Lee County Court Records Search

Lee County, Virginia, is a rural jurisdiction in the far southwestern corner of the state, part of the 30th Judicial Circuit. Its court system generates official records covering every case heard before the county's three courts — the Circuit Court, the General District Court, and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. These records document parties, filings, orders, judgments, and final dispositions across criminal, civil, family, and probate matters, and form the foundation of the county's legal history dating back to 1793.

Residents and researchers seeking case information in Virginia can access publicly available court records through official portals maintained by the state, county clerk websites, and public access terminals at the courthouse. VirginiaStateCourts.us is a useful place to start for understanding Virginia court types and finding county-specific case search tools. The Virginia Judicial System also provides direct online portals for searching circuit and district court cases by name, case number, or hearing date — each referenced throughout this guide.

How to Look Up a Court Case in Lee County?

Lee County court records can be searched online, in person, or by written request. Where you start depends on which court handled the case.

Online Search Options

Circuit Court cases (felonies, civil suits over $25,000, divorces, probate): Use the Circuit Court Case Information System, select Lee County, and search by party name, case number, or hearing date.
General District Court cases (misdemeanors, traffic, civil claims up to $25,000): Use the General District Court Online Case Information System, which allows searches by defendant name, case number, or hearing date for all GDC locations statewide.
All court types overview: The Case Status and Information page on the Virginia Court System website consolidates links to all available online case search portals.

In-Person Access

Both clerk offices are located inside the Lee County Courthouse at 33640 Main Street, Jonesville, VA 24263. Public access terminals are available during regular office hours for searching court indexes and reviewing non-confidential case files. Staff cannot provide legal advice, but can help you locate records and explain copy fee structures.

Lee County Courts — Directory

Court	Address	Phone	Fax
Circuit Court Clerk (30th Judicial Circuit)	33640 Main Street / P.O. Box 326, Jonesville, VA 24263	(276) 346-7763	(276) 346-3440
General District Court (30th Judicial District)	33640 Main Street, Suite 209, Jonesville, VA 24263	(276) 346-7729	—
Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court	33640 Main Street, Jonesville, VA 24263	(276) 346-7735	—

The Circuit Court Clerk's Office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM (arrive no later than 4:00 PM for document processing). Recording hours for land records are 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. The current Clerk of the Circuit Court is Rene Anderson Lamey, who was elected in November 2015. The Lee County Circuit Court Clerk's website provides direct access to information on all record types maintained by the office.

Are Court Records Public in Lee County?

Virginia strongly presumes that court records are open to the public. Virginia Code § 17.1-208 requires that records maintained by circuit court clerks remain open to inspection in the clerk's office by any person. District court records carry a similar presumption under Virginia Code § 16.1-69.54:1. It's worth noting that judicial records are not covered by the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) — that statute applies to executive-branch records — but rather by the Code of Virginia and the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia.

Categories of Restricted or Confidential Records

Certain records are withheld from public access by statute or court order, including:

Juvenile court records, which are sealed under Virginia Code § 16.1-305 (with narrow exceptions for juveniles 14 or older charged with crimes that would be felonies if committed by an adult)
Adoption case files
Mental health and psychological evaluations submitted to courts
Records identifying victims of sexual offenses
Any case file sealed or expunged by court order
Social Security numbers and other personal identifiers, which the clerk redacts from publicly released documents

Access to sealed records generally requires a court order, demonstrated legal standing as a party of record, or authorization by the presiding judge.

Lee County Criminal Court Records

Criminal matters in Lee County are divided between two courts based on the severity of the offense:

General District Court: Handles adult misdemeanors, traffic infractions, and preliminary hearings for felony charges. Case files typically include the criminal warrant or summons, arrest information, bond orders, continuance entries, and final disposition. Docket information for all GDC cases is publicly searchable through the General District Court Online Case Information System.
Circuit Court Criminal Division: Handles all felony charges, misdemeanors originating by grand jury action, and misdemeanor appeals from the General District and JDR courts. The Circuit Court integrates traffic infraction appeals into its criminal docket rather than maintaining a separate traffic docket. Criminal case information for the Circuit Court is searchable through the Circuit Court Case Information System.

Paying Criminal Fines and Court Costs

The Circuit Court Criminal Division accepts payment by cash, personal check (payable to "Clerk, Lee County Circuit Court"), money orders, certified checks, cashier's checks, and VISA or MasterCard (with a 4% convenience fee). Your options for paying include:

By phone: Call (276) 347-7763 between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM; a 4% fee applies to card payments.
By mail: Send to Lee County Circuit Court Clerk's Office, Attention: Criminal Division, P.O. Box 326, Jonesville, VA 24263. Include the case number and defendant name.
In person: Criminal Division office, second floor of the Lee County Courthouse, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM.

Unpaid fines and court costs accrue interest from the due date and may be reported to the Virginia Department of Taxation for set-off debt collection, or referred to the Commonwealth's Attorney for collection. Payment plan agreements are available and must be signed in the Criminal Division office.

Lee County Civil Court Records

Civil cases in Lee County are divided between the General District Court and the Circuit Court depending on the amount in controversy and the type of claim:

General District Court: Handles civil claims up to $25,000, unlawful detainer (eviction) actions, and small claims matters. These cases appear in the General District Court Online Case Information System.
Circuit Court Civil Division: Handles all civil monetary claims exceeding $25,000, as well as divorces, adoptions, real property disputes, name changes, will contests, equity actions, and appeals from the General District and JDR courts. In civil cases where the amount ranges from $4,500 to $25,000, the Circuit Court shares concurrent jurisdiction with the General District Court.

