. It focuses on rehabilitation for juvenile cases and conflict resolution for domestic disputes.

Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts have jurisdiction over matters involving child support, child support, child visitation, child abuse, child neglect, and family violence. The court also presides over juvenile delinquency cases and may order detention or rehabilitation for minors.

What are the Specialty Courts in Virginia?

Within the Virginia court system are specialty courts designed to handle specific cases. Also called Specialty Dockets Services in Virginia, specialty courts are aimed at rehabilitation and addressing the root cause of issues rather than punishment for criminal offenses. The following are the specialty courts in Virginia:

• Drug Courts
• Behavioral/Mental Health Dockets
• Veterans Treatment Courts
• Recovery Courts

Virginia State Court Records vs. Federal Court Records

Virginia state court records and federal court records serve different purposes. Virginia court records are documents related to lawsuits from violations of state laws. Virginia State court records include state-level criminal offenses, civil cases, family law disputes, probate lawsuits, and estate matters. Most state court records are accessible through the Virginia Judicial System or in person at the courthouse for a minimal fee.

Federal Court records cover cases related to federal laws, the U.S. Constitution, and interstate or international disputes. Federal court records include criminal cases involving federal offenses, such as drug trafficking across state lines, and civil cases involving federal law claims, such as civil rights violations and bankruptcy cases. Federal Courts also preside over specialized cases such as patent claims. Federal court records are accessible through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system, which offers nationwide access to federal case information. There are two federal district courts in Virginia:

• The United States District Court Eastern District Court of Virginia
• The United States District Court Western District Court ofVirginia

What Are Public and Non-Public Court Records in Virginia

State of Virginia public court records are files and documents from the courts open to the public for inspection and copying. Generally, most court records are accessible to the public in Virginia. However, certain court records are non-public. They are sealed or restricted to protect privacy, sensitive information, or the integrity of ongoing cases.

How To Seal or Expunge Virginia Court Records

Section 19.2-392.2 of the Virginia Code establishes the procedures and guidelines for expunging court records in the state. Sealing court records hides the record from the general public. Sealing does not completely wipe off the record. The documents may still be accessed by law enforcement and certain government agencies.

Expungement, on the other hand, deletes the court record as though it never existed. It erases the record from public view. In Virginia, all convictions for any crime, both felonies and misdemeanors, are not eligible for expungement. In addition, court records where the defendant pled guilty or no contest to a crime cannot be expunged. Similarly, individuals whose charges were dismissed through participation in a first-offender program

How To Seal Court Records in Virginia

Presently, Virginia does not provide for sealing court records. However, effective July 1, 2025, the state provides for automatically sealing certain misdemeanor records. Per Section 19.2-392.7(A1) of the Virginia Code, certain misdemeanors, such as petit larceny, marijuana possession, disorderly conduct, trespassing, underage alcohol possession, and concealment are eligible for automatic sealing. Generally, eligibility for automatic sealing of misdemeanor court records requires:

• Seven years have elapsed since the date of conviction
• The record holder must not have been convicted of another crime during the waiting period

The law also offers a pathway where persons convicted may petition the courts to seal their records. Persons whose criminal court records may not be automatically sealed must meet the following requirements to be eligible to petition the court to seal their records:

• No prior convictions for Class 1 or 2 felonies
• No Class 3 or 4 felony convictions within the last 20 years
• Seven years have passed since the last conviction
• There is no conviction for crimes anywhere in the U.S. within the waiting period
• Evidence of rehabilitation is required for offenses related to alcohol or drugs

How To Expunge Court Records in Virginia

Expunging court records in Virginia are limited to persons who have their charges acquitted or the case dismissed. In Virginia, individuals may petition the courts to have certain criminal records hidden from public view or entirely removed. Generally, expungement of court records is available in court cases where the petitioner was acquitted of the charge, a nolle prosequi of the charge has been taken, or an absolute pardon is granted. There is no waiting period for charges resulting in dismissal or acquittal. The record holder may petition the courts for expungement immediately after the case.

The process of expunging court records begins with filling out the Petition for Expungement Form at the Circuit Court, where the case was disposed of. The petitioner must also include a fingerprint card obtained from the Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE). The petitioner must serve a copy of the petition to the attorney of the Commonwealth's office. The court may require a hearing to determine if it is in the public's best interest to expunge the records.

If the courts approve the petition, the court orders the destruction of the fingerprint card record or returns the card to the petitioner if a self-addressed envelope is included in the application. The court also notifies the Virginia State Police (VSP) to begin erasing the records. The VSP sends a letter to the petitioner confirming the expunction.

How To Access State of Virginia Court Records?

The Virginia Judicial System provides an online portal to search court records. Court records are also available at the courthouses where the case was filed. Persons seeking court records may contact the clerk of courts to view the documents. Generally, most courthouses require a written request to obtain the records. There are fees associated with retrieving copies of the record. The fees vary per country and number of copies requested. Nonetheless, certain court records, such as juvenile records, mental health records, domestic violence cases, and confidential business information, are publicly unavailable.

Online Access to Virginia Court Records

The state provides several online resources and databases to search Virginia court records. Virginia online court records are accessible through

• The Virginia Judicial Online Case Information System. The portal provides information on civil and criminal case information, court-related fees and fines, and access to the rules governing court procedures.
• The Virginia Circuit Court Case Information System - an online case management system for Circuit Courts to access civil, criminal, and traffic case records.
• The Virginia General District Court Online Services -a electronic platform to view court records, such as traffic violations and misdemeanors, from the General District Courts across Virginia.

Accessing court records via these platforms requires user registration. Users may query the databases using case numbers, party names, case status, or ticket numbers. While users may view basic information for free from these portals, varying fees are applicable to access the complete document.

In-Person Access to State of Virginia Court Records

In-person visits to Virginia courthouses provide an alternate means to access court records when online methods are insufficient or unavailable. The Clerk of Court is the record custodian for court records and grants access to the records on request. To obtain court records in person, record seekers must visit the courthouse where the case was tried. While some courthouses require written requests to obtain the records, others require searchers to complete designated forms to get the document. The Clerk's Office will provide copies of the record for a fee. The fee varies by county. Standard copies of the records cost up to $1.00 per page, while certified copies cost between $2 to $5.

Alternatively, some courthouses provide computer terminals where record seekers may look up court records in person. There is no cost to view the records in person at the courthouse. However, the Clerk's Office charges a fee to copy the records.

How To Request Judicial Administrative Records?

Judicial administrative records refer to documents related to the management and administrative functions of the court system in Virginia. They are not case-specific court records. Rather, they are records of the court's daily operations, such as personnel procedures, operational statistics, budgets, and court procedures.

The Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) of the Supreme Court of Virginia maintains the judicial administrative records and makes them publicly accessible. Record seekers may request the record by writing to the OES, describing the specific record. The OES charges a fee to access the records.

Record seekers may also contact the Executive Secretary of the OES at (807) 786-6455.

How To Access Older and Archived Court Records in Virginia

In Virginia, older or archived court records may not be accessible online, especially for cases tried before the digitalization of the Virginia court system. Record seekers may contact or visit the courthouse where the case was tried to access older court records.

Generally, most courts in Virginia transfer older court records to the Library of Virginia. The Library of Virginia serves as a central repository for archived court records. Alternatively, contacting the clerk of courts where the case was tried may yield results in accessing older court records that may not be available online.