Manassas City Court Records Search
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Manassas, an independent city in northern Virginia, operates its own court system within the 31st Judicial Circuit and 31st Judicial District. The city’s courts handle criminal prosecutions, civil disputes, family matters, and probate proceedings — all centralized at the Prince William City Judicial Center on Lee Avenue. Court records produced through these proceedings typically include case filings, motions, orders, judgments, jury verdicts, sentencing information, and hearing transcripts, and they serve essential functions in legal research, background screening, and verification of judicial outcomes.
Virginia residents searching for court case information can explore records through clerk offices, public access terminals at the courthouse, and official online databases. VirginiaStateCourts.us offers a reference point for navigating Virginia’s court structure and locating case search tools, clerk contacts, and procedural guidance applicable across the commonwealth.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Manassas City?
Online Case Search
The Virginia Judiciary provides two primary electronic case search tools. The Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System (OCIS) offers access to circuit court case records searchable by party name, case number, or hearing date. For general district court cases, the General District Court Online Case Information System provides similar search functionality for traffic, criminal, and civil matters heard at that level.
Circuit court case information for Prince William County and the city of Manassas has been available online since July 1, 1989. Juvenile, adoption, and sealed cases do not appear in public online searches.
In Person at the Courthouse
All courts serving Manassas City operate from the Prince William City Judicial Center:
Prince William City Judicial Center
Address: 9311 Lee Avenue, Manassas, VA 20110
Documents can be viewed on public-access computers located in the courthouse in the Criminal (Room 310), Civil (Room 314), and Public Service Center (Room 305) offices during regular business hours.
Mail and Online Copy Requests
To request copies of circuit court case records, complete the Court Case Copy Request Form or submit the online copy request through the clerk’s website. A clerk will follow up regarding payment.
Copy Fees — Circuit Court Records
| Document Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard copies | $0.50 per page |
| Certified copies | $2.00 per document |
| Digital files (100 pages or fewer) | $10.00 |
| Digital files (over 100 pages) | $25.00 |
Civil case requests are directed to Room 314; criminal case requests go to Room 310. Both can also be emailed to circuitcourt@pwcgov.org.
Are Court Records Public in Manassas City?
Virginia law treats most court records as public documents. The Virginia Public Records Act and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act together establish the framework under which Manassas City courts must provide access to records upon request. Government agencies are required to respond to public records requests, though certain categories of documents are exempt from disclosure.
Records that may be withheld or restricted in Manassas City include:
- Communications protected by attorney-client privilege
- Court orders concerning confidential criminal investigations or prosecutions, under Va. Code § 2.2-3706.1
- Court records pertaining to involuntary psychiatric admission proceedings, exempt under Va. Code § 37.2-818
- Internal records exempted by order of the Virginia Supreme Court
- Records sealed by a court order or by state or federal statute
- Juvenile and adoption case files — these are restricted; only parties to the case may access them and must appear in person at the clerk’s office
When a record is not entirely exempt, the clerk may produce a redacted version, removing only the confidential portions while releasing the remainder.
Manassas City Criminal Court Records
Criminal matters in Manassas City are divided between the Circuit Court and General District Court based on the severity of the charge. The Circuit Court presides over felony trials, serious misdemeanors referred from the General District Court, and criminal appeals. The General District Court handles misdemeanor cases and conducts preliminary hearings for felony charges.
Prince William City Circuit Court — Criminal Division
Address: 9311 Lee Avenue, Room 310, Manassas, VA 20110
Phone: (703) 792-6025
Fax: (703) 792-5746
Prince William City General District Court — Criminal/Traffic
Address: 9311 Lee Avenue, Manassas, VA 20110
Phone: (703) 792-6141
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Criminal court records — including charging documents, plea records, trial transcripts, verdicts, and sentencing orders — are maintained by the respective court clerks. Circuit court criminal records dating from 1989 onward are searchable online through the Virginia Judiciary OCIS. General district court criminal records can be searched through the General District Court Online Case Information System by name, case number, or hearing date.
Arrest Records and Detention
Booking and inmate records for those held at the Prince William-Manassas Regional Adult Detention Center can be obtained by contacting the facility directly:
Prince William-Manassas Regional Adult Detention Center
Address: 9320 Lee Avenue, Manassas, VA 20110
Phone: (703) 792-5811
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
The facility’s Inmate Records division maintains information on charges, court dates, bond status, and custody dates. Adult arrest reports from the Prince William County Police Department for the most recent four weeks are also publicly available through the county’s Adult Arrest Report page.
Statewide Criminal History Checks
For a comprehensive Virginia criminal history, the Virginia State Police (VSP) processes criminal history record checks. A name-based search costs $15; a combination criminal history and sex offender registry search is $20. Fingerprint-based checks for state and federal records cost $13.75 for the VSP component plus $13.25 for the FBI search, for a total of $27.00. Requests are submitted using VSP Form SP-167, available from the VSP website.
Manassas City Civil Court Records
Civil cases in Manassas City are handled at two levels. The General District Court has exclusive jurisdiction over civil claims of $4,500 or less, and shares jurisdiction with the Circuit Court for claims between $4,500 and $25,000. The Circuit Court handles all civil matters over $25,000, including complex commercial litigation, civil equity proceedings, and mortgage foreclosures.
