Virginia State Records

Virginia Public Records

The Virginia State Records website has a mission to provide every person with the tools to seek out and obtain Virginia public records. This right is in accordance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, which specifies that all government information and records are presumed public.

The main purpose of the Virginia State Records website is to give the general public easy and effective access to these records. These records can be obtained without submitting personal information, unless a court order or law requires a record to be classified as confidential.

Virginia State Records contains criminal records, court records, vital records, and over 75 million transparent public records.

Are Virginia Records Public?

Virginia records are mostly open to the public. Under the Virginia Freedom of Information Law, members of the Commonwealth of Virginia can view and copy all public records in the custody of a government agency. Virginia's FOIA also determines the process of obtaining these records, whether through public data search services or other means and the type of documents accessible to the public.

What is Considered Public Information in Virginia?

The following are examples of public documents in Virginia:

• Virginia birth records
• Virginia sex offender information
• Virginia inmate records
• Virginia property records
• Virginia court records-
• Virginia arrest records or rap sheets.
• Virginia death records
• Virginia divorce records

The Virginia Freedom of Information Law defines public records as all information or data that documents a public agency's activity or transaction. In this context, "public agency" refers to cities, municipalities, commissions, and departments. Thus, the state FOIA empowers state residents to request and obtain public records from designated record custodians. A public record act request may also be made through third-party public data search service providers. While some of these service providers offer limited free public data search services, others may require their users to pay a fee or subscription to use their services.

Note: Not all public records are open to the public. State law prohibits the disclosure of certain documents for reasons like confidentiality and privacy.

How Do I Find Public Records in Virginia?

Commonwealth citizens can find public records by contacting the public agency responsible for issuing the documents under the FOIA. Although the method of obtaining Virginia public records differs for each custodian agency, record seekers may receive public documents via these steps:

• Identify the Requirements for Obtaining the Preferred Public Record
  Interested persons seeking to learn how to access public records in Virginia must identify the specifics of obtaining the preferred record. For instance, public records are only accessible to state residents or citizens. Moreover, record custodians may require proof of identification from requesters before releasing the documents in their custody. Although Virginia public agencies do not require a statement of purpose, some agencies might restrict public records access to only the record bearer. For example, record seekers must prove their relationship to the record subject before obtaining vital records from the Virginia Department of Health.
• Contact the Custodian Agency Holding the Preferred Document
  In Virginia, custodian agencies are responsible for maintaining and providing access to Virginia public documents. Thus, interested record seekers must find and contact the public agency holding the preferred paper. Also, record seekers must note the agency's mode of issuing copies of public documents. Custodian bodies may maintain an online or offline platform mode for issuing records.
  Case in point, the Virginia Department of State Police issues copies of criminal history checks to interested persons offline. To access the information, record seekers must download and fill out the necessary form online, download, and mail the request to the address provided below:
  Mailing Address:
  P.O. Box 27472
  Richmond, VA 23261
  In contrast, copies of criminal history records are obtainable via in-person request at the address below:
  Administrative Headquarters
  7700 Midlothian Turnpike
  North Chesterfield, VA 23235
  Phone: (804) 674-2131
  Email: Background_Checks@vsp.virginia.gov
  Interested persons and entities can only access online versions of Virginia court records via the state-maintained judicial system platform. The platform features different search portals for cases recorded at the Supreme Court, appeal courts, and Circuit court. In addition to this, the court clerk provides offline access to court records in the state.
• Create and Send Request for Virginia Public Records
  Record seekers must submit a verbal or written request to obtain Virginia public records from record custodians. In some cases, record seekers may download a request form from the custodian agency's official website. For example, the Virginia Department of Health provides downloadable request forms for obtaining vital records.

Not all record custodians provide request forms. Hence, requesters may write a letter requesting public documents at a custodian agency. Note that a written request must detail the listed data:

• The requester's complete name;
• The record bearer's birth date (if known);
• The record bearer's full name or aliases, and other identifying information;
• A case number (this applies to court records);
• The case type;
• Purpose of the request - provide a detailed description of your request;
• Date range when the record was documented;
• Preferred mode of delivery;
• Record seeker’s contact details;
• Additional information to assist with the search.
• Attach the Required Fee
  Some records are available at no cost, while others might require a fee. The fee amount and payment method differ depending on the custodian agency's requirements. For mail requests, record seekers are often required to attach the necessary fee in a money order or cashier's check. In contrast, the agency may accept credit/debit card payments and cash for an in-person request for Virginia public records.

Using Third-Party Sites

City Records

Public city records may also be accessible from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for expansive searches. Record seekers may either opt to use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. However, users will need to provide enough information to assist with the search such as:

• The name of the subject involved in the record (subject must be older than 18 or not juvenile)
• The address of the requestor
• A case number or file number (if known)
• The location of the document or person involved
• The last known or current address of the registrant

Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.

Public Records

Public records can also be accessed from third-party websites. These third-party public records aggregate websites offer search services that are non-geographically limited, making the search result expansive and typically straightforward. However, users will need to provide enough information to assist with the search, such as:

• The name of the subject involved in the record as long as the subject is not a juvenile
• The last known or location of the record subject

Third-party public records search websites are not government-sponsored services. Therefore, the availability and accuracy of results can vary.

How Do I Lookup Public Records for Free in Virginia?

Obtaining a free public record in Virginia is dependent on the agency in charge of the document and type of record. Thus, interested persons may utilize the following options to conduct free public records searches:

• In-person Inspection of Virginia Records
  Some custodian agencies may allow inspection of public records in their custody. For example, interested Virginia citizens can inspect or view records, such as genealogical resources, business records, and tax records, at the Library of Virginia. The Library of Virginia is the principal custodian of all government-generated records in the state. Hence, requesters can inspect public records at any of the public terminals in the Library of Virginia. On the other hand, law enforcement agencies may allow record subjects and crime victims to view arrest records for free.

• Request for Online Copies of Virginia Public Documents
  Virginia public agencies may maintain online databases for public documents. Sometimes, these online public documents are obtainable for free. For instance, Virginia sex offenders' information is accessible via an online search portal. The Virginia Department of State Police, via the Sex Offender and Crimes against Minors Registry, is the custodian of all registered and absconded sex offenders. To access sex offender information via the registry, record seekers may use one of the search options listed below:

• Search by address;

• Search by zip code;

• Search by County;

• Search by School.

Commonwealth citizens can also seek public county records, such as judgments, court cases, and vital records, by contacting their local county clerk's office. Meanwhile, one can look up public records pertaining to real estate ownership in a county, including deeds, through the county recorder's office.

The commitment of the United States of America is to remain a fair and just society for all. The state of Virginia began collecting public records in 1810, and these records cover the states 95 counties. Over the last 30 years, digitization of public records has become the standard, meaning both governmental and third party websites are able to offer records online with increased reliability.