Rockingham County Court Records Search

Rockingham County sits within the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, with the independent City of Harrisonburg serving as the county seat. The county’s courts belong to Virginia’s 26th Judicial District, and four primary courts handle criminal, civil, family, and probate matters: the Rockingham County Circuit Court, the Harrisonburg/Rockingham General District Court, and the Harrisonburg/Rockingham Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. The Clerk of Circuit Court is the custodian of most permanent court records, maintaining them in both physical and electronic formats. These records encompass case files, docket entries, judgments, orders, warrants, summonses, and a wide range of supporting legal documents.

Residents and members of the public looking for Rockingham County court information can begin with the resources offered through Virginia’s statewide judiciary. The Virginia Court System website provides links to individual court homepages, case-search tools, court forms, and self-help resources. The Online Case Information System (OCIS) allows statewide searches of criminal and traffic cases across general district, juvenile and domestic relations, and select circuit courts. General district court civil, criminal, and traffic cases can also be searched through the General District Court Online Case Information System. For land records, wills, judgments, and marriage records maintained by the Rockingham County Circuit Court, a subscription-based Secure Remote Access (SRA) portal provides online viewing and downloading. Additional search options are available through VirginiaStateCourts.us. Beyond these digital tools, members of the public may search records in person at the clerk’s office, request copies by mail, or call the appropriate court division directly.

How to Look Up a Court Case in Rockingham County?

The method for finding a court case depends on the court that heard it and the type of record sought. The following options are available.

Online searches:

Visit the OCIS statewide search portal and select Rockingham County or Harrisonburg to search criminal and traffic cases in the general district and juvenile courts, as well as select circuit court cases. Search by party name or case number.
Use the General District Court case information site for civil, criminal, and traffic cases heard in the Harrisonburg/Rockingham General District Court.
Access the Rockingham County Circuit Court’s Secure Remote Access site to search land records, judgments, UCCs, wills, probate and estate records, and marriage records. A subscription is required for printing or downloading document images. Public-access terminals are also available in the courthouse Deed Room at no charge.

In-person searches:

Visit the Clerk of Circuit Court at 80 Court Square, Harrisonburg, VA 22802. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays. Self-service public access terminals in the courthouse allow free record inspection.
For General District Court matters, visit 53 Court Square, Room 132, Harrisonburg, VA 22801. The clerk’s office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Mail requests:

Send a written request to the appropriate court division, including the case number or party names, a description of the documents needed, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment by check or money order payable to “Clerk of Court”. Contact the relevant division by phone before mailing to confirm fees and requirements. The Clerk of Circuit Court does not accept copy requests by email.

Key court contacts:

Court	Address	Phone
Rockingham County Circuit Court	80 Court Square, Harrisonburg, VA 22802	(540) 564-3111
General District Court	53 Court Square, Room 132, Harrisonburg, VA 22801	(540) 564-3130
Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court	53 Court Square, Suite 214, Harrisonburg, VA 22801	(540) 564-3370

The Clerk of Circuit Court is Chaz W. Haywood. Division-specific phone numbers are listed on the Clerk of Circuit Court page and include Civil ((540) 564-3113), Criminal ((540) 564-3115), Land Records ((540) 564-3126), Marriage Licenses ((540) 564-3124), and Probate ((540) 574-4320).

Are Court Records Public in Rockingham County?

Virginia law establishes a strong presumption in favor of public access to court records. Under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), members of the public may inspect and obtain copies of government records, including court files maintained by the Clerk of Circuit Court, unless a specific statutory exemption applies.

Records open to the public generally include civil case files, criminal case dockets and sentencing orders, land records, probate filings (wills, estate inventories, and accountings), and marriage records that have been returned and processed. These may be viewed at the courthouse, retrieved through the statewide online case-search tools, or obtained as copies from the clerk’s office.

Certain categories of records are restricted or exempt from disclosure under Virginia law:

Sealed records require a court order before any portion may be released.
Juvenile court records are confidential and not available to the general public.
Adoption records are sealed and accessible only to parties and authorized individuals.
Divorce records less than 25 years old are confidential per the Code of Virginia, accessible only to the parties, their legal representatives, and immediate family members with valid identification.
Vital records follow specific access windows: birth records become open 100 years after the event and death records after 25 years, as outlined in § 32.1-271 of the Code of Virginia.
Exemptions under § 2.2-3705.1 protect personnel records, legal memoranda connected to ongoing investigations, security-related information, records of closed-door deliberations, and other sensitive materials.

