Harrisonburg County Court Records Search
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Harrisonburg is an independent city in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, and like all Virginia independent cities, it functions as a separate jurisdiction from the surrounding Rockingham County — though both share several court facilities and the same Clerk of Circuit Court. Court records generated through these shared courts document civil disputes, criminal proceedings, domestic relations matters, probate filings, and more. Under Part Eleven of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia, court records encompass any data, information, or documents created, collected, received, or maintained by a district or circuit court in connection with a case or court administration. A typical case record may contain party names, attorney information, charges, docket events, service/process details, hearing dates, dispositions, and judgment information.
Persons looking to access Virginia court records can use VirginiaStateCourts.us as a starting point to find publicly available case information, clerk office contact details, and online search tools across the Commonwealth. Records may be searched through official clerk offices, public access terminals at the courthouse, and Virginia’s court case information systems — all described in more detail below.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Harrisonburg County?
Harrisonburg court records are accessible through a combination of online state portals, the Clerk’s office, and public access computers at the courthouse.
Online Search Tools
Virginia’s court system provides two publicly accessible online case search tools:
- Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System (OCIS) — Provides searchable circuit court case information by name, case number, or hearing date. Select Rockingham Circuit Court to search cases involving the City of Harrisonburg.
- General District Court Case Information — Offers public access to civil, criminal, and traffic case data from the Harrisonburg/Rockingham General District Court. Searchable by name, case number, or hearing date.
Both portals display limited case-level information only. Document copies must be obtained separately through the clerk’s office.
Harrisonburg/Rockingham Court Locations
| Court | Address | Phone | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockingham Circuit Court | 80 Court Square, Harrisonburg, VA 22802 | (540) 564-3111 | Mon–Fri, 8:30 am–4:30 pm |
| Harrisonburg/Rockingham General District Court | 53 Court Square, Room 132, Harrisonburg, VA 22801 | (540) 564-3130 | Mon–Fri, 8:00 am–4:00 pm |
| Harrisonburg/Rockingham Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court | 53 Court Square, Suite 214, Harrisonburg, VA 22801 | (540) 564-3370 | Mon–Fri, 8:00 am–4:00 pm |
Other Access Methods
- By phone: Call the Civil Division at (540) 564-3113 or (540) 564-3114 for civil record copies.
- By mail: Submit a written copy request with payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the Circuit Court Clerk’s Civil Division at 80 Court Square, Harrisonburg, VA 22802.
- In person: Public access terminals are available at the courthouse. Counter service is available during regular office hours.
- By email: Document requests can be directed to the clerk’s office through the Circuit Court Email contact form.
Are Court Records Public in Harrisonburg County?
Yes, the majority of court records generated in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County courts are open to public inspection. Access is governed by the Virginia Public Records Act, as well as Virginia Code Titles 16.1 and 17.1, which address case records maintained by courts of record and courts not of record, respectively. Under Virginia Code § 17.1-208, circuit court clerks are required to permit inspection of their records and to provide copies upon request for the applicable fee.
However, Virginia law restricts access to certain records to protect privacy, the interests of minors, and the administration of justice. Records exempt from public inspection include:
- Juvenile court records
- Adoption records
- Sealed or expunged records
- Grand jury materials
- Records protected by attorney-client privilege
- Medical and psychiatric records ordered sealed by the court
The Harrisonburg Police Department also handles records requests separately under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which permits reasonable charges for accessing, duplicating, and supplying requested documents. Requests that are estimated to cost more than $200 to fulfill require an advance deposit.
Harrisonburg County Criminal Court Records
Court-Level Criminal Records
Criminal cases in Harrisonburg — including misdemeanors, traffic violations, and felony preliminary hearings — are heard in the Harrisonburg/Rockingham General District Court. Felony cases proceed to the Rockingham Circuit Court. Case-level docket information for both courts is searchable through the OCIS and General District Court portals linked above.
Local Background Checks — Harrisonburg Police Department
The Harrisonburg Police Department (HPD) provides local background checks covering offenses for which the requester was convicted within the City of Harrisonburg only. Traffic offenses are generally excluded. To obtain a local background check:
- Visit the Public Safety Building lobby in person, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
- Bring a valid government-issued photo ID.
- If requesting by mail, submit a notarized Records Release Form to:
Harrisonburg Police Department
101 North Main Street
Harrisonburg, VA 22802
Phone: (540) 434-4436
Records Unit: (540) 437-2650
Email: HPDRecordsUnit@harrisonburgva.gov
HPD notes that it does not provide background checks for immigration purposes and does not handle statewide criminal arrest records — those are maintained by the Virginia State Police.
Crash Reports
Crash reports are available approximately five days after the incident. Requesters must be either an insurance company or a person named in the report and must provide the crash case number and date. Reports can be obtained in person or by mail (call (540) 437-2650 first to confirm availability), by emailing HPDRecordsUnit@harrisonburgva.gov, or by downloading directly through CrashDocs.org once uploaded.
Statewide Criminal History Checks — Virginia State Police
For a complete Virginia criminal history check, submit Form SP-167 to the Virginia State Police. Both the requester and the subject must sign and have their signatures notarized. The form may be generated online at the VSP website and must be mailed (no same-day or expedited service). Processing takes approximately 15 business days.
