New Kent County Court Records Search
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New Kent County, Virginia sits between Richmond and Williamsburg along the I-64 corridor. Though the county is relatively small, its court system handles the full range of legal proceedings — criminal prosecutions, civil disputes, family law matters, probate administration, and land records. All three trial courts operate from the same courthouse complex at 12001 Courthouse Circle in New Kent. The records they produce form an essential part of the public record, documenting legal outcomes, property transactions, family status, and criminal history.
If you need to find court case information in Virginia, you have several options. Clerk's offices, public access terminals at the courthouse, and online databases maintained by the Virginia Judiciary all open doors into the record system. VirginiaStateCourts.us can help you identify publicly available case information across the commonwealth's courts, including those serving New Kent County.
How to Look Up a Court Case in New Kent County?
Which office you contact depends on the type of case and the court that handled it. All three New Kent courts share the same courthouse address, which makes in-person visits straightforward.
New Kent County Courts — Location Overview
| Court | Address | Phone | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circuit Court | 12001 Courthouse Circle, P.O. Box 98, New Kent, VA 23124 | (804) 966-9520 | Mon–Fri, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
| General District Court | 12001 Courthouse Circle, P.O. Box 127, New Kent, VA 23124 | (804) 966-9530 / (804) 966-9531 (Civil) | Mon–Fri, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
| Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court | 12001 Courthouse Circle, 2nd Floor, P.O. Box 174, New Kent, VA 23124 | (804) 966-9620 | Mon–Fri, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
Note that recordation at the Circuit Court Clerk's office ceases at 4:00 p.m., even though the office stays open until 4:30 p.m.
Online Case Search Options
Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System (OCIS): The OCIS portal provides online access to case information for both circuit courts and general district courts. You can search by name, case number, or hearing date.
General District Court Online System: The General District Court online case information system offers civil, criminal, and traffic case lookups by locality. Search results show case status, hearing dates, and dispositions.
Circuit Court Remote Access Site: The New Kent County Clerk of Circuit Court remote access site provides subscriber access to land record indexes and certain Circuit Court filings. Free access to indexing information is also available through that portal.
Virginia Judiciary Case Status Page: The Case Status and Information page on the official Virginia court system website consolidates links to both circuit and general district court search tools.
In-Person Access
Staff at the Circuit Clerk's office will help visitors navigate the records. They won't perform title searches or pull records on your behalf, but clerks will point you to the right indexes and files. Public terminals are also available at the courthouse for self-service lookups.
Are Court Records Public in New Kent County?
Virginia law strongly favors public access to court records. Virginia Code § 17.1-208 requires that all records kept by clerks of the circuit courts be open for inspection by any person. This covers most civil filings, criminal case documents, land records, probate materials, and judgments.
Records That Are Generally Public:
- Circuit Court civil and criminal case files, judgments, and orders
- General District Court civil, criminal, and traffic cases
- Land records — deeds, deeds of trust, financing statements
- Marriage licenses and marriage records
- Probate records including wills and estate filings
- Financing statements and judgments
Records That Are Confidential or Restricted:
- Juvenile court proceedings — restricted by Virginia statute to protect minors
- Adoption records — sealed and accessible only by court order
- Certain family court records involving sensitive personal information
- Arrest and search warrants when sealed by a judge
- Records sealed by specific court order
When a record contains both public and restricted information, the custodian may redact the confidential portions while releasing the remainder. Virginia's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) also governs access to records held by county administrative offices. FOIA requests directed at county government — not the courts — should go to the New Kent County Administrator at 12007 Courthouse Circle, New Kent, VA 23124, or through the county's FOIA request process.
New Kent County Criminal Court Records
Criminal proceedings in New Kent County are split between two courts depending on how serious the offense is:
- Circuit Court — Felony trials, serious criminal matters, and appeals from the General District Court. The Clerk of Circuit Court (Amy P. Crump) maintains all felony case files.
- General District Court — Misdemeanor charges, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings in felony cases. The court operates without juries; a judge decides every case.
Searching Criminal Records
Use the OCIS online case information system or the General District Court online system to search by name, case number, or hearing date. For certified copies of criminal case documents, contact the relevant clerk's office in person or by written mail request.
Obtaining Copies — Circuit Court Fee Schedule
- Copies: $0.50 per page
- Certification: $2.00 per certification
- Fax copies are not available
- Mail requests must include the specific book and page reference, payment, and a self-addressed stamped envelope
Statewide Criminal History Checks
For a comprehensive Virginia criminal background check, contact the Virginia State Police Civil and Applicant Records Exchange (CARE). A fingerprint-based state and federal search costs $13.75 for the VSP CARE search and $13.25 for the FBI search. Requests are submitted using Virginia State Police Form SP-167. If you also need a sex offender registry check, an additional $15.00 fee applies.
Arrest Records and Sheriff's Office
The New Kent County Sheriff's Office, led by Sheriff Lee S. Bailey, is the county's principal law enforcement agency. The Sheriff's Office does not operate a county jail — it uses the Pamunkey Regional Jail instead. For public records requests concerning arrest or incident reports, contact the Sheriff's Office directly or submit a FOIA request.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Sheriff's Office | New Kent County Sheriff's Office |
| Website | newkent-va.us/334/Sheriffs-Office |
| Jurisdiction | Countywide, 212 square miles, \~26,000 residents |
New Kent County Civil Court Records
Civil disputes in New Kent County go to either the General District Court or the Circuit Court, depending on the dollar amount at stake:
- General District Court — Civil suits with claims of $25,000 or less, including small claims matters. No juries are used; a judge decides all cases. Appeals from General District Court civil decisions go to the New Kent Circuit Court.
