| Circuit Court Clerk | Virginia Beach Circuit Court Clerk's Office |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Virginia Beach Judicial Center, 2425 Nimmo Parkway, Virginia Beach, VA 23456 |
| Phone | Circuit Court Clerk: (757) 385-4181 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. |
| 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) |
Virginia Beach is an independent city, not a county — in Virginia, independent cities sit outside any county and run their own circuit, general district, and juvenile courts exactly like a county does. This page uses the same "County" labels the rest of the site uses for consistency, but Virginia Beach has no county government; "Virginia Beach" the court jurisdiction and "City of Virginia Beach" the government are the same entity.
The Circuit Court Clerk, currently Tina E. Sinnen, keeps felony, civil-over-$25,000, divorce, and probate records, searchable through the statewide Online Case Information System (OCIS) and the Circuit Court's own case-information tools. The clerk's office does not accept filings by email or fax — original documents must arrive by mail or courier.
The General District Court and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court are separate courts with their own clerks, both part of the city's consolidated court complex at the Municipal Center on Nimmo Parkway. The J&DR court's site also offers text and email alerts for case events, which is unusual among Virginia district courts.
Search Virginia Beach court records online
Circuit Court Clerk
Virginia Beach Circuit Court Clerk's Office
- Cost
- Free to search; fees for copies
- Coverage
- Circuit Court civil and criminal case information, land records, and probate
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate
The clerk's page directs searchers to the statewide OCIS and Circuit Court case-search tools. The office does not accept filings by email or fax; original documents must be mailed or delivered in person.
Other courts
Virginia Beach General District Court
- Cost
- Free to search on the statewide system
- Coverage
- Misdemeanor criminal, traffic, and civil claims up to $25,000
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Traffic
Searchable through the statewide General District Court Online Case Information System or OCIS by selecting Virginia Beach.
Other courts
Virginia Beach Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
- Cost
- Free to search adult-criminal cases on OCIS; other case information is by request
- Coverage
- Custody, support, visitation, protective orders, family abuse, and juvenile delinquency cases
- Records
- Family, Criminal
Offers optional text/email alerts for case events. Juvenile records are confidential and not part of any public online search.
What is available online
Circuit Court case status is covered by OCIS and the Circuit Court's own case-information tools, but full document images generally require an in-person visit or a records request. General District and J&DR adult-criminal case status is covered by the statewide OCIS system; juvenile-specific and most family-case detail is not available online.
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
Virginia Beach clerk offices
Virginia Beach Judicial Center, 2425 Nimmo Parkway, Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Phone: Circuit Court Clerk: (757) 385-4181
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Contact details were taken from the office's website and are re-checked on a schedule; confirm hours before visiting.
Circuit Court records. Search online for case status, then request copies in person at the Judicial Center at 2425 Nimmo Parkway or by mail to the Circuit Court Clerk's Office. Filings and record requests cannot be submitted by email or fax; use U.S. Mail or courier. Include the case number, the documents needed, and whether you need certified copies.
General District Court records. Contact the General District Court clerk's office in the same Judicial Center for copies of traffic or misdemeanor case documents.
Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court records. Use the "Copy Request and Email Communications" option on the J&DR court's website or contact the clerk's office directly at (757) 385-4391. Because these cases often involve minors or protective orders, you may need to show you are a party or otherwise entitled to the record.
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 Virginia Beach a county or a city?
Virginia Beach is an independent city, one of Virginia's 38 cities that function outside any county structure. It has its own circuit, general district, and juvenile courts just as a county would.
Can I search Virginia Beach court cases online for free?
Yes. Circuit Court civil and criminal cases, General District Court cases, and adult J&DR criminal cases are all searchable for free through the statewide OCIS and General District Court systems.
Can I file or email documents to the Virginia Beach Circuit Court Clerk?
No. The Circuit Court Clerk's Office does not accept filings by email or fax. Original documents must be delivered by U.S. Mail or courier, or filed in person.
Where do I look up a Virginia Beach traffic ticket?
Search Virginia Beach General District Court through the statewide General District Court Online Case Information System or OCIS.
Does Virginia Beach send alerts about upcoming case hearings?
The Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court offers optional text and email alerts for case events through its website, which is not common among Virginia's district courts.
Sources
- Virginia Beach Circuit Court Clerk's Office — https://courts.virginiabeach.gov/circuit-court-clerks-office
- Virginia Beach Courts — Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court Case Information — https://courts.virginiabeach.gov/juvenile-domestic-relations-district-court/case-information
- Virginia Court System — Virginia Beach Circuit Court — https://www.vacourts.gov/courts/circuit/virginia_beach/home
- Virginia Court System — Virginia Beach General District Court — https://www.vacourts.gov/courts/gd/virginia_beach/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.