Henry County Court Records

Henry County occupies southern Virginia's Piedmont region, bordered by Patrick County, Franklin County, and Pittsylvania County, with the independent city of Martinsville nestled inside its boundaries. Judicial operations fall under the 21st Judicial Circuit and the 21st Judicial District, both of which serve Henry County and Martinsville jointly. Three trial courts share the caseload: the Circuit Court, the General District Court, and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. All three are housed at the Henry County Courthouse complex at 3160 Kings Mountain Road in Martinsville.

These courts produce records covering criminal prosecutions, civil lawsuits, domestic relations disputes, juvenile matters, probate of estates, and recorded land instruments. The Circuit Court Clerk's Office — currently led by Clerk Katherine Minter Salgado — holds permanent case files, land records, wills, and marriage licenses, with documents dating back to the 1700s preserved on site.

Virginia's court system offers several ways to find case information. The Virginia Judicial System's online case information tools give you statewide search capability for circuit, general district, and juvenile and domestic relations courts. VirginiaStateCourts.us can also help you identify publicly available court data across the Commonwealth. Beyond these digital tools, you can visit any clerk's office during business hours, use courthouse public-access terminals, or send written requests for specific records by mail.

How to Look Up a Court Case in Henry County?

You can search for a Henry County court case through online databases, an in-person visit to the clerk's office, or a written mail request. Which approach works best depends on the court that handled the case and what type of record you need.

Online Case Search Tools

Virginia maintains separate online systems for each level of trial court:

Circuit Court records — The Circuit Court Case Information System lets you search by name or case number. You can look up civil, criminal, and traffic cases in Henry County's Circuit Court. A separate civil filing fee calculator is available to estimate costs before filing.
General District Court records — The General District Court Online Case Information System covers criminal, traffic, and civil case data. Select Henry County from the court list to begin searching.
Statewide search — The Online Case Information System (OCIS) lets you run a single search across adult criminal case information in JDR courts, along with criminal and traffic cases in general district courts and select circuit courts.

In-Person Access

All three Henry County courts share the same courthouse campus:

Court	Suite	Phone	Fax
Henry County Circuit Court	Suite B, 3160 Kings Mountain Rd., Martinsville, VA 24112	(276) 634-4880	(276) 634-4898
Henry County General District Court	Suite A, 3160 Kings Mountain Rd., Martinsville, VA 24112	(276) 634-4815	(276) 634-4825
Henry County JDR District Court	Suite C, 3160 Kings Mountain Rd., Martinsville, VA 24112	(276) 634-4830	(276) 634-4836

The Circuit Court Clerk's Office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Deed recording is accepted until 4:30 p.m. The office closes on all state and local holidays. Public-access computer terminals inside the courthouse let you search case indexes at no charge. If you need copies of court documents, you can request them at the counter; Virginia Code 17.1-275 sets the fee at $0.50 per page or image.

Land Records and Secure Remote Access

Deeds, deeds of trust, liens, plats, and other recorded instruments are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk. You can search these records remotely through Virginia's Secure Remote Access (SRA) program, which requires an online subscription of up to $50 per month. To apply for Henry County SRA access, review the SRA Requirements and Application and subscribe through the SRA website. Electronic recording is also available through Simplifile, CSC, and ePN. The Virginia Judiciary offers a Deed Calculation tool to estimate recordation taxes and fees before filing.

Are Court Records Public in Henry County?

Virginia law establishes a strong presumption of public access to court records. Under Virginia Code 17.1-208, records held by circuit court clerks must be open for inspection during regular office hours unless another statute says otherwise. The Virginia Public Records Act further reinforces the public's right to examine government records, including those produced by the courts.

Henry County residents and the general public can inspect most case files — including civil complaints, criminal dockets, land instruments, probate filings, and court orders — by visiting the clerk's office or using the online case information systems described above. The Virginia Judiciary also maintains a dedicated page on requesting public records that outlines the procedures applicable to all state courts.

Records That Are Not Publicly Accessible

Certain categories of records are confidential or sealed under Virginia law:

Juvenile case records, which are generally closed to the public under Title 16.1 of the Code of Virginia
Adoption files
Mental health evaluation records and medical records submitted in court proceedings
Records containing Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, or other personally identifiable information (courts may require redaction before public release)
Records sealed by specific court order
Active financial details in certain domestic relations matters
Trade secrets and proprietary information designated confidential by the court

Virginia Code Title 17.1, Chapter 2, Article 8 defines confidential court records for the Secure Remote Access system and sets out what may be made available electronically versus what requires an in-person review. The Virginia Supreme Court's Part Eleven rules on access to judicial records offer additional guidance on sealing procedures and the standards courts must meet before restricting access.

