Loudoun County Court Records
The judicial system in Virginia's Loudoun County hears all legal matters within the county's jurisdiction. The system comprises the Loudoun County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, General District Court, and Circuit Court. Along with resolving legal complaints, these courts also create, collate, and retain records of legal proceedings. These records are known as court records.
Section 17.1-292 of the Virginia Code defines "court records" as any record maintained by the clerk in a criminal, traffic, or civil proceeding in the court, and any appeal from a district court.
Court records, sometimes called court case records, have various important uses within Loudoun County's court system. The records detail the actions of the court and litigating parties during each legal proceeding, thus serving as a comprehensive overview of the events of a court case. Court records also have historical research uses. Lawyers, judges, and legal researchers can review these records to find past precedents that may apply in active court cases.
The custodians of court records in Virginia are generally the clerks of court. The Clerk of the Circuit Court in Loudoun County maintains records of case proceedings from the county's Circuit Court, a court of record under Virginia law. Although the Loudoun County General District Court and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (called the district courts) are constitutionally deemed courts not of record, the courts also keep records through their clerk's offices—albeit not permanent case records.
Are Court Records Public in Loudoun County?
Yes, court records are public in Loudoun County. Normally, the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified at § 2.2-3700 et seq. of the Virginia Code, governs the inspection and copying of public records maintained in the state. However, the FOIA does not apply to court case records. Such records are dispensed to the public per Title 17.1 (Courts of Record) and Title 16.1 (Courts Not of Record) of the Code of Virginia.
Under these laws, court records are generally accessible to members of the public, except when dissemination is prohibited or restricted by law or court order. Confidential court records include:
- Records subject to attorney-client privilege.
- Sealed court records (e.g., adoption records).
- Mental health files.
- Civil protection order case records.
Where to Conduct a Loudoun County Case Lookup
Below are methods to conduct a Loudoun County court case lookup:
- Visit the presiding courthouse (the court that received the legal complaint or resolved the case) to access or search records at the clerk's office.
- Write to the clerk's office.
- Search online case information systems provided on the Virginia Judiciary's website.
How to Conduct a Loudoun County Case Records Search
In-Person Review
Members of the public can conduct a Loudoun County case records search at the courthouse where a case was filed or heard. Visitors can go to the courthouse clerk's office to review and print case records at public kiosks or review records at the clerk's office window. Individuals may also request copies in writing (in person or via mail) from the office. Persons submitting mail requests for the clerk to search for and return copies of court records should include relevant details about the particular case, the copy fee (obtainable by contacting the appropriate clerk's office), and a return self-addressed stamped envelope. A blank Copy Request Form may also be available on the court's website (e.g., the Clerk of the Circuit Court's Criminal Case Copy Request Form).
Note that any search conducted at courthouse public access terminals (kiosks) is free of charge. However, the clerk assesses a fee for printing records from computer terminals or providing physical court case records to inquirers.
For instance, the Loudoun County Clerk of the Circuit Court charges 50 cents per page for plain copies and $2 for each certified copy. Meanwhile, per Va. Code § 16.1-69.48:2, the clerk of a district court may charge a fee that does not surpass $1 for the first two pages and 50 cents for each successive page.
Generally, requesters of Loudoun County case records must have specific details to facilitate a case search. Often, this information is a party name (a defendant or plaintiff's name) or a case number.
Online Review
Another way to conduct a Loudoun County case records search is to access Case Information systems available on the Supreme Court of Virginia's website. Site visitors can search for adult criminal/traffic cases filed in the Circuit, General District, and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts using the Online Case Information System-Statewide Search tool.
A researcher can also access independent systems (such as the General District Court Case Information system) on the state judiciary's website to find criminal, civil, or traffic cases filed within a particular court level (i.e., Circuit, General District, or Juvenile and Domestic Relations). Regardless of the search tool, a user can typically access the official case information systems with a case number, party name, or hearing date.
Note that the Loudoun County courts do not maintain separate online case search portals.
Loudoun County Civil Court Case Records
Civil proceedings held in Loudoun County, Virginia, generate records (known as civil court case records) that the clerks of court preserve. These court proceedings span a variety of noncriminal matters, including personal injury, divorce, adoption, and guardianship cases, brought to the county's Circuit, General District, and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts. (See the courts' civil jurisdiction.)
In Loudoun County, civil court case records can be obtained from the clerk of the court where a case was filed or heard. Individuals can also access civil case search systems provided on the Virginia Judiciary's website, as explained previously. Novices to the civil case records search process in Loudoun County may contact the relevant clerk's office to understand how to find court records in person, by mail, or online.
Loudoun County Criminal Court Case Records
Criminal court case records in Loudoun County include all case documents and information pertaining to a misdemeanor or felony charge prosecuted in a county court. The criminal courts in Loudoun County are the Circuit and General District Courts.
The General District Court hears misdemeanor cases (offenses punishable by not above a year in jail or a fine of up to $2,500, or both) and ordinance violations. The court also holds preliminary hearings in felony cases. Meanwhile, the Circuit Court has jurisdiction over:
- All felonies (offenses punishable by imprisonment of above a year)
- Misdemeanor offenses appealed from a district court or originating from a grand jury indictment, and
- Transfer or certification of felony offenses perpetrated by juveniles
As regards criminal matters, the Loudoun County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court hears delinquent acts (i.e., acts perpetrated by juveniles that would be crimes if committed by adults).
Individuals who require criminal case records in Loudoun County may call the applicable clerk's office to learn how to find court records in person, or they may visit the presiding courthouse during business hours. A person may also utilize online criminal case search portals provided by the Virginia Judiciary.
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
Online reviews of Loudoun County court records typically yield only case details (data from within a court case file) for free, not the physical court records. Persons who require paper copies of court records may visit or write to the applicable court clerk's office. However, the courts charge a fee to obtain copies.
Notably, a person can also find Loudoun County court records on private aggregate websites, but a fee/subscription may apply to access or obtain extensive information on such sites.
Courts in Loudoun County, Virginia
Circuit Court
18 East Market Street
4th Floor
Leesburg, VA 20178
Phone: (703) 777-0270
Fax: (703) 737-8549
Civil/Criminal Courtroom
18 East Market Street
2nd Floor (Courtroom Number 3)
Leesburg, VA 20176
Traffic Court
18 East Market Street
Leesburg, VA 20176
Phone: (703) 777-0312
Phone: (703) 777-0310 (24-hour information)
Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
18 East Market Street
Leesburg, VA 20178
Phone: (703) 777-0300
Fax: (703) 771-5039
