Chesapeake County Court Records Search

Chesapeake is an independent city in southeastern Virginia — functioning as a county equivalent under Virginia law — and is part of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. The city’s judicial system operates within Virginia’s First Judicial Circuit and consists of three courts: the Circuit Court, General District Court, and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. All three courts are located in close proximity along Albemarle Drive in the Chesapeake municipal center. The Circuit Court Clerk’s Office serves as the primary custodian of circuit-level court records, while the district court clerks maintain their own respective case files. This guide details the specific steps, fees, online tools, and legal provisions that govern access to court records across all Chesapeake courts.

Virginia provides several pathways for locating court case information, including in-person visits to clerk offices, public-access computer terminals at courthouses, and electronic case lookup systems maintained by the state judiciary. The Virginia Judicial System publishes case search tools that offer free remote access to selected case data from circuit, general district, and juvenile and domestic relations courts across the commonwealth. VirginiaStateCourts.us can further assist users in finding court locations, understanding jurisdictional differences, and accessing publicly available case information.

How to Look Up a Court Case in Chesapeake County?

Chesapeake’s three courts each serve distinct functions. Identifying the correct court is the first step in any records search — the Circuit Court handles felonies, major civil cases, divorce, probate, and appeals, while the General District Court covers misdemeanors, traffic offenses, and smaller civil disputes, and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court addresses cases involving minors and family matters.

Court Locations

Court	Address	Phone	Fax
Chesapeake Circuit Court	307 Albemarle Drive, Suite 300A (3rd Floor), Chesapeake, VA 23322	(757) 382-3000	(757) 382-3080
Chesapeake General District Court	307 Albemarle Drive, Chesapeake, VA 23322	(757) 382-3100	—
Chesapeake Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court	301 Albemarle Drive, 2nd Floor, Chesapeake, VA 23322	(757) 382-8100	(757) 382-8152

The Circuit Court Clerk’s Office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. The General District Court operates Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Online Case Search

The Virginia Judiciary maintains free electronic case information systems covering all three court types:

Circuit Court Case Information — provides online access to civil and criminal case records from the Chesapeake Circuit Court, searchable by name, case number, or hearing date.
Online Case Information System (OCIS 2.0) — offers statewide criminal case information, including Chesapeake cases, with search options by name, case number, or hearing date.
General District Court Case Information — covers civil, criminal, and traffic cases from the Chesapeake General District Court.

These systems provide docket information, party names, charges, hearing dates, and disposition data. However, they do not allow users to download, print, or order copies of actual case documents. For physical copies, a request must be submitted directly to the clerk’s office.

In-Person Searches

Visitors to the courthouse may request records at the appropriate clerk’s counter. Provide a case number, party name, or hearing date to help staff locate the file. Copy fees apply when documents are reproduced.

Copy Fees

Per Va. Code § 17.1-275, the Circuit Court Clerk charges:

Plain copies: $0.50 per page
Certification: $2.00 per document

For the General District Court, copy fees are governed by Va. Code § 16.1-69.48:2, which generally does not exceed $1.00 for the first two pages and $0.50 for each additional page.

Are Court Records Public in Chesapeake County?

Court records in Chesapeake are public records under Titles 16.1 and 17.1 of the Code of Virginia. Public access to court records is governed by these statutory provisions rather than by the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, which does not apply to case records maintained by the courts. Any person may inspect or request copies of public court records during business hours at the relevant clerk’s office.

Records That Are Generally Public

Criminal complaints, indictments, plea agreements, and sentencing orders
Civil complaints, motions, orders, and judgments
Divorce pleadings and final decrees
Probate filings, wills admitted to probate, and estate administration records
Land records, deeds, and liens
Traffic case docket information

Records That Are Confidential or Restricted

Virginia law bars public access to several categories of court records:

Juvenile case files (access restricted under Va. Code Title 16.1)
Adoption records
Expunged criminal records
Sealed court records (by court order)
Medical and psychological records filed in court proceedings
Records protected by attorney-client privilege
Certain personal identifying information in court filings

The Circuit Court Clerk’s Office does not disclose adoption files, juvenile matters, or records that have been sealed or designated as confidential by statute or court order.

Chesapeake County Criminal Court Records

Criminal cases in Chesapeake are adjudicated by both the Circuit Court and the General District Court depending on the severity of the offense.

