Richmond County Court Records

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    Richmond County is a rural county on Virginia's Northern Neck, with its county seat in the town of Warsaw. Three courts make up the county's judicial system: the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit, the General District Court of the 15th Judicial District, and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. Each court handles its own categories of cases, and the respective clerk's offices keep records of those proceedings. Whether you're tracking a pending lawsuit, confirming a criminal disposition, or researching a probate matter, the offices clustered around the Warsaw courthouse complex are where to start.

    Residents and non-residents alike can search for court case information through clerk's offices, in-person public-access terminals, and web-based tools maintained by the Supreme Court of Virginia's Office of the Executive Secretary. The statewide judicial website, VirginiaStateCourts.us, can help you identify publicly available case data and navigate to the appropriate online lookup systems.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Richmond County?

    All three of Richmond County's courts are located on Court Circle in Warsaw, so a single trip to Warsaw can cover multiple offices if you need to visit more than one.

    Richmond County Circuit Court – 15th Judicial Circuit
    Address: 101 Court Circle, P.O. Box 1000, Warsaw, VA 22572
    Phone: (804) 333-3781
    Fax: (804) 333-5396
    Clerk: Hon. Cheryl B. Pierson
    Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday (Passport acceptance hours: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)

    Richmond County General District Court – 15th Judicial District
    Address: 201 Court Circle, P.O. Box 1000, Warsaw, VA 22572
    Phone: (804) 333-4616
    Fax: (804) 333-3741

    Richmond County Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court
    Address: 201 Court Circle, P.O. Box 1000, Warsaw, VA 22572
    Phone: (804) 333-4616
    Fax: (804) 333-3741

    Online case-search tools. The Office of the Executive Secretary runs several free public databases:

    1. Circuit Court Case Information — Select Richmond County from the locality list to search civil and criminal cases by party name, case number, or hearing date.
    2. General District Court Online Case Information System — Provides traffic, criminal, and civil case data for the General District Court. Search by name, case number, hearing date, or service/process.
    3. Online Case Information System (OCIS 2.0) — A statewide search covering adult criminal case information from Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts, as well as criminal and traffic data from General District Courts and select Circuit Courts. Search by locality using name, case number, or hearing date.

    In-person access. Anyone can visit the appropriate clerk's office during business hours and ask to inspect nonconfidential case files. Verbal or written requests are both accepted. There is generally no charge for on-site inspection within the timeframe permitted by the clerk, though copies carry fees (discussed below).

    Mail requests. Written requests for copies may be mailed to the clerk of whichever court handled the case. Include the full case name or number, the type of document needed, and payment for applicable copy charges. Mail requests for Circuit Court records should go to: P.O. Box 1000, 101 Court Circle, Warsaw, VA 22572.

    Are Court Records Public in Richmond County?

    Virginia law strongly favors public access to court records. Under Va. Code § 17.1-208, records held by circuit court clerks must be open for inspection by any person, and the clerk must furnish copies upon payment of a reasonable fee. District court records follow a parallel provision, Va. Code § 16.1-69.54:1, which similarly requires clerks to make nonconfidential case files available on request.

    It's worth noting that Virginia's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) does not apply to records for which court clerks are the statutory custodians. Instead, access is controlled by the specific code sections cited above and by the definitions in Va. Code § 17.1-292.

    Records open to the public include:

    • Civil case pleadings, motions, orders, and judgments in circuit and district courts
    • Criminal dockets, charging documents, and sentencing orders (unless sealed)
    • Traffic case records
    • Land records (deeds, mortgages, liens, plats)
    • Probate filings (wills, estate inventories, fiduciary accountings)
    • Marriage licenses issued by the circuit court clerk

    Records that are confidential or restricted include:

    • Sealed records — files or portions of files made confidential by court order, including those containing Social Security numbers or driver's license numbers
    • Juvenile records — case files involving individuals under 18, including delinquency and child-in-need-of-services proceedings
    • Adoption records — sealed by statute to protect the identities of all parties
    • Certain domestic-relations filings containing sensitive personal information
    • Records protected under Va. Code § 19.2-389 (criminal history record dissemination rules restricting who may obtain complete criminal history data from the Virginia State Police)

    Copy fees for district court records: Under Va. Code § 16.1-69.48:2, a district court clerk may charge up to $1 for the first two pages and $0.50 for each additional page. Circuit court copy fees are set by the statewide fee schedule maintained by the Office of the Executive Secretary.

