| Circuit Court Clerk | Chesapeake Circuit Court Clerk's Office |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Circuit Court Clerk: 307 Albemarle Drive, Suite 300A (Third Floor), Chesapeake, VA 23322 |
| Phone | Circuit Court Clerk: (757) 382-3000 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–3:45 p.m. |
| Earliest records noted | 2009 |
| Plain copy fee | $0.50 per page (per Va. Code § 17.1-275, the statewide circuit court fee schedule) |
| Certified copy fee | $0.50 per page plus a $2.00 certification/seal fee (per Va. Code § 17.1-275) |
Chesapeake is an independent city, so — like Virginia Beach and Norfolk next door — it has no county government and its courts answer to the city, not to a county. The 1963 merger of the City of South Norfolk and Norfolk County created Chesapeake, which is why the Circuit Court Clerk's land and will indexes reach back to the 1600s and 1700s and include "South Norfolk/Norfolk County" records that predate the city itself.
All three trial courts sit in the Chesapeake Municipal Center off Cedar Road: the Circuit Court Clerk's Office (Alan P. Krasnoff, Clerk) on the third floor of 307 Albemarle Drive, the General District Court on the first floor of the same building, and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court on the second floor of 301 Albemarle Drive. The Circuit Court Clerk's public counter closes at 3:45 p.m., earlier than most Virginia clerks, so plan an afternoon visit accordingly.
Chesapeake does not run a locally built case search. Circuit Court civil and criminal case status is on the statewide Circuit Court Case Information system (select Chesapeake), and General District Court cases are on the statewide General District Court system. The clerk's own online offerings are paid subscriptions: Secure Remote Access for land records ($600 per year) and Officer of the Court Remote Access (OCRA) for Virginia State Bar members ($200 per year) covering civil and criminal case data from August 2009 forward.
Search Chesapeake court records online
Circuit Court Clerk
Chesapeake Circuit Court Clerk's Office
- Cost
- Free to search case status on the statewide system; $0.50 per page for copies plus $2.00 for certification
- Coverage
- Circuit Court civil and criminal case information (statewide system), plus land records, wills, judgments, and probate held by the clerk
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate
Case status is searched on the statewide Circuit Court Case Information system. Document images are available in person, or online only through the paid Secure Remote Access (land records) and OCRA (case files, attorneys only) subscriptions.
Other courts
Chesapeake Circuit Court Clerk — Records, Research & Copies
- Cost
- $0.50 per page; $2.00 per certification; SRA subscription $600 per year; OCRA $200 per year per attorney
- Coverage
- Deeds from 1637, wills from 1755, plats from 1879, judgments from 1987, and civil/criminal case data from August 2009 via subscription remote access
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Probate
The clerk's records page explains which records are public, the copy and certification fees, and how to subscribe to Secure Remote Access (land) and OCRA (court files). Adoption files, juvenile matters, and sealed documents are excluded.
Other courts
Chesapeake General District Court
- Cost
- Free to search on the statewide General District Court system
- Coverage
- Misdemeanor criminal, traffic, and civil claims up to $25,000
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Traffic
First floor of 307 Albemarle Drive; main phone (757) 382-3100; hours 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Searchable through the statewide General District Court Case Information system or OCIS by selecting Chesapeake.
Other courts
Chesapeake Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
- Cost
- Free to search adult-criminal cases on OCIS; other case information by request
- Coverage
- Custody, support, visitation, protective orders, family abuse, and juvenile delinquency cases
- Records
- Family, Criminal
Second floor of 301 Albemarle Drive; phone (757) 382-8100; hours 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Juvenile records are confidential and not part of any public online search.
What is available online
Chesapeake Circuit Court civil and criminal case status is on the statewide Circuit Court Case Information system, and General District Court criminal, traffic, and civil cases are on the statewide General District Court system or OCIS — select Chesapeake in each. Those free tools show docket entries and dispositions, not document images. Images are available through paid subscriptions only: Secure Remote Access covers deeds (1637 to current), wills (1755), plats (1879), judgments (1987), and financing statements (1998); OCRA covers civil and criminal case-management data from August 2009 forward and is limited to Virginia State Bar members and their staff. J&DR adult-criminal case status appears on OCIS; juvenile and most family-case detail does not.
Which clerk has your record
In Virginia, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the Virginia page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Courts (120 counties, 38 independent cities) | Felony criminal cases; Divorce, custody, and other family cases; Civil suits over $25,000 | Clerk of the Circuit Court |
| General District Courts (one per locality) | Misdemeanor criminal cases; Traffic infractions and tickets; Civil claims up to $25,000 | Clerk of the General District Court |
| Juvenile and Domestic Relations (J&DR) District Courts (one per locality) | Child custody, visitation, and support; Protective orders and family abuse cases; Juvenile delinquency and status offenses | Clerk of the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court |
Request records in person or by mail
Chesapeake clerk offices
Circuit Court Clerk: 307 Albemarle Drive, Suite 300A (Third Floor), Chesapeake, VA 23322
Phone: Circuit Court Clerk: (757) 382-3000
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–3:45 p.m.
