Amherst County Court Records

Amherst County court records refer to legal trials in Amherst County, VA. These documents provide comprehensive details of case prosecutions within Amherst County courts. Court records in Amherst County include Amherst County arrest records and other documents on criminal trials, in addition to case files on civil prosecutions within the Amherst County Circuit, General District, and Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Courts.

Amherst County court records contain information about case filings, hearing dates, names of litigants, evidence, motions, orders, and judgments. The Amherst County Clerk of the Circuit Court holds these documents publicly accessible under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Per their functions, Amherst County court records play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the county's legal system by ensuring fairness, equity, and transparency of judicial proceedings.

Are Court Records Public in Amherst County?

Yes, Amherst County court records are public. The Virginia Freedom of Information Act grants interested individuals the right to access Amherst County court records, except if there are legal or judicial restrictions. For instance, Amherst County court records relating to adoptions, guardianship, victim or witness information, undercover law enforcement agents, ongoing law enforcement investigations, and juvenile cases are exempt from public access. In addition, the public cannot access Amherst County court records due to judicial restrictions on public access.

Amherst County Court Records Search

Generally, individuals seeking access to Amherst County court records can access them online through official and third-party websites. Online search tools allow access to non-exempted documents and information relating to civil and criminal trials within Amherst County courts. Information seekers can also access Amherst County court records through the Amherst County Clerk of Circuit Court Office.

Amherst County Courts

The Amherst County court system comprises the Amherst County Circuit, General District, and Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Courts. These judicial institutions handle various civil and criminal cases within the county. Interested individuals can contact Amherst County courts at the following addresses:

Amherst County Circuit Court - 24th Judicial Circuit
113 Taylor Street,
P.O. Box 462,
Amherst,
VA 24521
Phone: (434) 946-9321
Fax: (434) 946-9323

Amherst County General District Court
113 Taylor Street,
P.O. Box 513,
Amherst,
VA 24521
Phone: (434) 946-9351
Fax: (434) 946-9359

Amherst County Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court
113 Taylor Street,
P.O. Box 178,
Amherst,
VA 24521
Phone: (434) 946-9355
Fax: (434) 946-9374

Amherst County Criminal and Civil Records

For information about civil and criminal trials within the Amherst County Circuit Court:

• Log in to the Virginia Courts Circuit Court Case Information Portal
• Select Amherst Circuit Court from the Court menu and click Begin to access the search tools.

Alternatively, search for Amherst County General District Court civil and criminal case records through the Virginia General District Court Online Case Information System.
For in-person and mail-in requests for Amherst County civil or criminal case records, mail or visit the Amherst County Clerk of Circuit Court Office at:

The Circuit Court Building,
113 Taylor Street,
P.O. Box 462,
Amherst,
VA 24521
Phone: (434) 946-9321
Fax: (434) 946-9323
Email: dmozingo@vacourts.gov.

Also, for Amherst County arrest records, call, fax, mail, or visit the Amherst County Sheriff's Office at:

115 Taylor Street,
P.O. Box 410,
Amherst,
VA 24521
Phone: (434) 946-9381
Fax: (434) 946-9380

Amherst County Marriage Records

Amherst County marriage records are public. However, accessibility depends on the requester's relationship to the owners of the records and time frames. Amherst County marriage records that are less than 25 years old are accessible to their owners, legal representatives, and immediate families; only Amherst County marriage records that are 25 years or older are publicly accessible.

Certified copies of Amherst County marriage records are available for $2.00 per copy through the Clerk of the Circuit Court Office at:

113 Taylor St,
P.O. Box 462,
Amherst,
VA 24521
Phone: (434) 946-9321
Fax: (434) 946-9323
Email: dmozingo@vacourts.gov.

Alternatively, submit an online order for copies of Amherst County marriage certificates through the Virginia Department of Health's Marriage & Divorce Records Request Portal.

Amherst County Divorce Records

Divorce records older than 25 years are publicly accessible in Amherst County. However, for privacy and security reasons, the Amherst County Clerk of Circuit Court will redact information relating to child custody arrangements, protective orders, settlement agreements, child support, and alimony from publicly accessible divorce records.

Amherst County divorce records are accessible through the Amherst County Clerk of Circuit Court Office. Alternatively, request copies of Amherst County divorce certificates from 1918 to the present through the Virginia Department of Health's Marriage & Divorce Records Request Portal, or visit or mail the Office of Vital Records at:

2001 Maywill Street, Suite 101,
Richmond,
VA 23230

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1000,
Richmond,
VA 23218-1000.

Note: Obtaining Amherst County divorce records through the Virginia Department of Health costs $12.00 per copy. Requesters must show a legal interest in the divorce to obtain comprehensive details of Amherst County divorce certificates under 25. These documents are only accessible to the subjects of the records, their immediate family members, and legal representatives.

