Fauquier County Court Records Search
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Fauquier County lies in the Piedmont region of northern Virginia, with its county seat in the historic town of Warrenton. Established in 1759 from Prince William County, Fauquier operates within Virginia’s 20th Judicial Circuit and maintains a three-tiered local court structure: the Circuit Court, the General District Court, and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. Records generated by these courts — including criminal indictments, civil complaints, family matters, probate filings, and land instruments — are held by the respective clerks and date back in some instances to the county’s founding year.
Individuals searching for court case data in Virginia can rely on multiple official channels. The Virginia Judicial System publishes electronic case-lookup tools accessible through its website, and VirginiaStateCourts.us can help users locate publicly available case information across the state. Locally, the Fauquier County Circuit Court Clerk’s Record Room, the General District Court Clerk’s window, and online case-information portals all serve as starting points for record retrieval. In-person visits are handled during posted business hours, while many routine searches can be completed remotely.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Fauquier County?
The approach for finding a Fauquier County court case depends on the type of case and which court handled it. Virginia’s Judicial System provides several free online portals, and each local clerk’s office accepts walk-in and mail requests.
Online case-information portals:
- Circuit Court Case Information — Search civil and criminal filings from the Fauquier County Circuit Court by name, case number, or hearing date at the Circuit Court Case Information portal.
- General District Court Case Information — Look up traffic, criminal, and civil cases from the General District Court through the General District Court Case Information portal, searchable by name, case number, or hearing date.
- Online Case Information System (OCIS) — The statewide OCIS tool provides a consolidated search covering adult criminal cases in Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts and criminal/traffic cases in General District Courts and select Circuit Courts. Users can also subscribe for email alerts on case updates.
In-person and mail requests at the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office:
The Record Room at the Fauquier County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office is the primary point of contact for court records, land records, probate files, vital records, and other instruments dating to 1759.
Fauquier County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office
29 Ashby Street
Warrenton, VA 20186-3202
Phone: (540) 422-8100
Fax: (540) 422-8112
Email: recordsroom@fauquiercounty.gov
- Clerk’s Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
- Record Room hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
- Recordation cutoff: 3:30 p.m.
Mail-in requests should include the document type, party name, and book-and-page reference if known, along with an appropriately sized self-addressed stamped envelope and payment.
Copy and search fees (Circuit Court Clerk):
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Regular copies | $0.50 per page |
| Certified deed or will | $2.00 per document + $0.50 per page |
| Certified birth, death, or marriage copy (marriage 75 years old to present) | $3.00 each |
| Marriage copy older than 75 years | $0.50 per page (certification $2.00 additional on request) |
| Search fee (when reference unknown) | $5.00 (covers up to 10 years) |
Payment is accepted by cash, check, or money order. The Clerk’s staff cannot perform real estate title searches or detailed genealogical research.
General District Court Clerk’s Office:
Fauquier County General District Court
6 Court Street
Warrenton, VA 20186-3299
Phone: (540) 422-8035
Fax: (540) 422-8033
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Walk-in requests for traffic, misdemeanor, and civil case records under the General District Court’s jurisdiction can be made during business hours.
Are Court Records Public in Fauquier County?
Virginia law provides broad public access to court records. The Virginia Public Records Act establishes a general right to inspect records maintained by public officers and agencies, and Section 255 of the Code of Virginia and related provisions in Title 17.1 govern access to records held by circuit court clerks. The Supreme Court of Virginia has also adopted Part Eleven of the Rules of Court, which establishes a framework for public access to judicial records held by courts at every level.
Despite this general presumption of openness, certain categories of records are restricted or sealed:
- Juvenile court records (confidential under Virginia law)
- Adoption records
- Sealed records pursuant to court order, state statute, or federal law
- Records sealed under Virginia’s criminal record sealing statutes
- Administrative investigation files
- Attorney-client privileged communications
- Grand jury proceedings
- Mental health records and commitment orders
- Youthful offender adjudications
- Military discharge records (DD-214) filed with the Clerk are restricted under Va. Code § 17.1-265
Criminal history record dissemination at the state level is separately governed by Va. Code § 19.2-389, which restricts the release of non-conviction data and limits who may receive certain categories of criminal history information.
