City of Charlottesville County
Charlottesville City was named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III. Although it operates as an independent city, it also serves as the governmental seat of Albemarle County. The city was established in 1762, and as of 2020, it has at least 46,553 inhabitants.
Residents of Charlottesville are served by a Circuit Court and General District Court. The Circuit Court has authority over all legal matters not specifically assigned to other courts. It handles cases involving felonies, serious misdemeanors, traffic violations, and disputes over wills and estates. Civil claims exceeding $25,000 fall under its exclusive jurisdiction, while it shares jurisdiction with the General District Court over disputes involving amounts that exceed $4,500. The court also handles certain cases involving divorces, adoptions, and property disputes. The General District Court hears misdemeanors, local ordinance violations, and traffic infractions. It also conducts preliminary hearings for felony charges and resolves civil disputes valued between $4,500 and $25,000.
Public court records are official documents that provide detailed information about proceedings of cases heard by the county courts. The Charlottesville City Clerk is the official responsible for managing, preserving, and providing access to court records in the county. This official provides access to the following public court records:
- Civil records
- Criminal records
- Appellate records
- Probate records
To obtain copies of court records, Interested individuals may make an in-person visit to the Clerk's Office at:
315 East High Street
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Phone: (434) 970-3766
Obtaining uncertified copies of court records at the Office of the Charlottesville City Clerk costs $1 for the first two pages and $0.50 for each additional page. Viewing the records online is free of charge. However, fees are charged to individuals who seek to download copies of the records. Requesters should also note that records such as juvenile records and expunged records may not be accessible to the public as they are regarded as confidential.