The Supreme Court of Virginia’s rules on requesting public records provide additional guidance on which judicial records are subject to inspection and which are excluded from disclosure based on the court’s administrative functions.

When copies are provided, the clerk charges $0.50 per page for uncertified copies (paper or electronic images) under Va. Code § 17.1-275. Certification of a copy costs an additional $2.00. Credit card payments are accepted with a 4% surcharge.

Rockingham County Criminal Court Records

Criminal cases in Rockingham County are divided between the General District Court, which handles misdemeanor and traffic cases, and the Circuit Court, which adjudicates felony cases and criminal appeals. The Circuit Court’s Criminal Division processes felony and misdemeanor appeal cases that have been certified to the grand jury or transferred by a judge for trial.

Where to search criminal court records:

Online: Use the OCIS statewide search to look up criminal and traffic case information by name or case number. The General District Court case search covers traffic and criminal matters heard at the district court level.
In person: Visit the Criminal Division at the Rockingham County Circuit Court, 80 Court Square, Harrisonburg, VA 22802. Phone: (540) 564-3115
By mail: Submit a written request using the Criminal Division Copy Request form. Requests are not accepted by email.

Criminal background checks:

The Rockingham County Circuit Clerk’s office does not perform background checks. Criminal history record searches are handled exclusively by the Virginia State Police (VSP). The VSP offers several request forms depending on the purpose of the search:

SP-167 — General criminal history record request (name-based or fingerprint). Fee: $15 per search. A combined search using both SP-167 and SP-230 costs $20.
SP-230 — Used by government agencies licensed by the Department of Health and Social Services.
SP-266 — Used for sex offender and crimes-against-minors registry searches. Fee: $15.

Fingerprinting services, which are required for certain VSP searches, cost up to $10 for the first set and $5 for additional sets under Va. Code § 19.2-392. The VSP also provides a fingerprint-based search through VSP CARE at a cost of $13.75 for the state search and $13.25 for a combined state and federal search.

Arrest records specific to Rockingham County are maintained by the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office, located at 25 South Liberty Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22801, Phone: (540) 564-3800

Rockingham County Civil Court Records

Civil matters in Rockingham County are split between the Circuit Court and the General District Court based on the amount in controversy. The General District Court hears civil cases valued under $25,000, including small claims, unlawful detainers, and garnishments. The Circuit Court has jurisdiction over civil cases exceeding $4,500 and handles all civil matters above $25,000, as well as equitable actions such as injunctions and declaratory judgments.

Civil case types handled by the Circuit Court’s Civil Division include monetary damage claims (tort, breach of contract), adoptions, annulments, conservatorships and guardianships, divorces, name changes, partition of real estate, and appointment of church trustees.

How to obtain civil court records:

In person: Visit the Civil Division at 80 Court Square, Harrisonburg, VA 22802, during office hours (Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.). Inspect records for free on self-service terminals or request copies.
By phone: Call (540) 564-3113 or (540) 564-3114. Copy fees by phone are $0.52 per page (includes the 4% credit card surcharge); certified copies are $2.08.
By mail: Send a request to Rockingham County Circuit Court, Attn: Civil Division, 80 Court Square, Harrisonburg, VA 22802. Include a check or money order payable to “Clerk of Court” and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Use the Civil Division Copy Request form.
Online: Registered attorneys and their assistants may access civil court records through the Officer of the Court Remote Access (OCRA) system. In-state attorneys can access OCRA at no charge; out-of-state attorneys pay a $25 monthly subscription fee.

Copy fees (Va. Code § 17.1-275):

Uncertified copy: $0.50 per page
Certified copy: $2.00 plus copy charges
Credit card surcharge: 4%

Circuit Court civil filing fees vary by claim amount and are calculated under Va. Code § 17.1-275. The Virginia Court System provides a civil filing fee calculator for determining the exact amount based on the nature and value of the claim. Base filing fees for civil actions range from $83 (claims under $500) to $298 (claims exceeding $3,000).

For General District Court civil matters, contact the Civil Division at (540) 564-3135 or (540) 564-3138. The General District Court clerk is Teresa L. Brown.