- Circuit Court — Cases exceeding $25,000, complex civil matters, and appeals from the General District Court.
Searching Civil Records Online
The General District Court online case information system allows public searches of civil cases by party name, case number, or hearing date. Circuit Court civil case information is searchable through the OCIS portal and the New Kent Circuit Court remote access site.
In-Person and Mail Requests
The Circuit Clerk's office at 12001 Courthouse Circle handles in-person civil record requests. For mail requests, include the specific case or book and page reference, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment of $0.50 per page plus $2.00 per certification. Staff will help you locate records but do not conduct searches on requesters' behalf.
Court forms for civil proceedings are available through the Supreme Court of Virginia's self-help resources. The Virginia Lawyer Referral Service can provide attorney referrals at (804) 775-0808 (Richmond metro) or (800) 552-7977 statewide, and Legal Aid is reachable at (804) 648-1012.
New Kent County Family Court Records
Family law matters in New Kent County are divided between two courts depending on the nature of the case:
- Juvenile and Domestic Relations (JDR) District Court — Handles cases involving children (delinquency, abuse and neglect, foster care, entrustment agreements, abandonment), as well as adult disputes over child custody, visitation, support, parentage, and court-ordered rehabilitation services. Juveniles accused of traffic violations are also heard here.
- Circuit Court — Handles divorce, annulment, legal separation, and related property and support matters. The Circuit Court issues marriage licenses and grants divorces.
JDR District Court — 9th District Court Services Unit
The 9th District Court Service Unit (CSU) provides juvenile intake, probation, parole, and pre-dispositional investigation services for New Kent County. The New Kent branch office also serves Charles City County.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 7911 Courthouse Way (P.O. Box 144), New Kent, VA 23124 |
| Phone | (804) 966-9622 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses are issued by the Clerk of the Circuit Court. The Circuit Court has maintained marriage license records dating back to 1858. Certified copies of marriage records are available from the Circuit Clerk's office in person or by written mail request, following the standard fee schedule ($0.50 per page; $2.00 per certification).
For a statewide certified copy of a Virginia marriage record, contact the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records. The fee is $15.00 per certificate search, payable by check, money order, payment card, mobile pay, or cash. You can also submit requests online through the VDH's online vital records application or by mailing the Application for Certification of a Marriage and/or Divorce Record Form (VS6MD).
Divorce Records
Divorce proceedings are handled by the Circuit Court, which maintains the case files and final decrees. You can get certified copies of divorce judgments from the Circuit Clerk's office in person or by mail. For a certified divorce certificate covering divorces statewide, submit the VS6MD form with the $15.00 fee to the VDH Office of Vital Records.
Birth Records
Under Virginia Code § 32.1-271, birth records are restricted for 100 years from the date of birth. Only the person named on the certificate, their parents, spouse, children, grandparents, or a legal guardian with proper documentation may obtain a certified copy. Submit requests using Form VS6B with a valid photo ID and the $15.00 fee, sent to the VDH Office of Vital Records in Richmond. After 100 years, birth records transfer to the Library of Virginia for public genealogical access.
Death Records
The Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records maintains death records. For the first 25 years following a death, only close family members or legal representatives with valid ID may request certified copies. After 25 years, death records become publicly accessible. Submit requests using Form VS6D with the $15.00 fee. Historical death records dating to 1866 are accessible through the Library of Virginia.
New Kent County Probate Court Records
In Virginia, the Clerk of the Circuit Court acts as the probate judge and oversees all estate administration in the county. The New Kent County Circuit Court Clerk has maintained probate records dating back to September 1864 — one of the longer continuous records among Virginia's Tidewater counties, even accounting for the widespread destruction of Virginia records during the Civil War.
What Probate Records Include
Probate files in New Kent County typically contain:
- The original will (or notation of intestacy)
- Qualification records for executors and administrators
- Inventories of estate assets
- Estate accounts and settlements
- Guardianship and conservatorship orders
- Bonds filed by estate representatives
How to Request Probate Records
- In person: Visit the Circuit Clerk's office at 12001 Courthouse Circle, New Kent, VA 23124, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Provide the decedent's name and approximate date of death, and staff will direct you to the appropriate will books or estate files.
- By mail: Submit a written request with the decedent's name, estimated date of probate, and the specific book and page reference if you have it. Include payment ($0.50 per page; $2.00 per certification) and a self-addressed stamped envelope. The office will mail the requested copies back to you.
- Online indexes: The New Kent Circuit Court remote access site provides subscriber-based access to land record and certain document indexes that may include probate filings. Free access to indexing information is also available through this portal.
Probate court forms are available through the Virginia Judicial System self-help probate forms page. The Clerk's office cannot provide legal advice, so anyone with complex estate questions should consult an attorney through the Virginia Lawyer Referral Service at (800) 552-7977.