| Circuit Court Clerk | Richmond Circuit Court Clerk's Office |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Circuit Court Clerk: John Marshall Courts Building, 400 North 9th Street, Richmond, VA 23219 |
| Phone | Circuit Court Clerk general information: (804) 646-6505 (Criminal (804) 646-6553; Civil (804) 646-6536; Probate (804) 646-6540; Record Room (804) 646-6530) |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (recording until 3:30 p.m.; marriage licenses until 4:15 p.m.) |
| Earliest records noted | 2011 |
| 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) |
The City of Richmond is Virginia's capital and an independent city, which matters for records: the city's courts are entirely separate from those of Henrico County to the north and Chesterfield County to the south, even though the metro area blurs together. There is also a separate Richmond County on the Northern Neck, so make sure a case was actually heard in "Richmond City" before contacting the clerk here.
The Richmond Circuit Court Clerk (Edward F. Jewett, Clerk) is in the John Marshall Courts Building at 400 North 9th Street downtown and holds felony, civil, divorce, probate, and land records. The clerk's records page is explicit that most of its records are open under Virginia Code § 17.1-208, that copies cost $0.50 per page plus $2.00 for certification, that fees must be paid in advance, and that written requests are honored when payment is enclosed. Staff will help you use the records but will not do legal, historical, or genealogical research for you.
The General District Court operates from two buildings — John Marshall (400 N. 9th Street) and the Marsh Manchester Courts Building at 920 Hull Street south of the river — and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court is in the Oliver Hill Courts Building at 1600 Oliver Hill Way. The Circuit Court Clerk does not post case records on the internet for the general public; remote access is through paid subscriptions for attorneys (OCRA, cases from 2011 forward) and for land records (SRA, deeds indexed back to 1782).
Search Richmond court records online
Circuit Court Clerk
Richmond 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, paid in advance
- Coverage
- Richmond 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 site covers each division and links to the statewide Virginia Court Case Information system for case status. Records are open to inspection in the record room during office hours; the office does not routinely post records online.
Other courts
Richmond Circuit Court Clerk — Records Research and Copies
- Cost
- $0.50 per page; $2.00 per certified copy; fees collected in advance
- Coverage
- Public inspection and copies of case files, dockets, land records, wills and estates, UCC statements, assumed names, and marriage licenses
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate
Explains which records are public under Va. Code § 17.1-208, the copy and certification fees, and that written requests are accepted with payment enclosed. Record Room phone (804) 646-6530.
Other courts
Richmond Circuit Court Clerk — Officer of the Court Remote Access (OCRA)
- Cost
- $100 per year per attorney; $50 per year for each additional attorney or staff member
- Coverage
- Case files filed in 2011 to the present, viewable remotely by subscribing attorneys
- Records
- Civil, Criminal
Limited to attorneys and attorney-supervised staff. Free to court-appointed counsel certified by the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission in Richmond City as of July 1, 2026.
Other courts
Richmond City 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
Two locations: John Marshall Courts Building, 400 N. 9th Street (Civil (804) 646-6461; Criminal/Traffic (804) 646-6431) and Marsh Manchester Courts Building, 920 Hull Street ((804) 646-6677). Hours 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Searchable through the statewide General District Court Case Information system or OCIS by selecting Richmond City.
Other courts
Richmond 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
Oliver Hill Courts Building, 1600 Oliver Hill Way, Suite C181; phone (804) 646-2942; 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
Richmond Circuit Court civil and criminal case status is on the statewide Virginia Court Case Information system (select Richmond City Circuit Court), and General District Court criminal, traffic, and civil cases are on the statewide General District Court system or OCIS. Those free tools show docket entries and dispositions, not document images. The Circuit Court Clerk states that it does not routinely post records on the internet; case-file images are available remotely only to attorneys through the OCRA subscription (cases from 2011 forward), and land records only through the Secure Remote Access subscription ($50 per month, six-month minimum), which covers deeds back to 1782 north of the James River and 1874 for the former City of Manchester south of it. 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
Richmond clerk offices
Circuit Court Clerk: John Marshall Courts Building, 400 North 9th Street, Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: Circuit Court Clerk general information: (804) 646-6505 (Criminal (804) 646-6553; Civil (804) 646-6536; Probate (804) 646-6540; Record Room (804) 646-6530)
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (recording until 3:30 p.m.; marriage licenses until 4:15 p.m.)
In person. Visit the Record Room of the Circuit Court Clerk's Office in the John Marshall Courts Building, 400 North 9th Street, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Records are open to public inspection during office hours, and staff will help you find and use them, though they cannot perform legal or genealogical research. Copies are $0.50 per page and certified copies add $2.00; fees are collected in advance.
By mail. The clerk accepts written requests for copies provided payment is enclosed. Write to the Clerk of the Richmond Circuit Court, John Marshall Courts Building, 400 N. 9th Street, Richmond, VA 23219, with the case number or party names and year, the specific document, and whether certification is needed. To confirm the page count and total fee before mailing, call the Record Room at (804) 646-6530, the Criminal Section at (804) 646-6553, or the Civil Section at (804) 646-6536.
Online. Search case status for free on the statewide Virginia Court Case Information system linked from the clerk's Criminal and Civil pages. Document images are not posted publicly; attorneys can subscribe to OCRA and land-records users to SRA.
General District and J&DR records. For traffic or misdemeanor documents, contact the General District Court clerk at John Marshall (804) 646-6431 or Marsh Manchester (804) 646-6677. For custody, support, or protective-order matters, contact the J&DR clerk at (804) 646-2942; records involving minors 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
Is Richmond City the same as Richmond County?
No. The City of Richmond is an independent city and state capital with its own Circuit Court Clerk at the John Marshall Courts Building. Richmond County is a separate rural county on the Northern Neck with its own courts. Check which one heard the case before making a request.
How much does a copy of a Richmond Circuit Court record cost?
The clerk's records page lists copies at $0.50 per page and certified copies at an additional $2.00. Fees must be paid in advance, and mailed requests are honored only when payment is enclosed.
Can I view Richmond Circuit Court documents online?
Not as a member of the public. Case status is free on the statewide case-information system, but the clerk does not routinely post records online; remote document access is limited to attorney OCRA subscribers and land-records SRA subscribers.
Which building handles a Richmond traffic ticket?
Traffic infractions are handled by the Richmond City General District Court, which has clerk's offices at the John Marshall Courts Building (400 N. 9th Street) and the Marsh Manchester Courts Building (920 Hull Street). The Circuit Court only sees traffic cases on appeal.
Sources
- City of Richmond — The Office of the Circuit Court Clerk — https://www.rva.gov/office-circuit-court-clerk
- City of Richmond — Circuit Court Clerk Administration and Contact — https://www.rva.gov/office-circuit-court-clerk/adminstration
- City of Richmond — Circuit Court Clerk Records Research and Copies — https://www.rva.gov/office-circuit-court-clerk/records
- City of Richmond — Circuit Court Clerk OCRA — https://www.rva.gov/office-circuit-court-clerk/ocra
- City of Richmond — Circuit Court Clerk Secure Remote Access — https://www.rva.gov/office-circuit-court-clerk/sra
- City of Richmond — Circuit Court Clerk Criminal Division — https://www.rva.gov/office-circuit-court-clerk/criminal
- Virginia Court System — Richmond Circuit Court — https://www.vacourts.gov/courts/circuit/richmond/home
- Virginia Court System — Richmond City General District Court — https://www.vacourts.gov/courts/gd/richmond_city/home
- Virginia Court System — Richmond Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court — https://www.vacourts.gov/courts/jdr/richmond/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.