Virginia Beach City Court Records Search
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Virginia Beach is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia—not part of any county—and operates its own court system within the 2nd Judicial Circuit. All three of its courts sit at the Virginia Beach Judicial Center on Nimmo Parkway: the Circuit Court, the General District Court, and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. Together they produce a steady volume of criminal, civil, family, and probate records that the public may need for background checks, legal research, property transactions, or personal documentation. Because Virginia Beach functions as both a city and a county-equivalent jurisdiction, the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office serves the dual role of maintaining court filings and recording land instruments, wills, marriage licenses, and other public records.
Virginia’s court system offers several free online tools for locating case information. The statewide case-search resources hosted through VirginiaStateCourts.us can help residents identify the correct court and access publicly available docket data. The Virginia Judicial System’s Case Status and Information page links to the Circuit Court case-information system, the General District Court online system, and the newer statewide Online Case Information System (OCIS 2.0). Records may also be obtained in person at the relevant clerk’s office, by mail with appropriate forms and fees, or through subscription-based remote-access portals for land records. The guide below details what each Virginia Beach court holds, how to search for or request records, the fees involved, and which records are restricted from public view.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Virginia Beach City?
Start by identifying the court that handled the case. Virginia Beach’s three courts and their contact details are listed below.
Virginia Beach Circuit Court
Address: 2425 Nimmo Parkway, Building 10 & 10B, 3rd Floor, Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Phone: (757) 385-4181
Clerk’s Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Virginia Beach General District Court
Address: 2425 Nimmo Parkway, Virginia Beach, VA 23456-9057
Phone: (757) 385-8531
Clerk’s Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Virginia Beach Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
Address: 2425 Nimmo Parkway, Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Phone: (757) 385-4391 | Fax: (757) 385-5683
Email: vabjdr@vacourts.gov
Clerk’s Office Hours: Monday–Friday (contact for specific hours)
Once the correct court is identified, the following search methods are available:
- Circuit Court Case Information — Go to the Circuit Court online case search. Select “Virginia Beach Circuit Court”, then choose either the criminal or civil division. Search by party name, case number, or hearing date.
- General District Court Online Case Information — Visit the District Court case search. Search by name, case number, hearing date, or process number. Results display case status and disposition.
- OCIS 2.0 (statewide) — The Online Case Information System covers adult criminal and traffic cases from all Virginia courts, as well as Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court cases viewable from January 1, 2019 forward. Search by party name, hearing date, or case number.
- In person — Visit the clerk’s office at the Virginia Beach Judicial Center during business hours. Public-access terminals and staff assistance are available.
- By mail — Send written requests to the appropriate clerk’s office with the party’s name, case number (if known), case type, court date, and the required fee. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Copy fees at the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Copy (per page) | $0.50 |
| Certification of an order | $2.00 |
Copy fees at the General District Court (civil and criminal divisions):
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Case documents before final disposition (first 2 pages) | $1.00 per page |
| Each additional page | $0.50 |
| Certified copy of a final disposition | $2.00 |
| Additional pages from certified disposition | $0.50 per page |
| Case management screen printout | $0.50 |
Payments to the General District Court should be by check or money order drawn on a Virginia bank, payable to “Virginia Beach General District Court”.
Are Court Records Public in Virginia Beach City?
Virginia law establishes a strong presumption of public access to court records. Section 17.1-208 of the Code of Virginia provides that records maintained in individual case files at the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office are open to the public. The clerk may require advance payment for copying, examination, or redaction of confidential information. For district courts, Section 16.1-69.54:1 similarly requires clerks to provide records within 30 days of a request, unless the request interferes with court business or is prohibited by law.
The General District Court’s clerk also serves as the designated FOIA officer for that court. FOIA inquiries may be directed to (757) 385-8531.
Notwithstanding the general rule of openness, several categories of records are restricted:
- Juvenile records — Section 16.1-300 prohibits public inspection of records of individuals under 18 who have entered the court system or are under Department of Juvenile Justice supervision. Access is limited to the individual upon reaching majority, legal parents or guardians, the prosecuting attorney, court staff, and contracted welfare personnel.
