City of Suffolk County
Suffolk City was founded in 1742 by Virginian colonists. As of the 2023 census, Suffolk City had an estimated population of 100,659 residents and covers about 399.16 square miles of land. It is one of the most populous and largest cities in Virginia. The court system in Suffolk City includes a Circuit Court, a General District Court, and a Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.
The Suffolk City Circuit Court is a trial court with broad jurisdiction, handling civil and criminal cases, including felonies, probate wills, family matters, and most civil cases involving disputes over $25,000. It also hears appeals from lower courts and shares authority with the General District Court over cases involving claims between $4,500 and $25,000. Cases involving limited jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases, such as misdemeanors, traffic violations, civil cases where the amount in disputes does not exceed $25,000, and preliminary hearings for felonies are handled by the Suffolk City General District Court. The Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court has jurisdiction over matters involving juveniles, traffic infractions, support matters, and custody cases.
Suffolk City court records contain legal information on the conviction and prosecution of individuals for various offenses within the city. These records include motions, docket entries, exhibits, judgments, and transcripts. Under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Suffolk City residents may access publicly available court records. However, Virginia laws restrict access to adoption records, juvenile matters, and cases involving domestic relations abuse. Common Suffolk City court records include:
- Traffic Records
- Civil Records
- Probate Records
- Criminal Records
- Family Records
The Suffolk City Clerk of Court is responsible for maintaining court records. Circuit Court records may be accessed online through the Virginia Courts Case Information portal, and General District Court civil case records may be accessed through the General District Court Online Case Information System. Individuals can also visit the courthouses in person to request court records.
