Amherst County
Amherst County is located in central Virginia as part of the Lynchburg Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was established in 1761 and named after Sir Jeffery Amherst, a British military commander in the French and Indian War. The county spans approximately 474 square miles and has a population of about 31,426. Its county seat is the Town of Amherst, which also serves as the administrative and cultural hub of the county.
Amherst County's judicial system comprises the Circuit, General District, and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts. The Circuit Court is a general jurisdiction court that handles felony criminal cases, misdemeanors charged by a grand jury indictment, and civil matters involving claims over $25,000. It is responsible for equity matters, probate of wills, divorces, adoptions, property disputes, and emergency protective orders. It also shares concurrent jurisdiction with the General District Court for matters involving civil claims between $4,500 and $15,000. The General District Court handles misdemeanor cases, traffic violations, preliminary hearings for felony cases, and civil disputes involving claims of $25,000 or less. It has a Small Claims Division for cases involving money or property damage up to $5,000. Meanwhile, the Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court addresses cases involving minors, including juvenile delinquency, child custody, support, and abuse cases. It also hears cases of domestic violence and family-related disputes.
Amherst County public court records include documents such as testimonies, affidavits, summonses, hearings, dockets, exhibits, and transcripts created during court proceedings in the county. These records are managed by the Clerk of Courts following the Virginia Freedom of Information Act to ensure transparency and easy access. Public records in Amherst County include:
- Criminal records
- Civil case records
- Probate records
- Family records
However, certain documents including sealed records, adoption files, and records of mental health cases, as well as juvenile-related matters are restricted from public access.
To obtain court records in Amherst County, individuals can contact the Clerk's Office at:
113 Taylor Street
Amherst, VA 24521
Phone: (434) 946-9321
Fax: (434) 946-9323
Physical copies of court records typically cost $0.50 per page, while certified documents may incur additional fees. Amherst County also provides online access to court records via Virginia's Online Case Information System, offering free public access to non-confidential case files. Users can search by party name, case number, or case type. In addition, records can be accessed via the Officer of the Court Remote Access (OCRA), a subscription-based platform available to authorized users.
