Frederick County
Frederick County was established in 1738 and named for Frederick, Prince of Wales. It covers about 413.1 square miles of land, making it the 43rd largest county in Virginia by total area. Frederick County has an estimated population of 91,419 residents, and Winchester serves as the county seat.
The Frederick County court system consists of a Circuit Court, a General District Court, and a Juvenile and Domestic District Court. The Circuit Court is a trial court with broad jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases, including felonies, family matters, and civil claims over $25,000. It shares jurisdiction with the General District Court over civil claims between $4,500 and $25,000.
The Frederick County General District Court hears cases involving traffic violations, misdemeanors, and civil disputes, such as contract disputes and landlord-tenant disputes where the amount does not exceed $25,000. It also handles personal injury cases where the amount does not exceed $50,000. The Frederick County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court handles all the different cases including child abuse, juvenile crime, or neglect, visitation disputes as well as custody, and additional family matters. Appeals from the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court are heard in the Circuit Court.
Frederick County court records contain various documents from judicial proceedings within the county. These records are created during each stage of the legal process and consist of materials such as motions, transcripts, dockets, and judgments. Common Frederick County court records include:
- Family Records
- Criminal Records
- Civil Records
- Traffic Records
Frederick County court records are accessible to the public. However, access may be restricted to certain sensitive cases, such as juvenile and adoption records, to protect privacy as defined by the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Frederick County civil and criminal court records may be searched online through the Virginia Courts Case Information System. Records can be searched on the portal by party name, case number, or hearing date, and certain fees may apply for copies or certified copies.
