Wise County
Wise County's court system comprises circuit, district, and juvenile courts. The Wise County 30th Judicial Circuit Court is the highest in the county. It typically handles cases that fall outside the jurisdiction of the other courts in the county. It hears cases involving felonies, misdemeanors brought on by grand jury indictments, and other offenses that have similar conditions. It also handles divorces, adoptions, emergency protection orders, and probate cases. Additionally, it has exclusive jurisdiction over civil claims exceeding $25,000 but may hear civil disputes involving claims above $4,500.
The Wise County 30th Judicial General District Court hears misdemeanors, preliminary felony hearings, traffic infractions, and municipal code violations. It shares jurisdiction with the Circuit Court over civil proceedings involving claims between $4,500 and $25,000, and it has sole jurisdiction over civil matters involving claims under $4,500. The Wise County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court handles domestic relations matters, such as spousal support, paternity, termination of parental rights, child custody, and visitation rights. It also hears juvenile matters and criminal cases involving injury to a child or family member.
Public court records in Wise County are files and papers produced by the county courts that are accessible to the general public. Writs, depositions, court schedules, motions, court transcripts, court filings, docket listings, judgments, warrants, and orders are all classified as public court records in the county as long as they are not sealed by law or court orders. While the Wise County Clerk of the Circuit Court is in charge of the Circuit Court's records, the clerks of the General District Court and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court are responsible for maintaining their respective records.
The following types of court records are available to the public in Wise County unless sealed by court orders:
- Criminal Records
- Civil Records
- Family Law Records
- Probate Records
- Traffic Records
The offices of the various court clerks provide the public with access to non-confidential court records. Alternatively, record seekers can search the Virginia Courts Case Information (Circuit) portal for public court records from the Wise County 30th Judicial Circuit Court. Likewise, they can use the General District Court Online Case Information System platform to look for public court records from the Wise County 30th Judicial General District Court.