- Adoption records — Sealed under Virginia Code § 63.2-1245 and available only to attorneys of record, court officials, the adoptee, birth parents, and social service officials.
- Sealed criminal records — Certain expunged or sealed case files are not available for public inspection.
- Confidential personal information — Social Security numbers, financial account information, and similar sensitive data may be redacted before disclosure.
All email correspondence with court staff is considered public information and is not protected by any privilege.
Virginia Beach City Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Virginia Beach are divided between the Circuit Court and the General District Court. The Circuit Court prosecutes all felonies, conducts jury trials, and hears appeals from misdemeanor and traffic cases initially tried in the General District Court. The General District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic offenses, bond hearings, and preliminary hearings in felony cases.
Circuit Court — Criminal Division
Phone: (757) 385-4187 / (757) 385-4188
The criminal division receives filings, issues warrants and capiases, maintains dockets, and processes fines, costs, and restitution. Original documents must be submitted by U.S. Mail or courier; the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office does not accept filings by email or fax. Payments for eligible cases can be made through the Virginia Circuit Court Online Payment System.
Searching criminal cases online: Use the Circuit Court case search (select Virginia Beach, then criminal division) or the General District Court case search. Both allow lookup by defendant name, case number, or hearing date.
Local criminal history records: The Virginia Beach Police Department’s Records Unit processes criminal records requests. Requirements include a valid government-issued photo ID, a secondary form of identification, and a $15 fee payable by cash, check, or credit card. Requests may be made in person or by mail using the Criminal Records Request Information form (PD-150).
Virginia Beach Police Department — Records Unit
Address: Virginia Beach Municipal Center, Building 11, 2509 Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23456
For mail requests, include the completed PD-150 form, copies of two forms of ID, a $15 check or money order payable to “City of Virginia Beach”, and a self-addressed return envelope.
Virginia State Police criminal background checks: Statewide criminal history searches are available through the Virginia State Police for employment, licensing, and other authorized purposes.
Inmate information: The Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office provides an inmate lookup tool for current inmates at the Virginia Beach Correctional Center, including charges, bonding information, and booking details.
Virginia Beach City Civil Court Records
Civil jurisdiction in Virginia Beach is shared between the Circuit Court and the General District Court.
The Circuit Court — Civil Division (Phone: (757) 385-4186) handles cases with claims exceeding $25,000, equity matters, and appeals from the General District Court. The court aims to conclude all civil cases within 18 months of filing. Key procedural resources include the court’s civil case management manual and the praecipe for setting a trial date. Civil cover sheets (available on the Supreme Court of Virginia website) must be attached to the initial pleading. Filing fees are calculated using the Circuit Court fee calculator based on the amount in controversy, as set by Virginia Code § 17.1-275.
The General District Court — Civil Division (Phone: (757) 385-4277, option 3; fax: (757) 385-5682) has exclusive jurisdiction for most claims of $4,500 or less and concurrent jurisdiction with the Circuit Court for claims between $4,500 and $25,000 (up to $50,000 for personal injury and wrongful death). Small claims court within the General District Court handles monetary disputes up to $5,000 per Virginia Code § 16.1-122.2.
Civil filing fees (General District Court): The base filing fee is $52 plus $12 for each person served. The Virginia Judicial System’s General District Court fee calculator provides approximate costs. Additional costs include $25 for a Writ of Possession (eviction) for the first defendant and $12 for each additional defendant.
Judgment collection tools available through the General District Court:
- Garnishment (wages or bank accounts)
- Abstract of judgment (lien on real estate, filed with Circuit Court)
- Levy (lien on personal property for sheriff’s sale)
- Debtor interrogatories
The Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office publishes levy and eviction booklets explaining its role in executing civil process.
Property records: The Circuit Court Clerk records, indexes, and permanently stores all land records for Virginia Beach. A subscription-based Secure Remote Access portal allows online searching of deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other land instruments. In-person access is available at the Clerk’s Office. The Land Records division can be reached at (757) 385-8821.
