Henrico County Court Records
Court records in Henrico County encompass a wide variety of files generated during legal proceedings across the circuit, district, and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts. They include dockets, case files, pleadings, filing, and other documents. Per court regulations, such records are maintained by court clerks and may be accessed by almost anyone. Court records comprise an essential part of the county's legal system. In addition to preserving fairness and ensuring transparency, court records aid in the protection of the legal rights of individuals and parties involved in the legal system.
Are Court Records Public in Henrico County
Court records are generally open to the public in Henrico County. Access to such records is governed by multiple laws and regulations, including the Virginia Code. As provided by the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, citizens of the Commonwealth have the right to inspect or access records maintained by public bodies. However, not all records are open. Record custodians may deny requests for copies of court records that have been sealed or exempted by law. Some examples of court records that may be unavailable to the public include:
- Records containing confidential information such as social security numbers
- Records containing information about ongoing cases or information that may weaken national security
- Records containing information on juveniles and minors
- Records sealed by a court order
Where to Conduct a Henrico County Case Lookup
Members of the public have multiple options for looking up Henrico County case records. The Virginia Judicial Online Case Information System connects to a wide database of cases filed across the circuit courts. County residents can also obtain copies of a record by submitting a request to the Henrico County General District Court Clerk or the County Circuit Court Clerk. The offices are open from Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at the following address:
4309 E. Parham Road
Courthouse Bldg, Rm 240
Henrico, VA 23228
Alternatively, requesters can obtain copies of a record by mailing a signed request to the court clerk at:
P.O. Box 90775
Henrico, VA 23273-0775
How to Conduct a Henrico County Case Records Search
Members of the general public can search for Henrico County case records by following several general steps.
Step 1. Identify the Relevant Court
Henrico County's judicial system consists of multiple courts, including a circuit court, a general district court, and a Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court. Each court oversees different types of cases. The Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court has jurisdiction over domestic relations cases, while the circuit court serves as the main trial court over civil and criminal cases.
Step 2. Gather Information
To process a search, requesters must provide some type of information related to the case. Examples of the details that may be needed to find court case records in Henrico County include:
- Full name of parties involved
- Date Range
- Court location
- Case number
- Docket information
Henrico County Civil Court Case Records
Civil court case records consist of legal documents and files generated during court proceedings related to non-criminal cases. Some examples include cases involving contracts, property disputes, personal injury cases, or corporate disputes between businesses, organizations, or individuals. Access to most of these records is permissible under state law. To obtain civil case records in Henrico County, record seekers will need to contact the clerk at the court where the case was filed. Access to some records may be accessible using the Virginia Judicial Online Case Information System.
Henrico County Criminal Court Case Records
Henrico criminal records are official documents and files generated during criminal in-court proceedings across the county courts. Some examples include arrest records, plea documents, trial transcripts, and sentencing information. Most of these records are considered public and can be accessed by almost anyone, depending on the custodial court and when the record was filed. Most criminal court records can be viewed by contacting the court clerk. However, inquirers must provide enough information to facilitate the search.
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
Virginia's Judicial Branch provides free online access to court records via an Online Case Information System. It provides flexible search options for getting cases filed in the circuit court, general district court, and the County Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court. Users can conduct searches using different criteria, some of which include:
- Name
- Case Number
- Hearing Date
Citizens of the commonwealth can also search for free online court records using third-party platforms. These non-governmental platforms provide access to a database that contains records and information compiled from multiple jurisdictions, including Henrico County. However, depending on when the data was compiled and the case filed, the accuracy of the information may vary. Searches with a third-party platform are usually intuitive and direct. Users can look at cases using criteria such as the party name, filing date, and case type.
Courts in Henrico County
Residents who wish to find records of a person can do so by submitting a request to the record custodian appointed by the court. Some of the addresses of courts in the county include:
Henrico County Circuit Court - 14th Judicial Circuit
4301 E Parham Rd,
P.O. Box 90775,
Richmond, VA 23273
Phone: (804) 501-4202
Henrico County General District Court - 14th Judicial District
4301 E Parham Rd,
P.O. Box 90775,
Richmond, VA 23273
Phone: (804) 501-4727 (Civil)
Fax: (804) 501-4141 (Civil)
Phone: (804) 501-4723 (Criminal/Traffic)
Fax: (804) 501-7388 (Criminal/Traffic)
Henrico County Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court
4201 E Parham Rd,
P.O. Box 90775,
Richmond, VA 23223
Phone: (804) 501-4688
Fax: (804) 501-4756