Virginia Beach City, Virginia State Court Records
Virginia Beach City court records are legal paperwork that document court proceedings and decisions in criminal and civil cases handled by the city courts. Each court in the county has its clerk, whose office is responsible for maintaining its records and providing members of the public access to these records. Court records consist of various documents, such as petitions, orders, motions, pleadings, briefs, memoranda, and dockets.
Furthermore, these records are maintained and disseminated in line with state law and local court rules. In a broader sense, they relate to other public records, such as birth records, death records, marriage certificates, arrest records, and criminal history information records.
Are Virginia Beach City Court Records Public?
Yes. Per Virginia Code § 17.1-208, records kept by court clerks are public, except as otherwise provided by law. This means that members of the public have the right to request and obtain court records from any court clerk’s office or that of any designated custodian. Note, however, that strict restrictions often apply to records from the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, as matters heard in this court are often sensitive, especially in juvenile cases.
Furthermore, public access is strictly regulated for court records pertaining to adoption, mental health proceedings, and sealed cases, as well as attorney-client privileged communications, confidential personal identification numbers (e.g., social security numbers and driver’s license numbers), identifying information about sexual abuse victims, and proprietary information.
If a requested public case record contains any of the aforementioned non-public information, the portion containing the said information will be redacted before the request is granted. Confidential court records/case information are only available to case parties, authorized law enforcement officers/agencies, and third parties with court authorization.
What Information is Available in Virginia Beach City Court Records?
The following are public-facing contents of Virginia Beach City court records:
- Case party names
- Case number
- Case status
- Filing and court dates
- Docket entries
- Claim/charges
- Filings, e.g., motions, petitions, orders, subpoenas, pleadings, judgments, etc.
- Names of presiding court and judge(s)
- Attorney names
Virginia Beach City Court Records Search
Virginia Beach City court records may be obtained using any of the following methods:
- Online Access: Virginia Beach court records are available via Online Case Information System 2.0, a free, statewide online resource for court case searches. Users can search for records by party name, case number, or filing date. To limit search results to Virginia Beach City, select the city name under "Court." Note that searches on this website only return results for adult criminal and traffic cases.
Dedicated websites exist for other kinds of circuit court and district court case information. Searches are mainly by name and case number.
- In-Person Access: Each Virginia Beach City court has its specific court clerk, who serves as the primary custodian of its court records. Interested persons should contact the relevant court clerk’s office during business hours to request records. Party names, case numbers, dates of birth, and filing/hearing dates are some relevant details that can be used to expedite a search. See a header below for court addresses.
- Mail and Phone Requests: Although the city courts recommend online searches for court records, researchers may contact the clerk’s office by mail or phone for further inquiries. Visit the relevant court’s website for mailing instructions. Mail addresses and phone numbers for each court are available on another header-see below.
Fees for Court Records in Virginia Beach City
Online access to Virginia Beach City court records is free. For in-person requests, fees may vary with custodian. Notwithstanding, fees are typically around $1.00 for the first two pages and $0.50 per page thereafter. Contact the relevant court clerk for exact fees and payment methods.
Virginia Beach City Courthouse Locations
Virginia Beach has a circuit court (a trial court of general jurisdiction), a district court (with jurisdiction over traffic and criminal citations, online pre-payable citations, and civil cases up to $50,000), and a juvenile & domestic relations court (which hears cases related to child support, visitation, and custody; foster care; and offenses against family members). Their contact details are as follows:
2425 Nimmo Parkway
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23456
Phone: (757) 385-4501
2425 Nimmo Parkway
Building 10. Judicial Complex 10 Municipal Center
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23456-9057
Phone: (757) 385-8531
Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court
2425 Nimmo Parkway
Building 10. Judicial Complex 10A Municipal Center
Virginia Beach, VA 23456-9122
Phone: (757) 385-4391
Criminal Records Access in Virginia Beach City
In Virginia Beach City, criminal cases are handled by the circuit and general district courts, depending on case type. Their individual court clerks maintain all ensuing case records and may assist interested persons with retrieving them. Requesters will have to present the case number, defendant’s name, or other relevant case information to facilitate the identification and retrieval of the records. Records can also be searched online using a case number or defendant’s name.
For state-level criminal record checks, direct requests by mail to the Virginia State Police. Criminal history record checks with this agency may be name-based or fingerprint-based, although the latter is reserved for certain agencies. For a name-based search, complete Form SP-167. Upon completion, notarization is required for a background check to be valid. Forward the completed form by mail to:
Virginia State Police
Civil & Applicant Records Exchange (CARE)
7700 Midlothian Turnpike
N. Chesterfield, VA 23235
Virginia Beach City Probate Records
Virginia Beach City probate records are maintained by the clerk of the circuit court, who also handles the city’s probate matters. There is no dedicated probate court in Virginia Beach, and probates are by appointment only. Cases that fall under probate law include will administration, trusts, and conservatorships. People use probate records for various applications, such as genealogical and historical research, property and title verification, and debt settlement. Interested persons may request records from the clerk’s office or online. Request/searches will require a party name or case number.
City | Court Name | Address | Phone Number | Office Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Virginia Beach City | Virginia Beach Circuit Court | 2425 Nimmo Parkway Virginia Beach, VA 23456 | (757) 385-4501 | 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM |
Virginia Beach City Family Court Records
Depending on the case type, family law cases can be handled by any of the 3 courts in the City. Family court records are legal documents pertaining to family law proceedings, such as divorce, adoption, domestic violence, child custody, child/spousal support, paternity cases, etc. Record custodians vary with the court that heard a case, i.e., a particular family court record may be obtained from the district court clerk, the circuit court clerk, or the domestic relations court clerk.
Family court records are assumed public, although access to certain cases is typically limited to case parties or their close family members. Records that fall under this category include adoption records and juvenile delinquency records. Public family records available on the statewide search portal and at the relevant clerk’s office. To view non-public family court records, a person must have a legitimate interest in the case in question. They should approach the court for a court order authorizing them to view the records.
Federal Court Records in Virginia Beach City
Virginia Beach falls under the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (Norfolk Division). Records created in this court are maintained and disseminated electronically through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). People can look up federal case records on PACER when they register a free account. Note that only account creation is free; there are fees for accessing records.
PACER charges $0.10 per page and not more than $3.00 for a single document. Fee waivers are applied when a user accrues $30.00 within the quarter. Searches are by case number or party name and can be limited by specifying the county or city where the case was heard. Alternatively, a person can view records for free at any federal courthouse.