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Henrico County Court Records Lookup

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Henrico County Court Records Lookup

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Henrico County Courts, VA *

Henrico County Courts, VA

The court system in Henrico County, which immediately surrounds the city of Richmond, handles all kinds of cases, from minor traffic violations resulting in fines to complex felony trials resulting in life imprisonment, and estate matters, such as appointing a trustee. County residents need the courts for property or landlord-tenant disputes, family court cases, or to check whether their criminal or civil cases have been resolved. Citizens such as employers, landlords, and lawyers need court records to check evictions, criminal backgrounds, or to prepare for hearings they are involved in. It is important to know how the Henrico County system works to save time and frustration.

How to Access Henrico County Court Records

How to Access Henrico County Court Records

Online Access

Virginia was one of the earliest states to begin digitizing its court records. The state began digitizing court records in the early 1990s. The entire Virginia judicial system began digitizing in stages starting in 2000, so many court records are available online. To access court records from the Henrico County Circuit Court and the District Courts, residents can visit the Virginia Courts platform online.

Alternative Online Options

Although Virginia has a unified and streamlined court system, the state also has 95 counties and 38 independent cities with county-level jurisdiction, resulting in 133 county-level court jurisdictions. When residents aren't sure which jurisdiction to search, or when they have missing or incomplete information, they can try a court records search aggregator like CourtCaseFinder. Because the site pulls information from multiple counties and cities throughout Virginia, the records may be easier to find.

In-Person Requests

When Henrico County residents need certified documents or older court records, they can visit the Henrico County Courthouse. Residents can ask either the District Court Clerk or the Circuit Court Clerk for help in locating physical case files, archived court case documents, and certified copies of court documents.

Asking in person is often necessary for official or certified records, especially when the documents are required for legal or administrative purposes. Bring as much information as possible (such as names or case numbers) to help speed up the process.

Archived Records

Once a court case has been decided, or the case has been dismissed by a judge, the courts don't need to keep the records, so the case is considered archived. Henrico County is one of the oldest counties in Virginia, having been established over 100 years before the American Revolution, so it has court records dating from 1655. Residents who need to look at older court records should first stop by the Circuit Court Clerk or District Court Clerk's Office. There is a state archives system for older court records as well, run by the Library of Virginia.

Overview of the Henrico County Court System

Overview of the Henrico County Court System

Virginia operates as a centralized, unified court structure, meaning all courts are administered by the Supreme Court of Virginia, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is the head of the court system. The Supreme Court serves as the state's highest court, where appeals from the Court of Appeals of Virginia are heard. There is only one intermediate appeals court in the state, and 17 judges hear appeals from the Circuit Courts.

At the county level, the trial courts with broad jurisdiction are the Circuit Courts. Each city and county in Virginia has a circuit court. Henrico County has one circuit court, the 14th Judicial Circuit, also known as the Henrico Circuit Court. The Circuit Court hears civil cases over $25,000 and felony crimes. There is a General District Court for Henrico County, which hears minor civil trials, misdemeanors, and traffic violations. Henrico County also has a Juvenile/Domestic Relations Court, which hears nearly all juvenile and family law issues in the county.

Types of Courts in Henrico County, Virginia

Circuit Court

The 14th Judicial Circuit Court is the major trial court in Henrico County, hearing large civil cases exceeding $25,000 and felonies. The 14th Circuit Court serves only Henrico County. The Circuit Court has three court divisions in Henrico County: the Civil Division, the Criminal Division, and the Equity Division.

Criminal Division

The Criminal Division of the Circuit Court hears felony crimes. Henrico County has a Magistrate's Office for preliminary criminal proceedings. Magistrates hear information regarding arrest and search warrants, subpoenas, and bail.

Jurisdiction:

  • Class 1 Felonies, such as murder
  • Class 2 Felonies, such as acts of terrorism or malicious wounding
  • Class 3 Felonies, such as burglary
  • Class 4 Felonies, such as arson
  • Class 5 Felonies, such as manslaughter
  • Class 6 Felonies, such as domestic violence

Primary Location: L.A. Harris, Jr. Courts Building, Henrico

Civil Division

The Civil Division of the Henrico County Circuit Court is responsible for all civil cases in the county exceeding $25,000. The Civil Division cases consist of lawsuits and some family or domestic cases. All probate filings, including wills, trusts, estates, and guardianships, are handled by the Circuit Court Clerk, unless they are contested.

Jurisdiction:

  • All civil lawsuits over $25,000, including personal injury, product liability, and contract disputes
  • Concealed weapons permits
  • Contested probate cases
  • Foreclosures
  • Guardianship (contested) cases
  • Name changes

Primary Location: L.A. Harris, Jr. Courts Building, Henrico

Equity Division

The Equity Division of the Henrico Circuit Court primarily handles divorces, annulments, separations, and the legal division of marital assets in the county. Although child custody and child support are often involved in divorce proceedings, these matters are heard in a different court in Virginia, the District Courts. In addition, court cases involving equity might include division of a business, trust and estate equity suits, and enforcement of private property rights.

Jurisdiction:

  • Divorce proceedings
  • Separations and annulments
  • Division of assets, both between partners in a business and marriage partners
  • Partitions of land or businesses

Primary Location: L.A. Harris, Jr. Courts Building, Henrico

District Court

The Henrico County General District Court hears minor criminal cases as well as civil cases under $25,000. Like the Circuit Court, the District Court is also located at the Courts Building in Henrico. District Courts in Virginia do not hold jury trials; a judge hears all cases.