Rockingham County Family Court Records

Family-related cases in Rockingham County are heard in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations (J&DR) District Court and, for certain matters like divorce, in the Circuit Court. The J&DR District Court handles juvenile delinquency, child custody, child support, domestic violence protective orders, and related family matters. Divorce, annulment, and separate maintenance actions are filed in the Circuit Court.

Rockingham County J&DR District Court
53 Court Square, Suite 214
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Phone: (540) 564-3370
Fax: (540) 564-3378

J&DR court records involving juveniles are confidential and not available to the general public. Parties to a case, their attorneys, and certain authorized agencies may obtain records by contacting the court clerk directly.

Marriage records: Rockingham County marriage licenses are issued by the Circuit Court Clerk’s office. To apply, both parties must appear together with valid, non-expired government-issued photo identification. The online marriage application should be completed before arriving, though public stations are available in the office.

License fee: $30 (cash, check, or money order) or $31.20 (credit card, including 4% surcharge)
Minimum age: 18 (per § 20-48)
No residency requirement, no blood test, and no waiting period between issuance and ceremony
The license is valid for 60 days and must be used for a ceremony within Virginia
If both parties cannot appear, a Marriage Affidavit process is available
Certified copies can be issued once the officiant returns the completed license to the clerk’s office

For certified copies of marriage certificates, use the Marriage License Copy Request form or call (540) 564-3124. Copy fee: $0.50 per page; certification: $2.00. Copies may also be obtained from the Virginia Office of Vital Records by mail, online, or in person, or through the Virginia DMV.

Divorce records: Divorce proceedings are filed in the Circuit Court. Under Virginia law, divorce records less than 25 years old are restricted from general public access. Only the parties, their attorneys, and immediate family members with valid identification may obtain copies during the confidentiality period. Contact the Civil Division at (540) 564-3124 or request records from the Virginia Department of Health’s Vital Registration Office for a fee of $12 per search.

Birth and death records: These are classified as vital records and follow the access rules in § 32.1-271. Birth records open after 100 years and death records after 25 years. During the restricted period, only authorized family members and custodians may obtain copies through the Virginia Department of Health or through local offices.

Rockingham County Probate Court Records

Rockingham County does not operate a separate probate court. All probate matters, including the administration of decedent estates, admission of wills, and qualification of personal representatives, are handled by the Probate Division of the Rockingham County Circuit Court. The division also processes the qualification step for guardianship and conservatorship appointments.

Probate Division contact:
Rockingham County Circuit Court
80 Court Square, Harrisonburg, VA 22802
Phone: (540) 574-4320 or (540) 574-4353

Starting the probate process:

The estate of a decedent who resided in Rockingham County or the City of Harrisonburg is probated in this court. Appointments with a Probate Division deputy clerk are required because of the time needed to confirm estate details, prepare documents, and explain the settlement process. Before scheduling, the executor or prospective administrator should:

Complete the Probate Information Form (CC-1650) and gather the information it requests.
Use the Guide to Determine Estimated Value to calculate the estate’s personal property and real estate values.
Determine whether a will exists and identify the named executor(s), or, if there is no will, agree among the heirs on who will serve as administrator.
Call (540) 574-4320 or email the Probate Clerk to schedule an appointment.

Key probate forms are available on the Probate Forms page and include the Virginia Small Estate Act Affidavit, Waiver of Notice of Probate (CC-1618), Waiver of Qualification (CC-1608), Deposition of Witness to Will (CC-1601), Deposition of Witness to Holographic Will (CC-1602), and post-qualification forms such as Notice Regarding Estate (CC-1616) and Affidavit of Notice (CC-1617). Additional fiduciary forms are hosted on the Virginia Court System forms page.

Accessing probate records:

Probate case records, including wills, inventories, and accountings, are generally public records. They may be searched for free on the Rockingham County Circuit Court’s Secure Remote Access site under the “Wills/Probate/Estate Records” filter or at public-access terminals in the courthouse Deed Room. Lodged wills filed under § 64.2-409 are indexed by testator name and can be searched at no charge, though they remain sealed and may only be opened as provided by statute.

Copies of probate records cost $0.50 per page; certified copies are $2.00 plus copy charges. Requests may be submitted using the Probate Copy Request form by mail or in person. The Probate Division does not accept requests by email.