Jurisdiction

The Chesapeake Circuit Court handles all felony prosecutions, misdemeanors originally filed in circuit court, and misdemeanor appeals from the district courts. It is the only Chesapeake court authorized to conduct jury trials. The General District Court hears misdemeanor cases, traffic violations, city ordinance violations, and conducts preliminary hearings for felony charges.

Searching Criminal Case Records Online

The three Virginia Judiciary case search systems each provide criminal docket data:

The Circuit Court Case Information system covers circuit-level criminal cases.
OCIS 2.0 provides statewide criminal case data, including Chesapeake records.
The General District Court system covers misdemeanor, traffic, and preliminary hearing information.

All three systems are free and searchable by name, case number, or hearing date. Document copies are not available through these portals.

In-Person Requests

Criminal case documents can be obtained at the clerk’s office of the court that handled the case. Provide a case number or defendant name to the clerk. Plain copies cost $0.50 per page at the Circuit Court, with a $2.00 certification fee per document.

Arrest Records and Police Reports

The Chesapeake Police Department maintains arrest records and incident reports separately from court case files. Requests for these records can be directed to the Central Records Unit:

Chesapeake Police Department – Central Records Unit
304 Albemarle Drive
Chesapeake, VA 23322
Phone: (757) 382-6387

Not all police records are publicly disclosable, and fees may apply for copies.

Statewide Criminal Background Checks

The Virginia State Police (VSP) operates the central criminal history repository for the Commonwealth. Criminal history record checks are available through two primary forms:

Form SP-167: For individuals, the general public, private companies, and out-of-state agencies. Requires notarized signatures. Returns a complete Virginia criminal history record.
Form SP-230: For Virginia employers and prospective employers. Does not require notarization. Returns Virginia conviction data only.

Both forms must be mailed to the VSP at:

Virginia State Police – CARE
7700 Midlothian Turnpike
N. Chesterfield, VA 23235

Processing takes approximately 15 business days. There is no expedited or same-day service. Payment is by certified check, money order, or business check payable to “Virginia State Police”. Fees and form instructions are available on the VSP’s Criminal History Record Check page. Dissemination of criminal history records is governed by Va. Code §§ 19.2-389 and 19.2-389.1, which define who may receive specific types of criminal history information.

Chesapeake County Civil Court Records

Civil disputes in Chesapeake are divided between the Circuit Court and the General District Court based on the amount at issue and the nature of the claim.

Jurisdiction

The Chesapeake Circuit Court handles civil cases with claims exceeding $25,000 and shares concurrent jurisdiction with the General District Court over claims between $4,500 and $25,000. It also has jurisdiction over personal injury and wrongful death cases up to $50,000 and handles divorce, real estate disputes, and equity matters. The General District Court hears civil claims from $4,500 to $25,000, personal injury and wrongful death claims not exceeding $50,000, landlord-tenant disputes, and contract actions within its monetary jurisdiction.

Civil Filing Fees

Circuit court civil filing fees are calculated based on the claim amount and case type. The Virginia Judicial System provides an online Circuit Court Civil Filing Fee Calculator to determine the precise fee for a given case.

Searching Civil Case Records

Civil case docket information is available through the free online systems:

The Circuit Court Case Information system covers circuit-level civil matters.
The General District Court Case Information system covers district-level civil cases.

Both systems are searchable by party name, case number, or hearing date. To obtain actual documents, visit the clerk’s office in person or submit a written request.

Land Records and Official Records

The Circuit Court Clerk’s Office serves as the recorder of deeds, liens, judgments, and other land records for Chesapeake. The Clerk offers two tiers of electronic access:

Free indexing access: Search land record indexes by name, book/page number, or recording date at no charge through the Clerk’s remote access website.
Secure Remote Access (SRA): A paid subscription service providing access to digitized land records and other documents maintained in digital format. Annual subscription costs $600 per user. Registration with the Circuit Clerk’s Office is required.

In-person access to land records is available at 307 Albemarle Drive, Suite 300A (3rd Floor). Copy fees are $0.50 per page plus $2.00 for certification.

The city also maintains property assessment and tax information through its Property Data and Your Property web pages.

Chesapeake County Family Court Records

Chesapeake does not have a standalone family court. Family-related cases are split between the Circuit Court and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations (JDR) District Court based on case type.