Filing in the Circuit Court Civil Division

The Circuit Court does not stock standard forms for civil filings; litigants must prepare pleadings consistent with the Code of Virginia and the Rules of the Virginia Supreme Court. The Supreme Court of Virginia forms page provides certain approved forms for circuit court civil actions. It is strongly recommended to consult an attorney before filing at the Circuit Court level. Civil filing fees can be calculated in advance using the Virginia Circuit Court Civil Filing Fee Calculator and the General District Court Civil Filing Fee Calculator.

Subpoenas and Copy Costs

For civil subpoena requests in the Circuit Court, deliver a letter specifying the request to the clerk's office. Witness subpoenas carry no clerk's fee, but subpoenas duces tecum (for production of records) require a $5.00 clerk's fee. Sheriff service for any subpoena adds $12.00 per document served.

Copies of court records and land records can be obtained at the Lee County Circuit Court Clerk's Office for $0.50 per page, with an additional $2.00 per document for certified copies. Land record recording hours are 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Documents presented after normal recording hours are recorded the next business day. E-recording is accepted through Simplifile ((800) 460-5657) and CSC ((866) 652-0111).

Lee County Family Court Records

Family law matters in Lee County are split between two courts depending on the nature of the proceeding:

Circuit Court: Holds exclusive jurisdiction over divorces, annulments, and equitable distribution of marital assets. Custody, support, and visitation matters may originate in either court depending on the circumstances.
Juvenile and Domestic Relations (JDR) District Court: Handles child custody, child support, visitation, protective orders, foster care cases, DSS matters, and juvenile criminal proceedings. Appeals from the JDR court go to the Circuit Court.

Divorce Proceedings

To file for divorce in Lee County, either spouse must have been a Virginia resident for at least six months before filing, per Virginia Code § 20-97. The separation requirement varies under Virginia Code § 20-91: a minimum six-month separation with a signed property settlement agreement is required when there are no children; a one-year separation is required when children are involved.

The initial divorce filing fee is $80, plus a $12 sheriff's service fee if service is to be perfected by the sheriff. An interactive self-help divorce module for uncontested cases is available at valegalaid.org, though not all circumstances qualify. Finalized divorce decrees are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk and can be searched online through the Circuit Court Case Information System.

Marriage Licenses

Marriage licenses are issued by the Lee County Circuit Court Clerk's Office. Both parties must appear in person with a valid photo ID. There is no waiting period in Virginia between applying for and receiving a marriage license, but the ceremony must be performed within 60 days or the license becomes void. Fees are:

Marriage license issuance fee: $30 (includes $20 state tax and $10 statutory clerk's fee)
Certified copy of marriage license: $3.00 (from the Circuit Court Clerk) or $15.00 from the Virginia Department of Health

After the ceremony, the officiant must return the completed license to the issuing clerk's office within five days. Certified copies of marriage records may be requested in person or by mail from the Circuit Court Clerk's Office by providing the full names of both parties and the date and place of marriage.

Birth and Death Records

Birth and death records for persons born or who died in Lee County are maintained by the LENOWISCO Health District Vital Records Office at (276) 346-2011, and by the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records in Richmond at (804) 662-6200. Under Virginia Code § 32.1-271, birth certificates remain confidential for 100 years after the date of birth; only the named individual, immediate family members, legal guardians, or authorized agents may obtain a certified copy. Death records are restricted for 25 years after the date of death. The fee for each certified vital record certificate is currently $15.00 per copy. Applications may be submitted through the VDH's online vital records application portal or in writing by mail.

Lee County Probate Court Records

Probate in Lee County is handled exclusively by the Circuit Court Clerk's Office. The clerk and deputy clerks are authorized by Virginia law to admit wills to probate, qualify executors and personal representatives, and oversee the initial stages of estate administration. Most probate records — including wills, inventories, qualification documents, lists of heirs, and accountings — are public records accessible at the clerk's office or through the Circuit Court Case Information System.

Probate Fees

State probate tax: 10 cents per $100 of estate value at time of death
Recording fee for the Will: $16 for the first 10 pages; $30 for pages 11–30; $5 for each page beyond 30
List of Heirs recording fee: $16
Intestate Real Estate Affidavit: $43
Affidavit of Notice: $16
Qualification fee: Based on the value of the estate
Executor/administrator compensation: Generally limited to 5% of assets handled, subject to Commissioner of Accounts approval

Information Required to Qualify as a Personal Representative

When appearing at the clerk's office to probate a will or open an estate, bring the following documents and information:

The original Last Will and Testament (if one exists)
A certified copy of the death certificate
The decedent's full name, age, address, place and date of death, and marital status
Estimated values of real and personal property owned by the decedent in Virginia
Names, ages, addresses, and degrees of kinship of all heirs at law

An appointment is recommended — call the Circuit Court Clerk's Office at (276) 346-7763 before visiting. The process of qualifying a personal representative typically takes less than one hour, though complexity can extend that time. The Virginia Bar Association's Guide to the Administration of Decedents' Estates in Virginia provides an accessible overview of the full probate process, from initial qualification through final settlement, for executors and administrators unfamiliar with the procedure.

Land and Property Records

The Circuit Court Clerk serves as Lee County's recorder of deeds and custodian of all land records, including deeds, deeds of trust, financing statements, and plats. Land records are available for inspection in the clerk's public records room. Copies cost $0.50 per page, with an additional $2.00 fee for certified copies. Deed recording fees can be calculated at ccdeedcalc.courts.state.va.us. The Virginia Land Record Cover Sheet is required for all recordings and can be generated at the VLRCS Generator. E-recording is accepted through Simplifile and CSC.