Gloucester County Court Records

Any criminal, civil, or traffic court proceeding held in Gloucester County has a corresponding record of its events, which is preserved by court clerk offices within the local judicial system (Va. Code Ann. § 17.1-292(B)). These Gloucester County court records, sometimes called case records, promote transparency and accountability within the legal system. They also ensure that judicial precedents are preserved, individual due process rights are secured, and anyone can discover the outcome of a legal proceeding.

According to Va. Code Ann. § 16.1-69.53, court case records include bills of complaints, motions, answers, warrants, summonses, writs, judgments, interrogatories, documentary exhibits, orders, indices, transcripts, and other case-related materials.

Are Court Records Public in Gloucester County?

Yes, court records are accessible to the public in Gloucester County. Members of the public possess this right of access per Titles 16.1 and 17.1 of the Code of Virginia, which govern access to all court records created and maintained in the State of Virginia.

Under these statutes, anyone can request to see or copy a court record, provided the record is not exempt by court order or law. Examples of confidential court records include:

• Juvenile case files
• Social, medical, and psychiatric/psychological records
• Records subject to attorney-client privilege
• Many family court case records
• Expunged records

Gloucester County Court Records Search

Generally, the clerk's office serving the court that heard a legal matter in Gloucester County can be contacted for case records. Parties can also utilize case search databases provided by the Virginia Judicial Branch or public record search systems offered by private businesses to search for Gloucester court records.

Gloucester County Courts

Gloucester County has two main courts responsible for adjudicating legal disputes or actions that arise locally: the Circuit and District Courts. The Circuit Court is the region's sole trial court of general jurisdiction. It has extensive authority over civil matters, felony criminal cases, and appeals from administrative agencies and the District Courts. Meanwhile, the District Court, which comprises the General District and Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Courts, hears specific civil and criminal case types. More about the local courts' jurisdictions is available in the Virginia Courts in Brief pamphlet.

Below are the street addresses and contact numbers of the courts situated in Gloucester County, Virginia:

Gloucester County Circuit Court
7400 Justice Drive
Suite 327
Gloucester, VA 23061
Phone: (804) 693-2502
Fax: (804) 693-2186

Gloucester County General District Court
7400 Justice Drive
Room 102
Gloucester, VA 23061
Phone: (804) 693-4860
Fax: (804) 693-6669

Gloucester County Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court
7400 Justice Drive
Room 204
Gloucester, VA 23061
Phone: (804) 693-4850
Fax: (804) 693-7904

Gloucester County Criminal and Civil Records

Inquirers may find Gloucester County civil records by accessing the Virginia Judiciary's Case Status and Information databases, specifically those pertaining to cases heard or tried in the Circuit and District Courts. These free-to-use online systems are generally searchable by litigant name, case (docket) number, or hearing date. However, confidential records cannot be retrieved through them.

Those qualified to obtain a confidential court record (e.g., case parties and their attorneys) or persons looking for an electronically inaccessible record can contact or visit the respective court clerk's office. Notably, the clerk's office may collect a per-page or per-document fee to obtain paper copies of a court record.

Those seeking Gloucester County criminal records can also utilize the above methods, provided they only wish to retrieve criminal case records. Anyone looking for a criminal history record may contact the Virginia State Police (VSP), the state's central repository for such information. Details about obtaining Gloucester criminal records (which include the Gloucester arrest records) from the VSP are available on the Virginia Criminal History Record Check website.

Gloucester County Marriage Records

The Gloucester County Circuit Court Clerk's Office issues marriage licenses to intending couples and maintains the associated marriage records in the region. During business hours, inquirers stop by or contact the clerk's office to obtain a Gloucester County marriage certificate.

Ordinarily, the Clerk's Office issues a certified copy of the marriage license to each newly wedded couple at no cost, but each subsequent copy costs $2.50. Other members of the public can also request Gloucester County marriage records from the Circuit Clerk for the same fee per Va. Code Ann. § 32.1-267. In addition to the records fee, the requester will need to provide the spouses' complete names, date of marriage, place of marriage, and a self-addressed stamped envelope (if requesting via mail).

Gloucester County Divorce Records

The Circuit Court in Gloucester County handles all dissolution of marriage (i.e., divorce) cases brought to the local judicial system. Therefore, to see or copy Gloucester County divorce records, an individual can visit the Circuit Court Clerk's Office at 7400 Justice Drive, Suite 327, Gloucester, VA 23061.

To facilitate the location and retrieval of records at the Clerk's Office, the requester will usually need to provide specific information about the case, such as a party's name or case number. While it may be possible to inspect divorce case records at the clerk's public records room, the inquirer may need to pay to obtain physical copies.

Gloucester County Birth Records

Birth records are essential identification documents that can help prove someone's age, parentage, citizenship, and birthplace. These records are considered part of the Gloucester County vital records and are releasable under Va. Code Ann § 32.1-271 to eligible parties.

Under Virginia's legislature, birth records are sealed for 100 years after the date of birth. Before that timeframe lapses, only the registrant and their immediate family members (spouse, mother, father, child, sister, brother, grandparents) can obtain the records with valid identification. A legal guardian can also be granted access with proof of custody.

Requests for Gloucester County birth records are made to the Virginia Division of Vital Records (VDH), otherwise known as the State Registrar. Each Gloucester County birth certificate costs $12.

Gloucester County Death Records

Death records are frequently used to settle estates, close financial accounts, and claim pension benefits. They are also helpful for determining mortality rates, causes, trends, and other vital statistics.

The Virginia Division of Vital Records (VDH) disseminates certified copies of Gloucester County death records for $12. However, only immediate family members or next of kin are allowed to order death records less than 25 years from the date of death (Va. Code Ann § 32.1-271). Requests can be made via the VDH's Online Vital Records Application, through the agency's third-party vendor, in person at the local health department, or via mail to the address below (seerequest forms).

VDH, Office of Vital Records
P.O. Box 1000
Richmond, Virginia 23218-1000

Gloucester County Probate Court Records

The Circuit Court in Gloucester County handles all local probate proceedings, including the probate of wills, administration of estates, and guardianships/conservatorships. The Gloucester Circuit Court Clerk is the custodian of probate court records. Consequently, this office can be reached to inspect or duplicate such records. A fee may apply to retrieve copies of documents.

Additionally, individuals can access the Circuit Court Case Information System on the Virginia Judiciary's website for available probate case records.

Gloucester County Property Records

Property records, sometimes called land records, are official documents that carry information about real estate, including ownership, assessments, sales transactions, and taxation. These records include deeds, easements, surveys, tax liens, mechanic's liens, powers of attorney, assignments, and parcel maps.

Inquirers may retrieve property records in Gloucester County through the the Gloucester County Circuit Clerk's Office. The clerk has a public records room that interested parties can visit during business hours to look up property records since 1859. Copies cost 50 cents per page and $2 per document for certification.

Members of the public can also access the Gloucester Citizen Central Portal for local property information. Online property records are available at no charge.

Gloucester County Court Records Online

Several independent companies aggregate public records from government repositories and other sources and publish that information online for interested parties. These companies maintain web-based applications, such as Virginiacourtrecords.us, that offer users Gloucester County court records and other public data. Some Gloucester County public records that may be retrieved from third-party websites include jail, arrest, criminal, and property records.

A search on a third-party website typically requires an individual's first and last name to find related records. However, those who wish to obtain extensive information may be charged a fee.