Virginia Beach City Family Court Records
Family law matters in Virginia Beach are handled by both the Circuit Court and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations (J&DR) District Court. The Circuit Court presides over divorce, annulment, separate maintenance, equitable distribution, and name changes. The J&DR District Court handles juvenile delinquency, child abuse and neglect, custody, visitation, support, parentage, protective orders, and foster care.
The J&DR Court’s staff can answer general procedural questions but cannot provide legal advice. Written correspondence (mail, email, or fax) to the J&DR Court is treated as public information. On-site interpreter services are associated with the court, and a court service unit facilitates rehabilitation and treatment programs.
Searching family court records: The OCIS 2.0 system provides access to J&DR District Court case information from January 1, 2019 forward. Select both Circuit Court and J&DR from the court-level dropdown, then choose Virginia Beach and search by party name, hearing date, or case number.
Confidentiality restrictions: Juvenile records are confidential under Virginia Code § 16.1-300. Adoption records are sealed under Virginia Code § 63.2-1245. Not all family court records are available for public inspection; contact the appropriate clerk’s office to determine accessibility for a specific case.
Divorce records: The Circuit Court handles divorces. One complimentary certified copy of the final divorce decree is provided to the complainant or their attorney. Additional certified copies cost $2.00 per certification. Divorce procedure manuals are available on the Virginia Beach Courts website.
Marriage licenses and records: The Circuit Court Clerk’s Marriage License Division (Phone: (757) 385-8822) issues marriage licenses, which are valid for 60 days per Virginia Code § 20-20. An online application is available at vbmarriage.org. To request a certified copy of a marriage license by mail, complete the certified copy request form and send it to the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office, Attention Marriage Licenses, 2425 Nimmo Parkway, Virginia Beach, VA 23456, with both parties’ names, the marriage date, the location of the marriage, a money order, certified check, or in-state personal check for $2.50 per copy payable to “Circuit Court Clerk”, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Birth and death records: The Virginia Department of Health, Division of Vital Records issues certified copies of birth and death certificates. Eligible requestors may apply online through the OVR Online System, in person at the Richmond walk-in office (2001 Maywill Street, Suite 101), by mail to P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, VA 23218-1000, or by drop-off. The fee is $12 per certificate. Birth records become public 100 years after the event; death records become public after 25 years. Required application forms include the birth certificate application and death certificate application. Marriage and divorce records may also be obtained from OVR using the marriage/divorce application at the same $12 fee; these vital records become public 25 years after the event.
Virginia Beach City Probate Court Records
Virginia does not maintain a separate probate court. The Circuit Court handles all probate matters, including the probate of wills, appointment of executors and administrators, estate administration, guardianships, and conservatorships. The Probate/Wills Division of the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office manages these filings.
Probate/Wills Division
Phone: (757) 385-8831
Location: Virginia Beach Judicial Center, 2425 Nimmo Parkway, Building 10, Virginia Beach, VA 23456
An appointment is recommended before visiting the Probate Division. Deputy clerks can provide specific instructions on what documents and information are needed.
Key probate procedures:
- Bring the original will to the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office in the jurisdiction where the decedent resided, owned real estate, died, or had any estate.
- Know the assets and their approximate value — this information is required for tax calculations and the inventory.
- Bring a copy of the death certificate — it contains information the clerk will need.
- Pay the probate tax at the time of filing: $1.00 state tax and $0.33 local tax per $1,000 of estate value. For example, a $50,000 estate would owe $50.00 in state tax and $16.67 in local tax. Recording fees also apply at probate.
- File an inventory with the commissioner of accounts within four months of qualification.
- Provide written notice of qualification or probate to heirs and beneficiaries within 30 days.
- File accountings annually until a final accounting is completed.
Formal administration is not always required. Small estates below the statutory threshold, joint survivorship accounts, life insurance payable to named beneficiaries, and motor vehicles with clear titles may pass outside the probate process. The intestacy succession rules are set out in Virginia Code § 64.2-200.
Probate records are not currently available through the online case-search portals. Individuals seeking probate information should contact the Probate/Wills Division directly at (757) 385-8831 or visit the Clerk’s Office in person during business hours.