Prince William County Court Records
Prince William County court records refer to files, documents, or records maintained by a court clerk during legal proceedings at the Prince William County Circuit Court (31st Judicial District). In compliance with Virginia statutes (§ 17.1-295), these records are considered part of Prince William County Public Records.
Virginia state laws provide that except where law prohibits, any record maintained by the court clerks is "open to inspection in the office of the clerk by any person". Record custodians are mandated to provide copies of court records when requested. Section § 17.1-242 of the Virginia code also permits court clerks to provide remote access to non-confidential records on any automated case management system.
The preservation of court records helps ensure proper documentation of legal events and decrees. They provide transparency in the judiciary process and help to protect the legal rights of individuals and parties involved in litigations.
Are Court Records Public in Prince William County?
Yes. Court records in Prince William County are open to the public. Per the Virginia Public Record Act, members of the public have the right to obtain copies of non-confidential open records, including court records. Public records are defined by the law to include any "recorded information that documents activity by a public office, agency or employee of an agency". However, although the Public Record Act provides general access, it does not grant access to any record made confidential by law. This includes records that may contain sealed information or records exempted explicitly by law. As such, court clerks have the legal authority to deny requests for any document that contains information exempted by law.
What Do Prince William County Court Records Contain?
Court records consist of a wide variety of information related to legal cases filed within Prince William County. Some of the information that may be contained in a court record includes:
- Case files
- Details of the executed arrest warrants
- Complaints and summons
- Uniform arrest report
- Exhibits
- Judgment and sentencing Court minutes
- Original affidavit submitted attesting to probable cause
- Notice of rights
Where to Conduct a Prince William County Case Lookup
Record seekers can look up court cases using several options. Residents can request records by contacting the Court Administration Division of the Circuit Court Clerk's Office. It provides on-site as well as online access to records of civil and criminal cases filed in the court. The office opens during business hours at:
1 County Complex Ct.
Prince William, VA 22192
Phone: (703) 792-6000
How to Conduct a Prince William County Case Records Search
To find court records, record seekers must first identify the court where the case was heard. Prince William County is served by three different courts, all of which are housed in the same location: the Circuit Court, the General District Court, and the Domestic Relations Court. Court records for cases filed in each of these are maintained by the Circuit court clerk's office.
Searching for Court Case Information Onsite
Residents can inspect records in person at the justice center using publicly available computers. Records of criminal cases can be found using the computers in the criminal section (Room 310), while civil court records can be found using the public terminal in Room 314. Record seekers can also question the court clerk while using the system.
Obtain Court Case Information Online
Members of the public can search for court case records using the commonwealth's Supreme Court Case Management System. Searches by done by following three quick steps:
- Click the drop-down menu and select the right court (Prince William Circuit Court)
- Choose between civil or criminal records
- Enter a name, case number, or hearing date
Depending on the registrant and type of case, case records may provide information such as the date and result of hearings, charges, offense date, and party name.
Prince William County Civil Court Case Records
Civil court case records consist of files and documents generated during civil proceedings within the Prince William County judicial system. Such records are compiled and maintained by the Prince William County clerk of court. Most civil court are public records, which means they can be accessed by almost anyone. However, access to records containing sealed or confidential information, such as a social security number or financial account, is restricted for members of the public.
Persons who wish to obtain copies of a Prince William County civil court record can do so by contacting the Prince William court clerk at the courthouse where the case was filed. A nominal fee may be charged for this service. Alternatively, members of the public can search for civil court records using the Virginia Courts Case Information System. Searches on this platform are restricted to individual courts and not statewide searches. Users will also need to provide a hearing date, party name, or case number to process the search.
Prince William County Criminal Court Case Records
Criminal court case records comprise documents and records created during criminal in-court proceedings within the Prince William County judicial system. In compliance with state laws, these records are maintained and compiled by the court clerk. Most criminal court records are considered open. However, access to records containing sealed or confidential information, such as the identity of a confidential informant or details of an ongoing investigation, is restricted for members of the public.
Almost anyone can search for criminal court records using the Virginia Courts Case Information System. However, to launch a search, requesters will need to provide a case number, hearing date, or party name. Local residents can also request copies of Prince William County criminal records by contacting the Prince William court clerk at the courthouse where the case was filed.
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
Members of the public can get court records online for free using the Virginia electronic case management system. However, to refine the results, requestors must provide enough information for a search. Users can either search for records with a known name or a case number. Results can also be filtered by hearing date. In addition to official sources, members of the public can find free court records using third-party record platforms that offer this option. These non-governmental platforms provide access to data compiled from multiple jurisdictions, including Prince William County, Virginia. Some platforms allow free unlimited searches, while others only permit a fixed number of searches for free.
Courts in Prince William County
Prince William County's court system consists of a circuit court and district courts. The following are the addresses of courts in the county.
Prince William County Circuit Court - 31st Judicial Circuit
Prince William County Judicial Center
9311 Lee Ave,
Manassas, VA 20110
Phone: (703) 792-6015
Fax: (703) 342-0342
Prince William County General District Court - 31st Judicial District
Prince William County Judicial Center
9311 Lee Ave,
Manassas, VA 20110
Phone: (703) 792-6149 (Civil)
Fax: (703) 792-6646 (Civil)
Phone: (703) 792-6141 (Criminal/Traffic)
Fax: (703) 792-6121 (Criminal/Traffic)
Prince William County Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court
Prince William County Judicial Center
9311 Lee Ave,
Manassas, VA 20110
Phone: (703) 792-6160
Fax: (703) 792-7863
