Flag of the State of Virginia

The Guide to Virginia Courts


The Virginia trial court system consists of Circuit Courts, General District Courts, and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts.
 
Circuit Courts have general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases but typically only handle cases beyond the jurisdiction of other courts. General District Courts and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts have limited jurisdiction over certain types of cases.
 

Find court records by county Find court records by town or zip code Find court resources by category Find court records in other states
Please select a Virginia county below to view directory of all courts with links to court record resources for each court. Find Virginia court pages by Town or Zip Code. Select a court record or online resource category below to view all resources at both the statewide and county level. Go to the court records pages for another state.

 

 



 
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Virginia Circuit Courts

Circuit Courts have general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases but typically handle cases beyond the jurisdiction of other courts.

Criminal cases heard by Circuit Courts include felonies and lesser-included offenses.

Civil cases heard by Circuit Courts include general civil claims for more than $4500, exclusive of interest and attorney fees. Circuit Courts also handle some divorce cases and the probate of wills.

Virginia General District Courts

General District Courts have jurisdiction over certain types of civil and criminal cases.

Criminal cases heard by General District Courts include preliminary hearings, misdemeanors, ordinance violations and traffic infractions.

General District Courts have exclusive original jurisdiction over most general civil claims for less than $4500, exclusive of interest and attorney fees. General District Courts share jurisdiction with Circuit Courts over claims for more than $4500 but less than $15,000, exclusive of interest and attorney fees.

General District Courts also hear civil cases without financial limits on claims, including attachment, unlawful entry or detainer, Freedom of Information Act disputes and the partition of personal property.

Virginia Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts

Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts have jurisdiction over most domestic relations and juvenile cases, including some criminal cases.

Cases heard by Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts include child custody, child visitation child support, parentage, child abuse and neglect, adoption, termination of parental rights, certain juvenile offenses, mental health cases involving minors, judicial consent to medical procedures for a child, emancipation and orders of protection.

Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts may handle certain criminal offenses involving family members or harm to a child.

Virginia Drug Treatment Courts

Some courts may have Drug Treatment Court divisions for certain types of cases.

Where to find court cases in Virginia

The chart below gives general information on the types of cases heard in each type of court in Virginia.
 

Most Cases = Most or all cases.     Some Cases = Some cases.

Case Type Court Type
CivilCircuit CourtsGeneral District CourtsJuvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts
General Civil - Unlimited
Most or all General Civil - Unlimited cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
Some General Civil - Unlimited cases can be found in the General District Courts
 
General Civil - Limited
Some General Civil - Limited cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
Some General Civil - Limited cases can be found in the General District Courts
 
Small Claims 
Most or all Small Claims cases can be found in the General District Courts
 
Civil Equity
Most or all Civil Equity cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
Some Civil Equity cases can be found in the General District Courts
 
Complex Commercial
Most or all Complex Commercial cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
  
Foreclosures and Liens
Some Foreclosures and Liens cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
Some Foreclosures and Liens cases can be found in the General District Courts
 
Real Estate Title and Boundary
Most or all Real Estate Title and Boundary cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
Some Real Estate Title and Boundary cases can be found in the General District Courts
Some Real Estate Title and Boundary cases can be found in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts
Landlord / Tenant
Some Landlord / Tenant cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
Some Landlord / Tenant cases can be found in the General District Courts
 
Ordinance Violations 
Most or all Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the General District Courts
 
Protection, No Contact, and Restraining Orders
Some Protection, No Contact, and Restraining Orders cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Some Protection, No Contact, and Restraining Orders cases can be found in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts
Administrative Agency Appeals
Most or all Administrative Agency Appeals cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Some Administrative Agency Appeals cases can be found in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts
CriminalCircuit CourtsGeneral District CourtsJuvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts
Felony
Most or all Felony cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
  
Felony Preliminary Hearings
Some Felony Preliminary Hearings cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
Some Felony Preliminary Hearings cases can be found in the General District Courts
 
Misdemeanors
Some Misdemeanors cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
Most or all Misdemeanors cases can be found in the General District Courts
Some Misdemeanors cases can be found in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts
Ordinance Violations
Some Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
Most or all Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the General District Courts
 
Juvenile
Some Juvenile cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Most or all Juvenile cases can be found in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts
Traffic and Infractions 
Most or all Traffic and Infractions cases can be found in the General District Courts
 
Domestic RelationsCircuit CourtsGeneral District CourtsJuvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts
Divorce
Some Divorce cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Most or all Divorce cases can be found in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts
Child Custody and Visitation
Some Child Custody and Visitation cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Most or all Child Custody and Visitation cases can be found in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts
Child Support
Some Child Support cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Most or all Child Support cases can be found in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts
Paternity
Some Paternity cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Most or all Paternity cases can be found in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts
Domestic Violence Protection Order
Some Domestic Violence Protection Order cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Most or all Domestic Violence Protection Order cases can be found in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts
JuvenileCircuit CourtsGeneral District CourtsJuvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts
Adoptions
Some Adoptions cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Some Adoptions cases can be found in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts
Juvenile Delinquency  
Most or all Juvenile Delinquency cases can be found in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts
Child Abuse and Neglect  
Most or all Child Abuse and Neglect cases can be found in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts
Termination of Parental Rights
Some Termination of Parental Rights cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Most or all Termination of Parental Rights cases can be found in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts
Children in Need of Supervision  
Most or all Children in Need of Supervision cases can be found in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts
Mental HealthCircuit CourtsGeneral District CourtsJuvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts
Involuntary Commitments 
Some Involuntary Commitments cases can be found in the General District Courts
Some Involuntary Commitments cases can be found in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts
Other Mental Health Cases
Some Other Mental Health Cases cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
Some Other Mental Health Cases cases can be found in the General District Courts
Some Other Mental Health Cases cases can be found in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts
ProbateCircuit CourtsGeneral District CourtsJuvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts
Wills & Estates
Most or all Wills & Estates cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
  
Name Changes
Some Name Changes cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Some Name Changes cases can be found in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts
Trusts
Most or all Trusts cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
  
Guardianships and Conservatorships
Some Guardianships and Conservatorships cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Most or all Guardianships and Conservatorships cases can be found in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts
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