Jurisdiction:

  • Civil lawsuits under $25,000
  • Evictions and landlord-tenant disputes
  • Misdemeanors, such as drug possession
  • Mental health commitments
  • Preliminary hearings to decide whether a felony case goes to Circuit Court
  • Traffic cases, such as speeding or reckless driving

Primary Location: L.A. Harris, Jr. Courts Building, Henrico

Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

The Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court's primary jurisdiction is centered on the care of juveniles. All court cases in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court are heard by a judge rather than a jury, like in the other District Court.

Jurisdiction:

  • Child abuse or neglect (juvenile dependency)
  • Child custody and child support
  • Domestic violence cases
  • Foster care cases
  • Guardianships
  • Hearings to determine if a crime committed by a juvenile can be moved to Circuit Court
  • Juveniles who commit crimes (juvenile delinquency)

Primary Location: L.A. Harris, Jr. Courts Building, Henrico

How to File a Case in Henrico County

How to File a Case in Henrico County

To file a civil case correctly in Henrico County, one must pay attention to detail to avoid dismissal or delay due to incorrect paperwork or filing in the wrong court. Residents of Henrico County do not have to file criminal cases, as the Magistrate's Office handles them. By filing correctly, residents can save time, money, and stress.

Step 1: Choose the Correct Court

Although some people think the Virginia court system is convoluted, there are really only three courts where residents will file civil paperwork. Civil cases seeking $25,000 or more in damages will be filed in Circuit Court. Civil cases asking for less than $25,000 in damages will be filed in District Court. Juvenile cases will be filed in Juvenile/Domestic District Court. People unsure where to file should check with the District Clerk or the Circuit Clerk for assistance.

Step 2: Complete Required Forms

Virginia makes filing out court forms fairly simple. No matter which court someone is filing in, all required court forms are available on the Virginia Courts website. Be sure that all of the necessary forms have been completed. People who are unsure whether they have completed the court forms should check with the District Clerk or the Circuit Clerk for help.

Step 3: File the Case

How a case is filed depends on which court Henrico County residents are filing in. Both attorneys and residents have options to file online or in person. Circuit Court filers can file online using the Virginia Judiciary E-filing System (VJEFS), or they can file with the Circuit Court Clerk. District Court filers cannot file online in Henrico County. They have the option to file with the District Court Clerk in person or by mail.

Step 4: Pay Filing Fees

Once the court paperwork has been filed, residents must pay the filing fees. If they file online via the JEFS system, they will pay with a credit or debit card. Residents who are filing in person with either the Circuit Clerk or the District Clerk can pay with cash, checks, money orders, cards, and cashier's checks. If someone cannot pay the filing fees, they may request a fee waiver online or in person (Form CC-1414).

Step 5: Serve the Other Party

Virginia law requires that all parties in a lawsuit be notified of the suit so they can defend it in a timely manner. There are several ways people can serve defendants with documents in Virginia. They can hire a sheriff's deputy or process server, an adult unrelated to the case, or post the notice on the door of a residence and include a copy via certified mail. After multiple attempts to locate the litigant have been unsuccessful, publication in a newspaper could serve as notice. A Service of Process form must be completed for the case to move forward.

Step 6: Monitor the Case

Once all the paperwork has been filed and the defendants have been notified, the litigant who filed the civil lawsuit must monitor the case for changes to the court calendar, hearings, or additional forms requested by the clerk. Henrico County residents can monitor their case on the Virginia Courts website or by contacting the District or Circuit Court Clerks in person, by phone, or by mail.

Henrico County Courthouse Directory

L.A. Harris, Jr. Courts Building (Circuit, District and Juvenile/Domestic District Courts)

Henrico

Address: 4309 East Parham Road, Henrico, VA 23228

Phone: (804) 501-4723

Website: Henrico County Courts

Legal and Self-Help Resources

While the court system aims to make interacting with the courts as easy as possible, some people need additional resources to navigate it. Here are some resources to help Henrico County residents seek justice in the court system.

  • The Virginia Courts website has an extensive Self-Help section for residents in the state. The Virginia Access to Justice System, run by the Virginia Judicial System, offers free how-to guides for filing forms, answers to questions from volunteer lawyers, and information on Virginia's legal system and how to access free legal representation.
  • Virginia Law Help is another website that provides information on the most common cases in the Virginia Court system. It also offers a directory of pro bono and sliding-scale attorneys in each area of the state, along with their legal specialties.
  • The Virginia State Bar offers legal help to victims of domestic violence, including free representation for divorce, child custody, benefits, child support, orders of protection, and other resources.

FAQs

How do I search for a criminal case in Henrico County?

Searching for a criminal case in Henrico County isn't difficult, whether a resident searches online or in person. If one chooses to look online, one can use the Virginia Courts search tool to find a criminal case. People can also visit the Circuit Clerk or the District Clerk by phone, in person, or via the mail for criminal court records. People can also use a third-party court aggregator like CourtCaseFinder.

Are court records public in Henrico County?

In general, court records in Virginia are public, but there are a few exceptions to the law. Cases involving children or juveniles, such as juvenile delinquency cases, child custody, child support, foster care, or other domestic relations cases, are sealed. Judges can also order any court record sealed.

Where can I find eviction records?

Eviction records, due to the amount of money being asked for, are normally found in the District Courts in Virginia. People can find eviction records online using the Virginia Courts search tool. They can also ask the District Court Clerk for copies of the records in person, by mail, or by phone. There may be a small charge for copies of eviction records.

Other Counties in Virginia

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