Albemarle Circuit Court cases in Albemarle County, Charlottesville, VA
Albemarle County Circuit Court is a Virginia circuit court (trial court of general jurisdiction) within the 16th Judicial Circuit, located in Charlottesville and serving Albemarle County. It conducts jury and bench trials; handles all felony criminal cases and misdemeanor appeals; hears higher-value civil actions, with concurrent jurisdiction over some lower-value claims; and decides equity matters. The court adjudicates family law cases, including divorce, annulment, equitable distribution, and child custody, visitation, and support, and hears appeals from the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. It also oversees probate and estate qualification, name changes, real property disputes, and issues orders and injunctions. In addition, it hears de novo appeals from the General District Court in civil and traffic matters.
Albemarle Circuit Court Contact and Location Information
| Court Type: | Circuit Court |
| County: | Albemarle |
| Street Address: | 501 East Jefferson Street |
| City: | Charlottesville |
| Zip Code: | 22902 |
| Phone: | 434-972-4083 |
| Fax: | 434-293-0298 |
| Hours: | Monday - Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
| Website URL: | https://www.vacourts.gov/courts/circuit/albemarle/home.html |
| Forms & Filing: | Forms |
| Dockets / Schedule / Calendar: | Dockets Information |
| Linkedin: | https://www.linkedin.com/company/albemarle-county-circuit-court |
| Wikipedia: | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albemarle_County_Courthouse_Historic_District |
Services and Case Types Handled in Albemarle Circuit Court
Albemarle County Circuit Court (16th Judicial District) functions as the county's general trial court. It:
- Hears felony criminal cases; misdemeanor and traffic appeals; civil actions generally over $25,000; equity/family matters (divorce, equitable distribution, name changes, adoptions); and probate/estate qualifications via the Clerk.
- Accepts and dockets case filings; maintains case records; records deeds, judgments, and liens; and issues certain licenses/permits as authorized by Virginia law.
- Processes and enforces protective orders when filed within circuit matters or on appeal from district courts.
- Administers jury services, including summoning petit and grand jurors, qualifications, deferrals, and compensation.
- Schedules and conducts hearings and trials (bench or jury), including motions, arraignments, sentencings, and civil trials; provides dockets and public access to records as permitted by law.
- Handles de novo appeals from General District and Juvenile & Domestic Relations courts and certifies records for further appellate review.