    Richmond County Criminal Court Records

    Criminal cases in Richmond County are divided among the three courts based on severity. The Circuit Court handles felony trials — typically following indictment by a grand jury — along with misdemeanor appeals from the lower courts and certain cases transferred from the General District Court after preliminary hearings. The General District Court adjudicates misdemeanor offenses and traffic infractions and conducts preliminary hearings in felony cases. The Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court hears criminal matters involving minors and offenses between family or household members.

    Searching criminal court records online. The three online systems described in the case-lookup section above cover criminal filings:

    • The Circuit Court case-information tool returns felony and misdemeanor dispositions.
    • The General District Court system shows misdemeanor, traffic, and preliminary-hearing records.
    • OCIS 2.0 provides a statewide search of adult criminal case information across district courts and select circuit courts.

    None of these systems include confidential juvenile records.

    Arrest and incident records. Arrest records are maintained by law enforcement, not the court clerks. The primary law-enforcement agency is:

    Richmond County Sheriff's Office
    Address: P.O. Box 115, Warsaw, VA 22572
    Phone: (804) 333-3611

    The Town of Warsaw Police Department (Phone: (804) 333-3737, non-emergency dispatch: (804) 333-3611) handles matters within town limits.

    State-level criminal history checks. The Virginia State Police operates the Central Criminal Records Exchange and offers two main methods for criminal background searches:

    • SP-167 form (public use): Available to individuals, the general public, private companies, and out-of-state agencies. Complete the form online at the VSP applications portal, print and sign it, have it notarized, and mail it with payment. The fee is $15 for a criminal history name search or $20 for a combination search (criminal history plus sex-offender registry). Processing takes approximately 15 business days. Mail the completed form to: Virginia State Police, Civil & Applicant Records Exchange (CARE), 7700 Midlothian Turnpike, North Chesterfield, VA 23235.
    • SP-230 form (employer use): For Virginia-based employers and certain statutorily authorized entities. This form does not require notarization. A combined VSP CARE and FBI file search costs $27 ($13.75 VSP + $13.25 FBI) for entities eligible for fingerprint-based checks.

    Criminal history record dissemination is governed by Va. Code § 19.2-389, which restricts the release of complete criminal records to authorized entities and the subject of the record. The Virginia State Police is prohibited from disseminating juvenile record information except as provided in Va. Code § 19.2-389.1.

    Richmond County Civil Court Records

    Civil litigation in Richmond County is divided between the Circuit Court and the General District Court based on the amount in controversy and the type of relief sought.

    Circuit Court civil jurisdiction. The Circuit Court hears cases involving monetary claims above the General District Court's jurisdictional limit, equity matters (injunctions, specific performance), disputes over title to real property, and appeals from the General District Court. Filing fees are calculated using the Circuit Court Civil Filing Fee Calculator maintained by the Office of the Executive Secretary. Fees vary by case type and the amount of the claim.

    General District Court civil jurisdiction. The General District Court handles landlord-tenant disputes, contract claims, personal-injury actions, and other civil matters within its monetary limit. Small-claims cases (currently up to $5,000) are also heard here. Filing fees can be calculated using the General District Court Civil Filing Fee Calculator.

    Searching civil records. Both the Circuit Court online case-information system and the General District Court system allow searches by party name, case number, or hearing date. For records not available online — older files or documents not yet digitized — visit the appropriate clerk's office in person to inspect them.

    Land records. Deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and plats are recorded by the Circuit Court Clerk and form part of the public land records under Va. Code §§ 17.1-294 et seq. The statewide Secure Remote Access (SRA) system provides electronic access to land-record indexes maintained in Circuit Court clerk's offices across Virginia. Free index-only access may be available depending on whether the Richmond County clerk has enabled that option; full image access requires a subscription authorized by the clerk's office. Contact the clerk at (804) 333-3781 to ask about SRA subscription terms.

    Forms and self-help. The Virginia Judicial System Court Self-Help website provides information on filing fees, fee-waiver petitions, and links to commonly used court forms for self-represented litigants.