Circuit Court records. Find the case number on the statewide Circuit Court Case Information system, then request copies at the Clerk's Office, Suite 300A on the third floor of 307 Albemarle Drive, before the 3:45 p.m. closing time, or mail a written request to the same address. Copies are $0.50 per page and certification is $2.00 per document. Include the case number, the specific document, and whether you need certification; call (757) 382-3000 for a fee quote before mailing payment.
General District Court records. Contact the General District Court clerk on the first floor of 307 Albemarle Drive at (757) 382-3100 for copies of traffic or misdemeanor case documents. Prepayable traffic tickets can be paid online through the statewide payment system linked from the city's courts page.
Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court records. Contact the J&DR clerk at (757) 382-8100 or visit the second floor of 301 Albemarle Drive. Because these cases often involve minors or protective orders, you may need to show you are a party or otherwise entitled to the record before the clerk will release it.
Land, will, and judgment records. These are in the Circuit Court Clerk's Office and can be viewed in person at no charge or remotely through the $600-per-year Secure Remote Access subscription.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in Virginia |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | $0.50 per page (per Va. Code § 17.1-275, the statewide circuit court fee schedule) |
| Certified copy | $0.50 per page plus a $2.00 certification/seal fee (per Va. Code § 17.1-275) |
These amounts are set by Virginia Code § 17.1-275 for circuit court clerks and confirmed on the Office of the Executive Secretary's circuit court fee schedule; several counties (Fairfax, Chesterfield) publish the identical $0.50/$2.00 figures on their own sites. General District and J&DR court clerks may charge different amounts under separate fee statutes, so confirm with that specific clerk before sending payment.
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed and restricted records
Virginia court records are presumed open under Virginia Code § 17.1-208, which requires circuit clerks to keep records open to inspection and furnish copies on request. Several categories are not part of that presumption:
The Virginia guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chesapeake a city or a county?
Chesapeake is an independent city formed in 1963 from the City of South Norfolk and Norfolk County. It has its own Circuit, General District, and J&DR courts, and the Circuit Court Clerk holds the old Norfolk County land and will records as well.
How much does a copy of a Chesapeake court record cost?
The Circuit Court Clerk's records page lists copies at $0.50 per page and certification at $2.00 per document. Remote access is a separate paid subscription — $600 per year for land records and $200 per year for attorney access to case files.
Can I see Chesapeake Circuit Court documents online for free?
You can see case status, hearing dates, and dispositions for free on the statewide Circuit Court Case Information system, but document images are only available in person or through the paid Secure Remote Access and OCRA subscriptions.
What time does the Chesapeake Circuit Court Clerk's Office close?
The clerk's public hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., Monday through Friday, which is earlier than the General District and J&DR clerks in the same complex (both 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.).
Sources
- City of Chesapeake — Circuit Court Clerk — https://www.cityofchesapeake.net/1126/Circuit-Court-Clerk
- City of Chesapeake — Records, Research & Copies — https://www.cityofchesapeake.net/1207/Records-Research-Copies
- City of Chesapeake — Circuit Court — https://www.cityofchesapeake.net/1075/Circuit-Court
- City of Chesapeake — Courts & Judiciary — https://www.cityofchesapeake.net/1427/Courts-Judiciary
- Virginia Court System — Chesapeake Circuit Court — https://www.vacourts.gov/courts/circuit/chesapeake/home
- Virginia Court System — Chesapeake General District Court — https://www.vacourts.gov/courts/gd/chesapeake/home
- Virginia Court System — Chesapeake Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court — https://www.vacourts.gov/courts/jdr/chesapeake/home
- Virginia Court System — Case Status and Information — https://www.vacourts.gov/caseinfo/home
- Online Case Information System (OCIS) — https://eapps.courts.state.va.us/ocis/landing
- General District Court Online Case Information System — https://eapps.courts.state.va.us/gdcourts/landing.do?landing=landing
- Virginia Court System — Circuit Court — https://www.vacourts.gov/courts/circuit/home
- Virginia Court System — General District Court — https://www.vacourts.gov/courts/gd/home
- Virginia Court System — Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court — https://www.vacourts.gov/courts/jdr/home
- Virginia State Police — Criminal History Record Check — https://vsp.virginia.gov/services/criminal-background/
- Code of Virginia § 17.1-208 — Records open to inspection; copies; exception — https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title17.1/chapter2/section17.1-208/
- Code of Virginia § 17.1-275 — Fees collected by clerks of circuit courts — https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title17.1/chapter2/section17.1-275/
- Code of Virginia, Title 19.2, Chapter 23.2 — Sealing of Criminal History Record Information and Court Records — https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacodefull/title19.2/chapter23.2/
- Code of Virginia § 19.2-392.2 — Expungement of police and court records — https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title19.2/chapter23.1/section19.2-392.2/
See also: all Virginia counties.