Chesterfield County Court Records
Chesterfield County court records are a compilation of documentary materials produced during court cases filed and held in the county (§ 17.1-292, Virginia Code). These records provide formal details about legal proceedings and serve to promote the judicial branch’s accountability and transparency.
Court records in Chesterfield County are maintained by the Clerk of the Court’s office for each local court. These offices are responsible for making records available to interested parties per the applicable laws and regulations. The documents that may be disclosed include motions, petitions, subpoenas, transcripts, and judgments.
Furthermore, certain public documents from other government bodies can become part of a court record if they are submitted as exhibits during legal proceedings. Examples of such incorporated records are pretrial services reports, police reports, tax records, vital records, and business records.
Are Chesterfield County Court Records Public?
Yes. Chesterfield County court records are presumed open to the public under Titles 16.1 and 17.1 of the Virginia Code. While the Virginia Freedom of Information Act covers public access to records of the government, it does not affect the judicial branch.
Titles 16.1 and 17.1 release most court records for the public’s perusal, and requesters are not obligated to state their reason or intended usage for the records. However, certain records are deemed confidential or exempt from general public access. These documents are only disclosed to legally eligible persons, such as the parties to the case or their legal counsel. For example, documents protected by attorney-client privilege, adoption files, expunged records, and documents restricted by federal statute/regulation are not accessible to the general public.
What Information is Available in Chesterfield County Court Records?
The following Information may be found in Chesterfield County court records:
- Full name of the litigating parties
- Attorney of record details (name, bar number)
- Presiding judge or judicial officer
- Case number
- Filing date
- Hearing and trial dates
- Case status (active, closed)
- Case disposition
- Final judgment or order date
Chesterfield County court records also encompass multiple documents filed or generated during court cases, including petitions, motions, court orders, dockets, judgments, subpoenas, declarations, service returns, exhibits, and notices.
Chesterfield County Court Records Search
Chesterfield County court records can be accessed as follows:
- Online Access: The Virginia Court System offers online access to Chesterfield County court records via its Case Status and Information website. Users can search with free-of-charge systems using a party name or case number, making sure to select the tool corresponding to the presiding court. However, it should be noted that court case documents are not disseminated online.
- In-Person Access: For copies of court records, especially those that are confidential or unavailable online, individuals may choose to visit the courthouse in person. To obtain these records, the interested party should go to the clerk’s office for the court where the case was heard.
Visitors will need to provide the clerk’s staff with at least one piece of identifying information, such as a case party’s name, the case number, or the filing date, to allow for the retrieval of the relevant records. A fee may be charged for obtaining copies of court records.
- Mail and Phone Requests: To obtain copies of court records in Chesterfield County by mail, members of the public generally need to write a letter to the relevant court clerk’s office. This letter should contain enough information to identify the requested record clearly. While specific mailing addresses and procedures must be confirmed with the respective office, the typical process requires enclosing payment for the necessary fees and including a self-addressed stamped envelope for the court staff to use when returning the copies.
Similarly, persons who wish to request copies of court records via phone should contact the appropriate clerk’s office to confirm availability. If the request is to the local circuit court, one can call (804) 717-6981 for civil case copy requests, or (804) 717-6980 for criminal case copy requests during regular business hours. Copy fees are payable by credit card and include an additional $2 processing fee, plus postage fees.
Fees for Court Records in Chesterfield County
The fees for processing copy requests for court records in Chesterfield County vary, as each court sets its own rates, meaning the charges assessed by one court will differ from those of another. These fees may be charged per page (for photocopies) or per document (for certification or exemplification).
For example, the circuit court in Chesterfield assesses the following fees for copies of court records:
- Copies: 50 cents per page
- Certified copies: $2 per document, plus the standard copy costs
The precise costs can be verified with the respective court or clerk’s office.
Note: The courts of Chesterfield County do not maintain vital records, which include death, marriage, birth, and divorce certificates. Eligible parties may obtain these certificates for a fee of $12 per certificate through the Chesterfield Health District.