FOIA requests for Henry County government records that are separate from court records can be directed to the county FOIA officer at bmartin@henrycountyva.gov or by calling (276) 634-2573.

Henry County Criminal Court Records

Criminal matters in Henry County are divided between two courts based on the severity of the offense.

Circuit Court — Hears all felony trials, misdemeanors brought by grand jury indictment, and criminal appeals from General District Court. Grand juries convene on the first day of each term. Terms begin on the third Monday of January (Tuesday after the third Monday), March, May, July, September, and November at 9:00 a.m.

General District Court — Handles misdemeanors, traffic infractions, ordinance violations, and preliminary hearings for felony charges. The criminal and traffic docket runs Monday, Thursday, and Friday (general traffic at 9:00 a.m., scheduled cases at 10:00 a.m.), with arraignments Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Criminal case records from both courts — including charges, hearing dates, dispositions, and sentencing information — can be searched through the online systems listed above. The Circuit Court system covers both criminal and civil cases, while the General District Court portal handles criminal, traffic, and civil matters.

Sheriff's Office Records

The Henry County Sheriff's Office generates arrest reports, incident reports, and booking records through its law enforcement operations. The Sheriff's Office is located at:

Henry County Sheriff's Office
3300 Kings Mountain Road
Martinsville, VA 24112
Phone: (276) 634-4600
Non-emergency: (276) 638-8751

Requests for incident reports or arrest records are processed through Virginia's FOIA framework. Contact the office directly or submit a written request specifying the records you need.

Virginia State Police Criminal History Check

A statewide criminal history search is available from the Virginia State Police through the Criminal History Record Check process. Here's how it works:

Generate a completed SP-167 form online and print it.
Have your signature notarized in Section 1. If results should go to a third party, that person must also sign and have Section 2 notarized.
Include payment of $15.00 per name search (money order, certified check, business check, or credit card).
Mail the form and payment to:

Virginia State Police CARE
7700 Midlothian Turnpike
North Chesterfield, VA 23235

Processing takes approximately 15 business days — there is no expedited or same-day service. For fingerprint-based searches covering both state and FBI records, the combined fee is $27.00 ($13.75 VSP plus $13.25 FBI). Criminal history dissemination is governed by Virginia Code 19.2-389. Juvenile record information is not included in standard reports, per Virginia Code 19.2-389.1.

Henry County Civil Court Records

Civil litigation in Henry County is split between the Circuit Court and the General District Court based on the amount in controversy and the nature of the claim.

Jurisdictional Breakdown

The Circuit Court has exclusive original jurisdiction over civil claims exceeding $25,000 and may hear cases with amounts above $4,500. It also handles equity matters, appeals from lower courts, and real property disputes. The General District Court adjudicates civil claims up to $25,000, including warrants in debt, unlawful detainer (eviction) actions, and small claims. Unlawful detainer suits for commercial or agricultural rent may exceed the $25,000 threshold and still be heard in General District Court.

General District Court Civil Schedule

Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m. — general civil docket
Warrants in debt — 9:30 a.m.
Unlawful detainers and warrants in detinue — 10:30 a.m.
Small claims — 11:30 a.m.
Contested civil matters — third Wednesday of each month at 9:00 a.m.

Searching Civil Records

Active and resolved civil cases can be looked up through the Circuit Court Case Information portal and the General District Court Online Case Information System. Both platforms allow searches by party name and case number at no charge. The Virginia Judiciary also provides a General District Court civil fee calculator for estimating filing costs.

Filing Fees

Circuit court civil filing fees are calculated based on the amount of the claim. The statewide fee schedule, published as Appendix C to the Circuit Court Clerk's Manual, lists fees for every type of instrument and proceeding. Use the Circuit Court Civil Filing Fee Calculator for case-specific estimates.

Property Records

Land records — including deeds, deeds of trust, liens, easements, and plats — are recorded by the Circuit Court Clerk. Recording fees are set by Virginia Code 17.1-275(A)(2): $14.50 for documents of 10 pages or fewer, $28.50 for 11–30 pages, and $48.50 for 31 or more pages, plus applicable recordation taxes and a $5.00 Technology Trust Fund fee. Property assessment and tax records are separately maintained by the Henry County Commissioner of Revenue and can be searched through the county's Real Estate lookup tool. The Commissioner's Office is at 3300 Kings Mountain Road, Martinsville, VA 24112, Phone: (276) 634-4690

Henry County Family Court Records

Family law matters in Henry County are handled by two courts depending on the nature of the proceeding.

Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court — This court has jurisdiction over most domestic relations disputes, including child custody, visitation, child and spousal support, protective orders, cases involving family abuse, and juvenile delinquency or status offenses. The court is located in Suite C of the courthouse complex at 3160 Kings Mountain Road, Martinsville, VA 24112, and can be reached at (276) 634-4830.

