Washington County
Washington County was founded in 1776 from Fincastle County and was named for George Washington, who was then commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. The county has about 561.2 square miles of land, with an estimated population of 53,935 residents. Its county seat is located in Abingdon. Washington County's court system consists of a Circuit Court, a General District Court, and a Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.
The Washington County Circuit Court is a trial court with the most extensive authority within the county. It handles all civil cases involving claims exceeding $25,000 and shares jurisdiction with the General District Court for cases involving claims between $4,500 and $25,000. The Circuit Court also handles felony cases, family matters such as divorce, and appeals from the General District Court and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. The Washington County General District Court has jurisdiction over certain types of civil and criminal cases. It handles cases involving traffic infractions, ordinance violations, misdemeanors, and preliminary hearings for felonies. It also has prerequisite authority over civil cases involving claims under $4,500. The Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court handles juvenile issues and domestic relations cases, including matters such as child support, delinquency, paternity, and emancipation.
Documents and information related to specific court proceedings constitute court records generated by Washington County courts. These records comprise warrants, case filings, docket entries, orders, fines, and judgments. Washington County court records include the following:
â— Criminal Records
â— Family Records
â— Probate Records
â— Juvenile Records
â— Civil Records
In Washington County, most court records are accessible to the public. However, certain records such as adoptions, juvenile, and sealed records are restricted from public access to protect privacy, as defined in the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Washington County civil and criminal records may be searched online by name, case number, or hearing date through the Virginia Judicial System portal or in person by visiting the county's courthouses. However, certain fees may apply for copying or duplicating court records.