Prince William City General District Court — Civil Division
Phone: (703) 792-6149
Address: 9311 Lee Avenue, Manassas, VA 20110
Prince William City Circuit Court — Civil Division
Address: 9311 Lee Avenue, Room 314, Manassas, VA 20110
Phone: (703) 792-6029
Fax: (703) 792-7750
Small Claims Court
Small claims cases — for plaintiff-initiated money judgments up to $5,000 without legal counsel — are heard in the General District Court. In Manassas, Small Claims cases are heard every Friday at 9:00 a.m., with trials scheduled separately. There are no formal pleadings in small claims beyond the warrant, answer, and any counterclaims not exceeding $5,000, per Virginia Code Title 16.1, Article 5.
Searching Civil Records Online
Circuit court civil case records from 1989 onward are searchable through OCIS. General District Court civil cases are searchable through the GDC online system. For property-related civil records — including deeds, UCC filings, plats, and judgments — the circuit clerk’s online records system provides two access tiers:
- Subscription access: $240 per year for unlimited land record access
- Pay-per-use access: Free index searches; $0.50 per image for copies, plus a $2.00 internet convenience fee per transaction
Land records including deeds (from 1918), UCC filings (from 1989), plats (from 1918), and judgments (from 1988) are available through this system. For land and court record certified copies not available online, submit a Land Records Copy Request Form to the Document Services office, Room 305.
Manassas City Family Court Records
Family law proceedings in Manassas City — including divorce, child custody, child support, protective orders, paternity, and juvenile matters — are divided between the Circuit Court and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (JDR).
Prince William City Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court
Address: 9311 Lee Avenue, Manassas, VA 20110
Phone: (703) 792-6160
Fax: (703) 792-7863
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Clerk of Court: Monica Burnett
The JDR Court handles protective orders, domestic violence proceedings, child custody and support matters, juvenile delinquency, and termination of parental rights cases. The Circuit Court handles final divorce decrees, contested custody matters appealed from the JDR, and adoption proceedings.
Divorce Records
Divorce decrees issued in Manassas City are on file at the Circuit Court Clerk’s office. Copies cost $0.50 per page, with certified copies available for $2.00 per document. If the divorce was granted in a different Virginia locality, contact that locality’s circuit court clerk or the Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Vital Statistics. To request a copy, submit the Court Case Copy Request Form to Civil Matters, Room 314.
Marriage Records
Certified copies of marriage licenses issued by the Prince William Circuit Court Clerk’s Office are available by completing the Marriage License Copy Request Form or the online marriage license request. The fee is $2.50 per certified copy. Marriage license indexes from January 1, 1981 to the present are also searchable online through the clerk’s records access system. Note that copies are available from the jurisdiction where the license was issued — not necessarily where the ceremony took place.
Birth and Death Records
Birth and death certificates are maintained by the Virginia Department of Health, not the court clerk. To request either record, use the VDH online application form or submit a completed request by mail to:
Virginia Department of Health — Division of Vital Records
Address: 2001 Maywill Street, Suite 101, Richmond, VA 23230
The fee for birth or death certificates is $12 per copy. Mail requests must include a photocopy of the requester’s valid government-issued ID and a check or money order payable to the State Health Department. Birth records are generally restricted to the record subject, immediate family members, and individuals holding a Power of Attorney. Death records are subject to similar access limitations.
Juvenile and Adoption Records
Juvenile case files and adoption records are confidential and not available through public online searches. Only parties to the case may access these records, and they must appear in person at the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office.
Manassas City Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Manassas City are handled by the Circuit Court Clerk’s Probate Office, which records wills, qualifies executors and administrators of decedents’ estates, and schedules guardianship and conservatorship appointments for incapacitated adults pursuant to court orders.
Probate Office Contact
Prince William City Circuit Court — Probate Office
Address: 9311 Lee Avenue, Room 308, Manassas, VA 20110
Probate Email: probate@pwcva.gov
Fax: (703) 342-0342
To initiate estate proceedings, complete the Probate Pre-Appointment Worksheet and submit it by email, fax, or mail. A probate clerk will contact you to review the submission and schedule an appointment if needed.
Probate Qualification Fees (per Virginia Code § 17.1-275)
| Estate Value | Qualification Fee |
|---|---|
| $5,000 or less | $0 |
| Up to $50,000 | $20.00 |
| Up to $100,000 | $25.00 |
| Over $100,000 | $30.00 |
Recording and Indexing Fees (for wills, inventories, accountings, and related filings)
| Document Length | Fee |
|---|---|
| 10 pages or fewer | $18.00 |
| 11–30 pages | $32.00 |
| 31 or more pages | $52.00 |
| Updated Letters of Qualification | $2.00 |
| Copies | $0.50 per page |
The State Probate Tax is calculated at one-tenth of one percent (i.e., $1.00 per $1,000) of the estate value, applicable to both real and personal property held in the decedent’s name only. If the estate includes real estate, an additional $1.00 transfer fee per transfer is collected under Virginia Code §§ 58.1-3314 and 58.1-3315.
Small Estates
For estates where the total value of assets does not require formal probate, the Virginia Small Estate Affidavit form may allow asset transfer without full court involvement. The probate office cannot provide legal advice on whether this option is appropriate; consultation with an attorney is recommended.
Guardianship and Conservatorship
To qualify as a guardian or conservator for an incapacitated adult, submit completed form CC-1652 (Incapacitated Adult Information Form) along with a copy of the proposed court order to the probate office by the Wednesday before the hearing date. Standard fiduciary forms are also available through the Supreme Court of Virginia’s Circuit Court Fiduciary Forms page.
Probate records from 1981 onward — including wills, lists of heirs, and fiduciary records — are accessible online through the clerk’s records system. Historical wills and lists of heirs from 1734 through 1981 can be accessed through the Historical Online Portal (HOP). For certified copies of probate documents not available online, contact the Probate Office or submit a request through the clerk’s online case information search platform.