Fauquier County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Fauquier County are divided among three courts depending on the severity of the charge:
| Court | Criminal Jurisdiction | Location & Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Court | Felony trials; misdemeanor appeals | 40 Culpeper St., Warrenton, VA 20186 — (540) 422-8100 |
| General District Court | Misdemeanors, traffic infractions, felony preliminary hearings | 6 Court St., Warrenton, VA 20186 — (540) 422-8035 |
| Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court | Juvenile criminal offenses, crimes involving family members | 14 Main St., Warrenton, VA 20186 — (540) 422-8040 |
Grand juries in the Circuit Court sit on the first day of each term (terms begin the fourth Monday of January, March, May, July, September, and November), with indictments returned at 1:00 p.m. Misdemeanor appeals are heard on the fourth Monday of each month at 1:00 p.m.
Local criminal background checks — Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office:
The Sheriff’s Office issues a Letter of Good Standing based solely on records it maintains. Applicants must visit in person between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with a valid government-issued photo ID and a completed Letter of Good Standing form.
Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office
78 West Lee Street
Warrenton, VA 20186
Phone: (540) 422-8600
Non-emergency: (540) 347-3300
For FOIA-based record requests (incident reports, crash reports, etc.), the Sheriff’s Professional Standards Division processes requests at a $10.00 fee. Requests may be submitted by mail (check payable to Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office), in person (check or exact cash), or by email to Sheriff.FOIA@fauquiercounty.gov.
Statewide criminal history — Virginia State Police (VSP):
The Virginia State Police Criminal History Background Search portal offers three downloadable request forms:
- SP-167 — Available to the general public. Searches Virginia convictions by name. Must be notarized. To include charges, dismissals, and pending matters, attach a completed fingerprint card. Fee: $15 per search (or $20 combined with sex-offender search).
- SP-230 — Restricted to agencies authorized under Va. Code § 19.2-389. Same fee structure.
- SP-266 — Sex Offender Registry name search. Fee: $15 per search.
Submit completed forms with payment (certified check, money order, or business check payable to Virginia State Police) by mail or drop-off:
- Mail: Virginia State Police, Civil & Applicants Records Exchange, P.O. Box 85076, Richmond, VA 23285
- Drop-off: VSP Headquarters, 7700 Midlothian Turnpike, North Chesterfield, VA 23235
Processing may take up to 15 business days. Detailed filing instructions are available on the VSP instructions form.
Fauquier County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Fauquier County is split between two courts based on the amount in controversy:
- Circuit Court — General jurisdiction over all civil matters, including cases seeking damages above $25,000, injunctive relief, and appeals from the General District Court.
- General District Court — Limited jurisdiction over civil claims up to $25,000, small claims, garnishments, unlawful detainers, and landlord-tenant disputes.
The General District Court’s civil docket is heard on the first, second, and fourth Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m. for first returns and motions, with civil trials set by the court on Thursday and Friday afternoons at 1:00 p.m.
Requesting civil records:
Requests for Circuit Court civil case files should be directed to the Clerk’s Record Room at 29 Ashby Street. Contact the civil cases team at CVDRcircuit@fauquiercounty.gov or (540) 422-8100. General District Court civil records can be requested at 6 Court Street during business hours (8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.).
Both courts’ civil cases are searchable online at no charge through the Circuit Court Case Information and General District Court Case Information portals. Fines and costs for Circuit Court cases may be paid through the Circuit Court Online Payment System.
Property and land records:
The Circuit Court Clerk serves as the Recorder of Deeds for Fauquier County, maintaining deed books from 1759 to the present, UCC financing statements from July 1991, and judgment records from July 1991 (with images from 2014). The Recorder of Deeds page on the county website provides current recording-fee information.
