| Circuit Court Clerk | Norfolk Circuit Court Clerk's Office |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Circuit Court Clerk: 150 St. Paul's Boulevard, 7th Floor, Norfolk, VA 23510 |
| Phone | Circuit Court Clerk: (757) 389-8942 (option 5 for marriage and divorce records) |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:45 a.m.–4:45 p.m., except court holidays |
| Earliest records noted | Varies by court — older files may be on paper or microfilm |
| 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) |
Norfolk is an independent city, and its three trial courts share one downtown tower at 150 St. Paul's Boulevard. The Circuit Court Clerk's Office (George E. Schaefer, Clerk) is on the seventh floor, the General District Court clerk is in Room 3202 on the third floor, and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court clerk is on the fifth floor. The Circuit Court Clerk keeps unusually long public hours for Virginia, 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
The Circuit Court Clerk runs a well-developed website of its own, norfolkcircuitcourt.us, with a daily docket, a published list of every fee the office charges, and an online Document Request Form for ordering copies of marriage licenses, divorce decrees, name changes, criminal case papers, deeds, and wills without a visit. Case status itself is looked up on the statewide Circuit Court Case Information system — the clerk's site links to it and tells you to select "Norfolk Circuit Court" from the list.
Fees are spelled out more completely than most clerks manage: $0.50 per page for paper or digital copies, $2.00 per certification, $18.45 per hour for research and retrieval, $12.35 to send documents by postal mail, a 4% convenience fee for card payments, and $30.00 per CD or DVD. Marriage and divorce records are held by the clerk and can be requested by calling (757) 389-8942, option 5.
Search Norfolk court records online
Circuit Court Clerk
Norfolk Circuit Court Clerk's Office
- Cost
- Free to search case status on the statewide system; $0.50 per page for copies plus $2.00 per certification
- Coverage
- Circuit Court civil and criminal cases, divorce, probate and wills, deeds and land records, judgments, and marriage licenses
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate
The clerk's own site with daily docket, fee list, forms, and an online document request form. Case status is searched on the statewide Circuit Court Case Information system (select Norfolk Circuit Court). Secure Remote Access to land records requires a paid subscription.
Other courts
Norfolk Circuit Court Clerk — Document Request Form
- Cost
- $0.50 per page; $2.00 certification; $18.45/hour research; $12.35 postal mailing; 4% card fee; $30.00 per CD/DVD
- Coverage
- Copies of marriage licenses, divorce decrees, name changes, criminal case documents, deeds, wills, and other Circuit Court records ordered online
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate
Online form for requesting copies without visiting; select the document type, whether it must be certified, and whether to send by postal mail. Fees are waived for approved government agencies.
Other courts
Norfolk Circuit Court Clerk — List of Fees
- Cost
- See fee list
- Coverage
- Complete schedule of the clerk's copy, certification, exemplification, research, and filing fees
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate
Exemplified copies are $7.50 and a certification bearing a judge's signature is $2.50, in addition to the standard $2.00 clerk's certification and $0.50-per-page copy fee.
Other courts
Norfolk 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
Room 3202, 150 St. Paul's Blvd.; main (757) 664-4910; Traffic (757) 664-4911; Civil (757) 664-4913; Criminal (757) 664-4915; hours 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Searchable through the statewide General District Court Case Information system or OCIS by selecting Norfolk.
Other courts
Norfolk 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
Fifth floor, 150 St. Paul's Blvd.; phone (757) 664-7340; 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
Norfolk Circuit Court civil and criminal case status is on the statewide Circuit Court Case Information system (select Norfolk Circuit Court), and General District Court criminal, traffic, and civil cases are on the statewide General District Court system or OCIS. Those tools show docket entries and dispositions, not document images. The Circuit Court Clerk's website adds a daily docket and an online Document Request Form, so copies of decrees, criminal case papers, deeds, and wills can be ordered and, for an extra $12.35, mailed without a visit. Land records are online through the clerk's Secure Remote Access subscription for registered users. 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
Norfolk clerk offices
Circuit Court Clerk: 150 St. Paul's Boulevard, 7th Floor, Norfolk, VA 23510
Phone: Circuit Court Clerk: (757) 389-8942 (option 5 for marriage and divorce records)
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:45 a.m.–4:45 p.m., except court holidays
Online (Circuit Court). Use the Document Request Form on norfolkcircuitcourt.us. Choose the document type (marriage license, divorce, name change, criminal case, deed, will, or other), say whether it must be certified, and whether you want it sent by postal mail. Fees are $0.50 per page, $2.00 per certification, $12.35 for mailing, and a 4% convenience fee on card payments; if staff must locate a record without a case or book-and-page number, research time is billed at $18.45 per hour.
In person. Visit the seventh floor of 150 St. Paul's Boulevard between 8:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. Public terminals and the record room let you look up and view files at no charge; pay for copies at the counter.
By mail. Write to the Norfolk Circuit Court Clerk's Office, 150 St. Paul's Blvd., 7th Floor, Norfolk, VA 23510, with the case number or party names and year, the specific document, and whether certification is needed. Call (757) 389-8942 first for a fee quote so you can enclose the correct amount.
General District and J&DR records. Contact the General District Court clerk in Room 3202 at (757) 664-4910, or the J&DR clerk on the fifth floor at (757) 664-7340. J&DR records involving minors or protective orders are typically released only to parties and their attorneys.
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
Can I order Norfolk court records online?
Yes. The Circuit Court Clerk's Document Request Form lets you order copies of divorce decrees, criminal case documents, marriage licenses, deeds, and wills online, with optional certification and postal delivery for an added fee.
How much does a copy of a Norfolk Circuit Court record cost?
Copies are $0.50 per page and certification is $2.00 per document. Research and retrieval is $18.45 per hour when staff must locate a record, mailing is $12.35, card payments carry a 4% fee, and a CD or DVD copy is $30.00.
Where do I get a Norfolk divorce record?
Divorces are heard in Norfolk Circuit Court, and the Circuit Court Clerk holds the file. Request a copy through the online Document Request Form, in person on the seventh floor of 150 St. Paul's Blvd., or by calling (757) 389-8942, option 5. Certified copies are $2.00 plus $0.50 per page.
Are all three Norfolk courts in the same building?
Yes. The Circuit Court Clerk (7th floor), the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (5th floor), and the General District Court (Room 3202, 3rd floor) are all at 150 St. Paul's Boulevard in downtown Norfolk.
Sources
- Norfolk Circuit Court Clerk's Office — https://www.norfolkcircuitcourt.us/
- Norfolk Circuit Court Clerk — Contact Us — https://www.norfolkcircuitcourt.us/contact-us/
- Norfolk Circuit Court Clerk — Hours and Closings — https://www.norfolkcircuitcourt.us/hours-and-closings/
- Norfolk Circuit Court Clerk — Circuit Court Case Information — https://www.norfolkcircuitcourt.us/criminal/circuit-court-case-information/
- Norfolk Circuit Court Clerk — Document Request Form — https://www.norfolkcircuitcourt.us/document-request-form/
- Norfolk Circuit Court Clerk — List of Fees — https://www.norfolkcircuitcourt.us/list-of-fees/
- Virginia Court System — Norfolk Circuit Court — https://www.vacourts.gov/courts/circuit/norfolk/home
- Virginia Court System — Norfolk General District Court — https://www.vacourts.gov/courts/gd/norfolk/home
- Virginia Court System — Norfolk Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court — https://www.vacourts.gov/courts/jdr/norfolk/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.