Amherst Birth Records

Similar to other Amherst County Vital Records, there are time restrictions on public access to Amherst County birth records. These documents are confidential and are only publicly accessible after 100 years. Otherwise, only the individuals named on the birth certificates, their immediate families, and legal representatives can access Amherst County birth records below 100 years old.

Amherst County birth records are proof of identity and citizenship; access to them depends on the requester's relationship with the owner and the date of birth. Individuals seeking copies of Amherst County birth certificates should fill out the Virginia Department of Health's online Application for Birth Certificate Form. Requesters can also visit or mail the Virginia Department of Health – Office of Vital Records at:

2001 Maywill Street, Suite 101,
Richmond,
VA 23230

Mailing address:
P.O. Box 1000,
Richmond,
VA 23218-1000.

For index information about Amherst County birth records older than 100 years, fill out the Virginia Department of Health's online Ancestry Form. Microfilms and copies of Amherst County Vital Records may also be accessible through the Archive Division, Library of Virginia at:

800 East Broad Street,
Richmond,
Virginia 23219-1905,
Phone: (804) 692-3500

Amherst Death Records

Amherst County death records are the official documentation of deaths within Amherst County. Per Virginia laws, Amherst County death records become public 25 years after the subject's death. Access to Amherst County death records below 25 years is restricted to immediate family members of the deceased and requires valid proof of identity.

Individuals seeking access to Amherst County death records should log into the Virginia Department of Health's Death Certificate Online Application Form, visit, or mail the Virginia Department of Health Office at:

2001 Maywill Street, Suite 101,
Richmond,
VA 23230

Mailing address:
P.O. Box 1000,
Richmond,
VA 23218-1000.

Amherst County death certificates are also accessible through the Amherst County Health Department at:

224 2nd Street,
Amherst,
VA 24521
Phone: (434) 946-9408
Fax: (434) 946-9409
Email: askcvhd@vdh.virginia.gov.

Record seekers can also visit, call, mail, or email the Amherst County Museum & Historical Society for death records that are older than 25 years at:

154 South Main Street,
P.O. Box 741,
Amherst,
VA 24521
Phone: (434) 946-9068
Email: staff@amherstcountymuseum.org

Amherst County Probate Court Records

Amherst County probate court records refer to documents relating to estate administration. These include, but are not limited to, case files relating to:

• Will contest and dispute
• Guardianship
• Trust Administration
• Conservatorship
• Name change
• Adoption
• Mental health commitments
• Lawsuits involving minors.

In Amherst County, the Clerk of the Circuit Court is the custodian of case files relating to Probate adjudications. Individuals seeking access to Amherst County probate court records should do any of the following:

• Log in to the Virginia Judicial Case Information Portal and use the search tools to look for Amherst County probate case records

• Contact the Amherst County Clerk of Circuit Court Office at:

  113 Taylor St,
  P.O. Box 462,
  Amherst,
  VA 24521
  Phone: (434) 946-9321
  Fax: (434) 946-9323
  Email: dmozingo@vacourts.gov

Note: Access to Amherst County probate court records through the Amherst County Clerk of Circuit Court Office may require valid government-issued identification and may involve fee payments.

Amherst County Property Records

Amherst County property records are documents relating to the county's real estate. Property records typically include, but are not limited to:

• Deeds
• Plat maps and surveys
• Tax assessment records
• Property titles
• Liens and encumbrances
• Easements agreements
• Rights-of-Way
• Zoning information
• Land use permits
• Building Permits
• Inspection Reports
• Property transfer documents.

Depending on the type of property records, information seekers should:

• Log into the Amherst County GIS Property Lookup Portal and use the search tools to access detailed information about Amherst County real estate
• Access property tax information through the Amherst County Treasurer's Office Tax Information Portal
• Subscribe to the VACourts Secure Remote Access (SRA) and access land records through the Commonwealth of Virginia Electronic Records System (COVERS)

• Call or visit the Amherst County Commissioner of the Revenue – Real Estate & Mapping Division at:

  100 Goodwin Street,
  Amherst,
  VA 24521
  Phone: (434) 946-9310

• Contact the Amherst County Clerk of Circuit Court Office for official property records (this includes property deeds and records of land transactions).

Amherst County Court Records Online

Third-party websites like Virginiacourtrecords.us may offer alternative access to Amherst County court records. These non-official platforms provide access to documents and information from various courts across Virginia counties. Requesters can input case details into third-party search portals for fast and easy access to case records. However, despite their advantages, requesters should note the possibility of incomplete or outdated documents from non-government sources.