Jurisdictional Division

The Circuit Court handles divorce, annulment, separate maintenance, equitable distribution of property, and appeals from the JDR Court. The JDR Court hears child custody and visitation disputes, child and spousal support enforcement, domestic violence protective orders, paternity actions, child abuse and neglect cases, and juvenile delinquency matters.

Accessing Family Court Records

Family case records from the Circuit Court can be searched through the Circuit Court Case Information system online. In-person requests for copies can be made at the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office during business hours.

JDR Court records carry significant confidentiality restrictions. Disclosure is generally limited to the parties directly involved in the case, as permitted under Title 16.1 of the Virginia Code. Persons seeking JDR records should contact the JDR Clerk’s Office at (757) 382-8100 to confirm eligibility before submitting a request.

Divorce Records

Divorce decrees and related documents are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk. Requesters can obtain copies by completing the Clerk’s Document Request Form and submitting it in person or by mail. Copy fees of $0.50 per page and $2.00 for certification apply, plus a 2% credit/debit card convenience fee if paying electronically. Mail requests should be sent to:

Chesapeake Circuit Court
ATTN: Marriage License Division
307 Albemarle Drive, Suite 300A
Chesapeake, VA 23322

Divorce verification certificates are also available from the Virginia Department of Health (see vital records section below).

Marriage Records

The Circuit Court Clerk issues marriage licenses and maintains marriage records for Chesapeake. Certified copies of marriage licenses cost $2.50 and can be requested in person (cash or check) or by mail. Mail requests must include both spouses’ names (including maiden name), the year of marriage, a self-addressed return envelope, and a check or money order payable to “Clerk of Circuit Court”.

Vital Records — Birth, Death, Marriage, and Divorce Certificates

The Chesapeake Health Department Vital Records Office issues certified copies of birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates for events that occurred in Virginia. Each record search costs $12.00. A valid photo ID is required.

Chesapeake Health Department – Vital Records Office
748 Battlefield Boulevard North, 1st Floor Counter
Chesapeake, VA 23320
Email: CHDVitalRec@vdh.virginia.gov
Phone: (757) 382-8677 or (757) 382-2694

Walk-in hours: Monday through Thursday (except holidays)
Open 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., closed 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., open 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Application forms for vital records are available from the Virginia Department of Health:

Additional request methods are described on the VDH’s Vital Records website.

Confidentiality of Vital Records

Under Va. Code § 32.1-271, birth records become public information 100 years after the event. Until then, access is limited to the record subject, immediate family members (mother, father, current spouse, adult child, brother, sister, grandparent), and legal guardians with proof of custody. Death, marriage, and divorce records become public 25 years after the event. Prior to that, only immediate family members and legally authorized persons may obtain copies.

Chesapeake County Probate Court Records

The Chesapeake Circuit Court exercises jurisdiction over all probate matters, including the admission of wills to probate, appointment of executors and administrators, estate administration, and guardianship proceedings.

Searching Probate Records

Probate case information can be searched online through the Circuit Court Case Information system. Additionally, wills and certain estate-related documents are indexed through the Circuit Clerk’s Remote Access Website, where free name-based index searches are available.

For full document access, visit the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office at 307 Albemarle Drive, Suite 300A (3rd Floor), during business hours. Staff can retrieve probate files using a case number, party name, or hearing date.

Requesting Probate Record Copies

Copies of probate documents are available at the standard Circuit Court copy rates — $0.50 per page for plain copies, $2.00 per document for certification. Requests can be made in person or by contacting the Clerk’s Office:

Chesapeake Circuit Court Clerk’s Office
307 Albemarle Drive, Suite 300A
Chesapeake, VA 23322
Phone: (757) 382-3000
Email: ccclerk@cityofchesapeake.net

Secure Remote Access for Probate Documents

Subscribers to the Clerk’s Secure Remote Access (SRA) service can view digitized probate records, wills, and land records online. The annual subscription fee is $600 per user. Registration with the Clerk’s Office is required. Index-level searches remain free to all users.

Types of Probate Matters

Chesapeake Circuit Court probate jurisdiction covers admission of wills to probate, issuance of letters testamentary and letters of administration, appointment and removal of executors and administrators, estate inventories and accountings, guardianship of minors and incapacitated adults, conservatorship proceedings, and related estate disputes. Contested probate matters may be resolved through the court’s general civil process, including jury trials where applicable.