The JDR Court's schedule, as reported by the City of Martinsville's court page, includes:

Civil support matters — Tuesdays, 9:00 a.m. to noon
Custody, visitation, and support — Tuesdays, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.; second, third, and fourth Fridays, 9:00 a.m. to noon

Circuit Court — Divorce suits, annulments, adoptions, and appeals from JDR Court are heard here. Divorce decrees and related orders become part of the permanent Circuit Court record.

Confidentiality of Family and Juvenile Records

Juvenile proceedings are generally closed to the public under Virginia Code Title 16.1, and access to JDR case files is limited to parties, their attorneys, and persons with statutory authorization. Adoption records are sealed. Domestic violence protective order filings may contain restricted personal information.

Marriage Records

The Circuit Court Clerk issues marriage licenses in Henry County. The clerk's office has maintained marriage records since the county's founding, with documents dating to the 1700s available for in-person review during office hours. Under Virginia law, marriage records are confidential for the first 25 years after the ceremony. After that threshold, they become open to public inspection.

Vital Records: Birth, Death, and Divorce Certificates

The Circuit Court Clerk's Office does not issue birth or death certificates. These records are maintained by the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records. The fee is $12.00 per certificate search, with no refund if the record is not found. Applications can be submitted through the online vital records system, by mail, or in person at the Office of Vital Records:

Office of Vital Records
8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 100
Richmond, VA 23227
Phone: (804) 662-6200
Walk-in hours: Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Customer Care Center: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Under Virginia Code 32.1-271, birth records are confidential for 100 years, death records for 25 years, and divorce records for 25 years. Before those periods expire, access is restricted to the persons named on the record, their immediate family, or their authorized legal representatives.

Henry County Probate Court Records

Virginia does not have a separate probate court. Probate matters — including the admission of wills, appointment of executors and administrators, qualification of guardians and conservators, and oversight of estate administration — are all handled by the Circuit Court Clerk under authority granted by the Code of Virginia.

Services Provided by the Probate Department

The Henry County Circuit Court Clerk's probate department manages the following:

Probate of wills (testate estates) and administration of intestate estates
Appointment and qualification of executors and administrators
Qualification of testamentary trustees
Appointment and qualification of guardians and conservators for incapacitated adults
Qualification of guardians for minors — persons or estates

An individual has no legal authority to act as an executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, or conservator until formally appointed and qualified before the Clerk. Jurisdiction belongs to the Circuit Court of the locality where the decedent resided at the time of death.

How to Begin the Probate Process

Complete the Application for Probate Appointment (PDF).
Submit the application by email to henryprobate@vacourts.gov, by U.S. Mail, or by in-person delivery to the Clerk's Office at 3160 Kings Mountain Road, Suite B, Martinsville, VA 24112.
The probate department will schedule a qualification appointment.
At the appointment, the personal representative takes an oath and posts any required bond.

For probate questions, call (276) 634-4880 and select option 4.

Probate Fees

Probate fees in Virginia are based on the value of the decedent's estate. Under Virginia Code 58.1-1712, a state probate tax of $0.10 per $100 applies to estates valued above $15,000. An additional state fee of $25.00 applies when the additional tax exceeds $25, per 58.1-1717.1. If Henry County has adopted the local probate tax ordinance under 58.1-1718, the local tax equals one-third of the state probate tax. Qualification fees are set by Virginia Code 17.1-275(A)(3): $20.00 for estates up to $50,000, $25.00 for estates up to $100,000, and $30.00 for estates exceeding $100,000. Will recording and indexing fees follow the same page-based schedule as other recorded documents ($14.50 for up to 10 pages, $28.50 for 11–30 pages, $48.50 for 31+ pages), plus $3.50 designated for the Virginia State Library.

Additional Probate Resources

The Virginia Supreme Court publishes a Probate in Virginia brochure (PDF) answering frequently asked questions about the process. For guardianship and conservatorship matters, the Judiciary offers a Guardianship and Conservatorship FAQ (PDF) and a pamphlet titled You've Been Appointed: Information for Virginia Guardians and Conservators (PDF). The Virginia Judiciary's Guardianship and Conservatorship portal also provides monitoring tools and annual reporting guidance for appointed fiduciaries.

Probate records, once filed, are generally available for public inspection at the clerk's office. Estate inventories, accountings, and qualification orders can be reviewed in person during regular hours or, for subscribers, through the Secure Remote Access system when land-related instruments are involved. The Clerk's staff cannot provide legal advice on probate matters, but the Virginia Court Self-Help website offers guidance and form libraries for self-represented individuals navigating the process.