VSP Fee Schedule
| Search Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Name-Based Criminal History (SP-167) | $15.00 |
| Criminal History + Sex Offender Registry (combination) | $20.00 |
| Fingerprint-Based — VSP CARE Search | $13.75 |
| Fingerprint-Based — FBI Search (in addition to VSP) | $13.25 |
Mail SP-167 requests to:
Virginia State Police — Civil & Applicant Records Exchange (CARE)
7700 Midlothian Turnpike, North Chesterfield, VA 23235
For more information on Virginia criminal background check procedures, visit the VSP website.
Harrisonburg County Civil Court Records
Civil cases in Harrisonburg involving claims above the General District Court’s jurisdictional threshold are filed in the Rockingham Circuit Court. Lower-value civil matters, evictions, and small claims are heard in the Harrisonburg/Rockingham General District Court. Clerk of Circuit Court Chaz W. Haywood oversees all Circuit Court civil filings and records.
Requesting Civil Records
The Rockingham County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office offers four methods for obtaining civil case records:
- Online (attorneys only): Authorized attorneys can access the Officer of the Court Remote Access (OCRA) portal for divorce and civil record requests. Attorneys in the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Bar Association may access OCRA at no charge; non-local attorneys pay $25.00 per month. Access requires a signed OCRA Agreement for Local Users, which can be submitted in person, online, or by mail.
- By phone: Call (540) 564-3113 or (540) 564-3114. Plain copies cost $0.52 per page; certified copies cost $2.08 per page plus the per-page copy cost. Credit card payments carry a 4% surcharge.
- By mail: Send a written request with a self-addressed stamped envelope and check or money order. Plain copies are $0.50 per page; certified copies cost $2.00 plus $0.50 per page.
- In person: Visit the Civil Division, Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Plain copies are $0.50 per page; certified copies are $2.00 plus $0.50 per page, payable by cash, check, money order, or credit card (4% surcharge on cards).
Civil Division Direct Contact
Phone: (540) 564-3113 or (540) 564-3114
Address: 80 Court Square, Harrisonburg, VA 22802
Harrisonburg County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Harrisonburg are divided between two courts. The Rockingham Circuit Court handles divorce, annulment, name changes, adoptions, and conservatorship/guardianship proceedings for adults. The Harrisonburg/Rockingham Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court handles child custody, child support, visitation, protective orders, juvenile delinquency, and abuse and neglect cases.
Divorce Records
Divorce records are maintained by the Rockingham Circuit Court Clerk’s Civil Division. Plain copies cost $0.50 per page; certified copies cost $2.00 plus the per-page copy fee. Phone requests to (540) 564-3113 or (540) 564-3114 carry a slightly higher per-page cost due to the 4% credit card surcharge. Attorneys may use the OCRA portal for online divorce record requests.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses are issued by the Rockingham Circuit Court Clerk and are searchable and orderable through the Marriage Search and Certified Copy Request portal. Certified copies cost $2.50 each; phone orders at (540) 564-3124 or (540) 564-3126 are processed by credit card and cost $2.60 including the 4% surcharge. Requests received before 4:00 pm are mailed the same day; those received after 4:00 pm are processed the following business day.
Mail requests should include the couple’s names, marriage date, the applicable fee, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Birth and Death Records
Certified copies of birth and death records for Harrisonburg residents are issued by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Office of Vital Records. The fee is $12.00 per certificate. Birth records become public 100 years after the event; death records become public 25 years after the event. Immediate family members may obtain copies of confidential vital records.
Available request methods include:
- Online: Complete the VDH online application, upload a valid ID, and pay by credit card. Processing takes approximately two weeks.
- Mail: Submit a completed Birth Record Application (VS6B) or Death Record Application (VS6D) with payment and a copy of photo ID. Mail requests take approximately four weeks.
- In person or drop-off: Visit the VDH customer service lobby, Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 4:30 pm. Drop-off requests received before 2:00 pm may receive same-day processing.
Harrisonburg County Probate Court Records
Probate jurisdiction for the City of Harrisonburg rests with the Rockingham Circuit Court, as any decedent who resided in Harrisonburg at the time of death would have probate handled through this court. The Probate Division of the Rockingham Circuit Court Clerk’s Office manages all probate estates, wills, and the qualification of guardians and conservators.
Scheduling Probate Appointments
Appointments are required for probate proceedings. A deputy clerk in the Probate Division will schedule an appointment once relevant estate information has been gathered. Consult the Scheduling Information for Probate page for a checklist of required documentation. The Probate Division can be reached directly at (540) 574-4320.
Searching Probate Records Online
The Secure Remote Access (SRA) portal provides online access to probate, will, and estate records. Indexes are free to search; viewing, downloading, or printing document images requires a paid subscription:
| Subscription | Fee |
|---|---|
| 15-Minute (Quick Search) | $5.20 |
| Monthly | $31.20 |
| Annual | $374.40 |
Lodged Wills
The Clerk’s office maintains sealed wills lodged by court order under Virginia Code § 64.2-409. These are indexed by testator name and can be searched at no charge through the SRA site or on public access terminals in the Deed Room at the courthouse. Lodged wills can only be unsealed under the conditions specified in § 64.2-409.
In-Person and Mail Access
Probate records are available for in-person review at the courthouse during regular hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm). Paper copies follow the same fee schedule as other Circuit Court records: $0.50 per page for plain copies, $2.00 plus $0.50 per page for certified copies, and $2.08 per page for certified phone requests (with 4% credit card surcharge). Mail requests should be directed to:
Rockingham Circuit Court Clerk — Probate Division
80 Court Square
Harrisonburg, VA 22802
Phone: (540) 574-4320
General: (540) 564-3111