Dinwiddie County Court Records

Dinwiddie County court records include all documentary materials filed, collated, or maintained because of a legal proceeding held within the county's borders. These records include transcripts, orders, judgments, subpoenas, summonses, calendars, dockets, and other items maintained by a clerk of the court's office. Like other Virginia court records, the documents are useful for academic research, beginning appellate proceedings, and enforcing court judgments.

Are Court Records Public in Dinwiddie County?

Yes. Court records in Dinwiddie County are available for public inspection or copying under Titles 16.1 and 17.1 of the Virginia Code, subject to exceptions that may be imposed by law, court rule, privilege, or court order. Records exempted from public access in Dinwiddie include:

• Juvenile records
• Adoption records
• Medical records
• Sealed/expunged records

Dinwiddie County Court Records Search

Dinwiddie court records are maintained by the court clerk's offices. As a result, anyone who wishes to look up cases filed in Dinwiddie County can visit or write to a clerk's office. Alternatively, individuals can access case search systems on the Virginia Judiciary's website or search third-party aggregator websites. Court record searches typically require the provision of a name, case number, or filing date range to locate records.

Dinwiddie County Courts

Three distinct courts adjudicate legal disputes, claims, or actions in Dinwiddie County—the circuit, general district, and juvenile & domestic relations courts. Below are the court addresses:

Dinwiddie County Circuit Court
14008 Boydton Plank Road
P.O. Box 63
Dinwiddie, VA 23841
Phone: (804) 469-4540

Dinwiddie General District Court
14008 Boydton Plank Road
Dinwiddie, VA 23841
Phone: (804) 469-4533

Dinwiddie Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court
14008 Boydton Plank Road
Dinwiddie County Courthouse
Dinwiddie, VA 23841
Phone: (804) 469-4538

Dinwiddie County Criminal and Civil Records

The courts in Dinwiddie County maintain civil and criminal records connected to cases they hear. These courts share the same physical address in Dinwiddie and can be visited to obtain record access. The courts' civil cases pertain to non-criminal proceedings filed by disputing or aggrieved parties, while criminal cases are initiated by the government because of penal code violations.

Members of the public can also access Dinwiddie court records on the Virginia Judicial System's Online Case Status and Information website. Here, they can use a case number or party name to look up cases and download available documents.

Admittedly, Dinwiddie County criminal records do not include only the criminal court records accessible through the court system; other criminal information is still available through different criminal agencies. For example, Dinwiddie County arrest records can be obtained from local law enforcement and the Virginia State Police (VSP). Moreover, correctional facilities can be queried for inmate information, and so on.

Dinwiddie County Marriage Records

Copies of Dinwiddie County marriage records are available through the local circuit court clerk's office. To request a certified copy of a Dinwiddie County marriage certificate, individuals can fill out a Request Copy of Marriage License form and submit it in person or via mail. Each copy costs $3. However, this form can only be completed by the parties to the marriage.

Under Virginia law, marriage records are only public 25 years after the event. Members of the public who do not qualify to request a marriage license copy can access the circuit clerk's marriage indexes to verify if a marriage occurred in Dinwiddie.

Dinwiddie County marriage records can also be requested from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), Vital Records Office, for $12.

Dinwiddie County Divorce Records

Dinwiddie County divorce records can be obtained from the circuit clerk's office in person or via mail. Being court records, these documents/data are available to any interested person, but within the limits established by law. For this reason, some records may be accessible to anyone, and others may require a court order or proof that someone is a party to the case before access can be furnished. Divorce case information can also be found on the Virginia Judicial System's Circuit Court Case Information System.

Dinwiddie County Birth Records

To obtain Dinwiddie County birth records, which are useful as primary identification documents, an individual can submit a vital records application to the Virginia Department of Health, Vital Records Office.

Access to the VDH's birth records (1912 to the present) can be sought in person, by mail, online, or through the state-approved vendor. Application guidelines are available on the agency's Office of Vital Records website. However, Virginia law restricts access to certified birth records for 100 years after a birth event. During that time, only the registrants, their immediate family members (with valid ID), and their legal guardians (with proof of custody) can obtain these records. Each Dinwiddie County birth certificate costs $12 to order, but additional charges may apply depending on the request method.

However, anyone can access birth indexes from 1865-1896 for free through the Dinwiddie Clerk of the Circuit Court’s Office.

Dinwiddie County Death Records

The Dinwiddie County Circuit Clerk's Office maintains death indexes from 1865 to 1896, which are accessible to anyone. Individuals who require certified copies of death records (certificates) can request the documents from the Virginia Department of Health's Vital Records Office for $12 per copy.

However, as death records are considered part of the Dinwiddie County vital records, they remain confidential for 25 years after a person's passing. Only eligible parties, mainly immediate family members, may request such confidential records.

Dinwiddie County Probate Court Records

The Dinwiddie County Circuit Court handles all probate matters in Dinwiddie County—including wills, estates, and trusts—and the Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains the related records. Probate records are available through the Virginia Judiciary's Circuit Court Case Information portal by entering a party name or case number where indicated. At the same time, parties can visit the local courthouse to request inspection or duplication. However, fees may apply to obtain record copies.

Dinwiddie County Property Records

Property records in Dinwiddie County contain important information about lands and buildings. These records include deeds and conveyances, tax histories, mortgages, liens and releases, and more.

Web access to Dinwiddie County property records (1833-present) is provided via the Virginia Online Secure Remote Access System (SRA). However, individuals can stop by the local circuit clerk's office to review or copy records.

Admittedly, the online system is set up for paying subscribers, but the Dinwiddie County Circuit Clerk provides free index access to interested persons. Moreover, individuals who examine property records at the clerk's office may not be liable for any payment, as county offices do not typically charge for inspection requests. Other property records (including pre-1833) can be accessed for free on the clerk's Archives and Historical Documents website.

Generally, when looking up Dinwiddie County property records through the circuit clerk's office, one will need to possess at least one of the following details to facilitate record retrieval:

• Instrument number
• Book and page
• Recording date
• Grantor/grantee name

Dinwiddie County Court Records Online

Dinwiddie court records are available online on the Virginia Judicial Branch's Online Case Status and Information systems and on third-party websites like Virginiacourtrecords.us. When seeking access through third-party sites, a person will typically need a name or case number to get results. However, because information accuracy may be limited on these sites, users are advised to fact-check with the local courts and other official custodians.