Albemarle County
Albemarle County occupies 721 square miles of land in Virginia's Piedmont region. The county was created in 1744 and named in honor of the 2nd Earl of Albemarle, William Anne van Keppel. Its population is 112,513 residents, while its county seat is Charlottesville.
Albemarle County has three trial courts, including the Circuit Court, General District Court, and Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court. The Circuit Court in Albemarle is part of Virginia's 16th Judicial Circuit. It handles all felony-related cases and civil actions where the amount in controversy is more than $25,000. Examples of civil cases heard at Albemarle County Circuit Court are property disputes, professional malpractices, and contract disputes. The county's highest court also has appellate authority to modify decisions from lower trial courts.
The General District Court in Albemarle County typically presides over minor criminal cases, including traffic violations, misdemeanors, and felony pre-trials. District Court judges also handle civil lawsuits involving up to $25,000 in financial settlement and landlord-tenant disputes. Court cases involving domestic relations, child dependency, juvenile delinquency, and child custody/support are resolved at the Albemarle County Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court.
The Virginia Public Records Act mandates public access to the following public court records maintained by the Albemarle County Clerk of the Circuit Court:
- Civil court records
- Criminal court records
- Property records
- Traffic records
- Probate records
- Family law records
These documents, created during legal proceedings in Albemarle County courts, contain case information like photos, dockets, evidence, pleadings, motions, transcripts, audio/video recordings, orders, and judgments. Albemarle County court records are useful for research, investigations, and legal precedents. They are open to the public to ensure trust and transparency in the county's judicial processes. Most court records are publicly accessible except mental health, adoption, juvenile, and sealed court records. Special court orders are required to access these confidential court documents. To obtain public court documents, requesters can visit or contact the Clerk's Office at:
Albemarle Circuit Court Clerk
501 East Jefferson Street
Court Square
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Phone: (434) 972-4083
Email: jzug@albemarle.org
Requesters are often charged $0.50 per page and $2 per certified court record. An alternative way to access public court records is via the Virginia Judiciary Case Information System. Online users can search court records filed in the Circuit and General District Court without charges.