Courthouse Locations
The Chesterfield County courts comprise the Circuit Court, the General District Court, and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, which oversee all cases filed locally. The Virginia Courts in Brief manual details the specific jurisdictions of these courts. Below are their addresses and contact information.
Chesterfield County Circuit Court (12th Judicial Circuit of Virginia)
9500 Courthouse Road
P.O. Box 125
Chesterfield, VA 23832
Phone: (804) 748-1241
Fax: (804) 796-5625
Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (12th Judicial District of Virginia)
7000 Lucy Corr Boulevard
Chesterfield, VA 23832
Phone: (804) 748-1379
Fax: (804) 717-6043
General District Court (12th Judicial District of Virginia)
9500 Courthouse Road
PO Box 144
Chesterfield, VA 23832
Phone: (804) 748-1231
Fax: (804) 748-1757
Criminal Records Access in Chesterfield County
Accessing criminal records in Chesterfield County is possible through different criminal justice agencies, such as the courts and law enforcement departments.
Courts in Chesterfield maintain the criminal case records, which detail proceedings surrounding criminal charges and indictments. These records are accessible through the court that heard/resolved the case, which could have been the Circuit, General District Court, or Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court in Chesterfield, as all hold specific criminal jurisdiction.
To access criminal court records, one can search databases featured on the Virginia Judicial System’s Case Status and Information website. Alternatively, individuals can visit or contact the court clerk’s office of the presiding court.
Requesting criminal records from the Virginia State Police (VSP) is another way to find Chesterfield County criminal records. Specifically, the VSP’s records encompass criminal history information from all counties within Virginia. A Virginia Criminal History Record Check is the precise inquiry to the VSP that uncovers these records. Note that a small fee is associated with this check.
Chesterfield County Probate Records
In Chesterfield County, the legal process known as probate validates a deceased person’s will as authentic and governs the distribution of their assets in accordance with their stated wishes. If no will exists, Virginia state law dictates the heirs and the subsequent distribution of the decedent’s property. Probate proceedings in Chesterfield are handled by the Chesterfield County Circuit Court per Va. Code. Ann. § 64.2-443. The court also adjudicates conservatorships, guardianships, and trusts.
To obtain Chesterfield County probate records, individuals can stop by the Circuit Court’s Records Room located on the first floor of the Chesterfield County Courthouse.
Individuals can also send a written request via mail to the Circuit Clerk’s Office at Circuit Court Clerk, P.O. Box 125, Chesterfield, VA 23832-0909. Mail requests should contain sufficient information about the sought-after record(s), include the copy fee payable by cash, check, or money order to "Chesterfield Circuit Court," and a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
Moreover, probate case information can be viewed at no charge by searching the Virginia Judiciary’s Circuit Court Case Information system.
When seeking Chesterfield County probate records (wills and other probate filings), it is necessary to possess at least a case name or case number to find responsive documents. However, requesters should note the existence of confidential records (e.g., estate inventories), as those records can only be disclosed to legally entitled persons, such as the direct participants of the case.
Chesterfield County Family Court Records
Family court cases in Chesterfield may be heard in the Circuit Court or Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (JDR).
The Circuit Court has exclusive jurisdiction over divorce, equitable distribution (property division), and adoption cases. The court can also hear cases related to the termination of marriage, such as custody, visitation, and support. Meanwhile, the JDR court oversees most family law issues, including custody, visitation, child and spousal support (when not filed as part of a divorce action).
Family law proceedings in Chesterfield County are documented in family court records, which can be requested from the court that handled the specific case, as explained in the Chesterfield County Court Records Search section.
Federal Court Records in Chesterfield County
Federal case jurisdiction for Chesterfield Court is covered by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, specifically its Richmond Division.
Spottswood W. Robinson III and Robert R. Merhige, Jr., Federal Courthouse
701 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: (804) 916-2200
Court records from this court may be inspected at public access terminals situated within the courthouse during normal operating hours. Individuals can also access the Public Access to Electronic Records (PACER) system to view or print electronic federal court records. PACER requires a fee (10 cents per page and $2.40 per audio file), but users can inspect judicial opinions at no charge (see other cases where using PACER is free).
