City of Chesapeake County
Chesapeake City is Virginia's second most populous city, with a population of over 249,000 residents. Before becoming an independent city in 1963, Chesapeake was initially a city in Norfolk County. It occupies a land area of 339 square miles, which is the state's largest county by land.
Chesapeake City has three trial courts: the Circuit Court, General District Court, and Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court. The Chesapeake Circuit Court is the city's general jurisdiction court with exclusive authority over felony trials. The apex court also handles civil cases such as tort claims, professional malpractices, contract disputes, and other monetary claims exceeding $15,000. Unsatisfied parties can file appeals at the Circuit Court to challenge District Court judgments.
The Chesapeake General District Court presides over minor criminal cases such as misdemeanors, felony preliminary hearings, and traffic infractions. It also resolves civil cases such as landlord-tenant disputes and civil lawsuits where the disputed amount is between $4,500 and $15,000. The District Court has a Small Claims division that handles monetary disputes not exceeding $4,500. Meanwhile, the Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court in Chesapeake City deals with child custody, spousal support, juvenile delinquency, and domestic violence cases.
Chesapeake City public court records contain case filings, dockets, transcripts, dispositions, and court rulings. These records are typically accessible to the public as required under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). They are publicly accessible to promote accountability and transparency in the city's justice system. Interested persons can request the following public court records from the Chesapeake Circuit Court Clerk.
- Civil records
- Criminal court records
- Small claims records
- Family law records
- Probate records
However, access to adoption and juvenile court records is restricted to only the record owners and individuals with court orders. To obtain court documents, individuals can visit or contact the Clerk's Office at:
Chesapeake City Clerk of the Circuit Court
307 Albemarle Drive, Suite 300A (Third Floor)
Chesapeake, VA 23322
Phone: (757) 382-3000
Email: ccclerk@cityofchesapeake.net
Copy fees in Chesapeake City are $0.50 per page and $2 per certified document. Interested persons can also subscribe to the Officer of the Court Remote Access (OCRA) to view Chesapeake court records online. Alternatively, they can view court records online free of charge on the state's Online Case Information System. This portal allows the public to search records by case number, party name, or hearing date.