    Richmond County Family Court Records

    Richmond County does not have a standalone family court. Family-law matters are split between the Circuit Court and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations (JDR) District Court.

    Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. This court, located at 201 Court Circle in Warsaw, handles:

    • Juvenile delinquency and status offenses (truancy, curfew violations)
    • Child custody, visitation, and support proceedings
    • Spousal support
    • Protective orders (family abuse cases)
    • Foster care and child-in-need-of-services (CHINS) matters
    • Offenses committed by one family or household member against another

    Records from the JDR court involving minors are confidential and not available to the general public. Nonconfidential adult criminal and domestic-relations case data may be searched through OCIS 2.0.

    Circuit Court family-law jurisdiction. Divorce, annulment, equitable distribution of marital property, and contested custody matters are all heard by the Circuit Court. These cases are filed with the Circuit Court Clerk and appear in the Circuit Court online case-information system. Spousal and child-support determinations by the Circuit Court are governed by Va. Code §§ 20-107.1 and 20-107.2.

    Adoption records. Adoption proceedings are handled by the Circuit Court. Upon finalization, adoption records are sealed and are not accessible to the general public. Access requires a court order.

    Marriage records. The Circuit Court Clerk issues marriage licenses in Richmond County. Marriage records are classified as vital records under Va. Code § 32.1-271 and are confidential for 25 years after the date of the event. During that period, only the individuals named on the record or qualifying immediate family members may obtain certified copies.

    Certified copies of marriage or divorce certificates can be obtained from the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records. The fee is $12 per certificate search. Requests may be submitted online through the VDH vital records application portal, by mail using the application form for a marriage or divorce certificate, or in person at the Office of Vital Records. Mail requests should go to:

    VDH Office of Vital Records
    P.O. Box 1000
    Richmond, Virginia 23218-1000
    Phone: (804) 662-6200

    Marriage records are available from 1853 and divorce records from 1918. Make checks and money orders payable to the Office of Vital Records.

    Birth and death records. Under Va. Code § 32.1-271, birth records are confidential for 100 years and death records for 25 years after the event. During the restricted period, only authorized individuals — the record subject, parents, spouse, children, siblings, or grandparents — may obtain certified copies. After the restriction period lapses, these records become public. Birth and death certificate requests follow the same process as marriage records and carry a $12 fee per copy. Application forms for birth certificates and death certificates are available on the VDH website.

    Richmond County Probate Court Records

    Virginia does not have a separate probate court. Estate administration, will probate, and fiduciary matters are handled by the Circuit Court. In Richmond County, these proceedings are filed with and maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk at 101 Court Circle, Warsaw, VA 22572.

    Types of probate matters heard by the Circuit Court include:

    • Probate of wills (testate estates)
    • Administration of intestate estates (when no valid will exists)
    • Qualification of executors, administrators, and other fiduciaries
    • Guardianships and conservatorships for incapacitated adults
    • Guardianships for minors
    • Accountings and inventories filed by fiduciaries
    • Will contests

    Searching probate records. Probate case files — including wills admitted to record, fiduciary bonds, inventories, and final accountings — are part of the Circuit Court's public records. Search them through the Circuit Court case-information system by selecting Richmond County and entering the decedent's name or case number. Land records related to estates — such as deeds from executors or administrators — are recorded separately and searchable through the SRA system or at the clerk's office.

    Requesting probate documents. You can obtain certified or uncertified copies of probate filings three ways:

    1. Visit the Circuit Court Clerk's office at 101 Court Circle during business hours (9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday) and request the file by decedent name or case number.
    2. Mail a written request with identifying details and the appropriate fee to P.O. Box 1000, Warsaw, VA 22572. Include a check or money order payable to the clerk's office.
    3. Use the online case-information system to identify the case, then contact the clerk for certified copies if needed.

    Filing fees for probate and estate matters in the Circuit Court are determined by the statewide fee schedule and can be estimated through the Circuit Court filing-fee calculator or by calling the clerk at (804) 333-3781. Guardianship and conservatorship proceedings carry separate filing fees and may require the appointment of a guardian ad litem, which adds additional costs.

    Probate records in Richmond County are presumed public under Va. Code § 17.1-208 unless a court order seals specific documents. Adoption-related records that intersect with estate matters remain sealed.