Remote online access to land records is available through the Secured Remote Access (SRA) subscription service at $400 per year for up to two users. Deed Book images from Book 215 forward are currently available online through SRA. Walk-in researchers may view land records in the Record Room during posted hours. Copy fees are $0.50 per page, with certifications at $2.00 per document plus $0.50 per copied page.
Fauquier County Family Court Records
Family-related matters in Fauquier County are divided between two courts. The Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court handles custody, visitation, child support, spousal support, domestic violence protective orders, juvenile delinquency, child abuse and neglect, and paternity. The Circuit Court holds exclusive jurisdiction over divorce, separation, and annulment proceedings.
Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court:
Fauquier County Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court
14 Main Street
Warrenton, VA 20186
Phone: (540) 422-8040
Fax: (540) 422-8041
Records from this court are generally confidential under Virginia law. Access is restricted to the parties, their attorneys, authorized agencies, and persons with a court order.
Divorce records:
Divorce proceedings are filed in the Circuit Court. The court distributes final orders by email and mails certified copies of divorce decrees. Free uncontested-divorce information packets are referenced through the Virginia Judicial System Court Self-Help resources. Divorce file and docket searches are available online via the Circuit Court Case Information portal.
Under Va. Code § 32.1-271, divorce records maintained by the Virginia Department of Health are confidential for 25 years. During that period, only the named parties and their immediate family members (parents, children, siblings, spouses, grandparents) may obtain copies.
Marriage records:
The Circuit Court Clerk issues marriage licenses and maintains marriage records dating to 1759. As of January 1, 2026, the Clerk’s Office no longer accepts marriage license applications by mail — all applications must be submitted in person at least five business days before the wedding date. Marriage records are confidential for 25 years; copies of licenses from the past 75 years cost $3.00 each. Marriages older than 75 years are $0.50 per page with optional certification at $2.00.
The Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records also provides marriage certificates for a $12.00 fee per search. Walk-in requests are accepted at the Office of Vital Records, 2001 Maywill Street, Suite 101, Richmond, VA 23230, Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Online requests can be submitted through the VDH’s Online Application for a Vital Record.
Birth and death records:
The Circuit Court Clerk’s Record Room holds local birth and death registers for the period 1853–1896. For records from June 14, 1912 onward, the Virginia Department of Health serves as the primary custodian. Birth records are confidential for 100 years and death records for 25 years under Va. Code § 32.1-271; during those periods, access is limited to the registrant and immediate family members. The state search fee is $12.00 per record. Requests may be made in person, by mail, or online through the VDH. A valid photo ID is required for all requests.
Fauquier County Probate Court Records
In Virginia, probate jurisdiction rests with the Circuit Court, and the Circuit Court Clerk serves as the probate judge for administrative matters. In Fauquier County, estate filings — including wills, estate administration, guardianships, and conservatorships — are processed through the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office.
Contacting the probate section:
Direct estate-filing inquiries to probate@fauquiercounty.gov or call (540) 422-8100. Walk-in requests are handled at the Record Room, 29 Ashby Street, Warrenton, VA 20186, during Record Room hours (8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.). The Clerk’s Office also makes a Request for Probate form available by email.
Record holdings related to probate:
- Will Books from 1759 to the present
- Chancery Court records from 1831 to the present
- Clerk’s loose papers regarding guardianships, land disputes, and related matters from the county’s founding era
- Chancery suit loose papers (1759–1919) are digitized and searchable through the Library of Virginia
Online probate case searches:
The Circuit Court Case Information portal may contain certain probate case data. For detailed records, an in-person visit or mail request to the Record Room is the most reliable method. Copy fees follow the standard schedule: $0.50 per page for regular copies and $2.00 per document plus $0.50 per page for certifications.
Guardianship and conservatorship resources:
Virginia’s Judicial System maintains a dedicated Guardianship and Conservatorship portal with forms, educational materials, and reporting tools for court-appointed guardians and conservators. Commissioner of Accounts instructions are also available through the Fauquier County Circuit Court Clerk’s website.