Lee County Court Records

Lee County court records preserve a complete history of every case handled in the county's courts. Each file identifies the parties, contains the initial complaint, logs all motions and orders, and concludes with the final judgment. This thorough recordkeeping safeguards due process, enables public oversight, and upholds confidence in the judiciary.

Are Court Records Public in Lee County?

Virginia's open-records statute, Va. Code § 17.1-208, makes most Lee County court filings presumptively available for public inspection and copying. Access, however, is curtailed where other provisions impose confidentiality. Juvenile and certain domestic relations matters are sealed under Va. Code § 16.1-305, while any record formally sealed or expunged by court order is likewise off-limits. Before releasing documents, the Clerk must redact legally protected personal data—such as Social Security numbers and medical information—to safeguard privacy.

Lee County Court Records Search

The options for a Lee County court records search vary with the case type and the requestor's preferences.

Records may be accessed in person at the appropriate Clerk's office. The options include the Circuit Court Clerk, the General District Court Clerk, and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Clerk (JDR). Users may also search records online through the Virginia Judicial System's Case Status and Information portal for many civil and criminal cases, especially in the Circuit, General District, and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts.

This statewide system includes adult criminal cases in JDR courts. However, it does not provide full public access—confidential records (like social, medical, or psychological reports) remain restricted and offline, accessible only to those authorized by law.

Lee County Courts

Lee County has three courts, each with a separate clerk's office. The address and contact information of the courts are as follows:

Lee County Circuit Court (30th Judicial Circuit)
33640 Main Street
Jonesville, VA 24263
Phone: (276) 346-7763

Lee County General District Court (30th Judicial District)
33640 Main Street
Suite 209
Jonesville, VA 24263
Phone: (276) 346-7729

Lee County Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court
33640 Main Street
Jonesville, VA 24263
Phone: (276) 346-7735

Lee County Criminal and Civil Records

Lee County judicial filings fall into two broad classes—criminal and civil—and the official custodian for both is the Clerk of the court in which the case is heard.

Criminal records originate in two trial courts:

• General District Court (GDC): This handles adult misdemeanors, traffic violations, preliminary felony hearings, and some infractions. Case files typically contain the criminal complaint, arrest warrant or summons, docket entries, motions, bond orders, and the judge's final disposition. Basic docket information for all GDC locations is searchable on the statewide General District Court Case Information portal, where searches may be run by defendant name, case number, or hearing date.
• Circuit Court. Indictable felonies and misdemeanor appeals are tried in Circuit Court. The Clerk maintains a separate criminal index that captures the indictment, all pre-trial motions, jury instructions, sentencing orders, and post-conviction filings. Selected circuit courts—including Lee County—publish docket snapshots through the Circuit Court Case Information system; searches are run by locality, not statewide.

Certified copies of either court's criminal records may be ordered in person or by mail from:

Clerk of the Circuit Court
P.O. Box 326,
Jonesville, VA 24263

Civil records document non-criminal disputes and are likewise split between courts. The General District Court handles claims up to $25,000, unlawful detainer (eviction) actions, and small claims matters. Its files include the civil warrant or complaint, proofs of service, motions, continuance orders, and judgments, all appearing in the same online GDC portal noted above. On the other hand, the circuit court hears higher-value lawsuits, contested probate and estate matters, real-property disputes, divorces, name changes, and equity actions. In addition to the case-management system for active dockets, the Clerk maintains permanent bound volumes and microfilm for older chancery and law actions, deeds, wills, and marriage licenses. Researchers may inspect these indexes on public terminals in the Clerk's office or retrieve scanned land and probate records online after creating a Secure Remote Access subscription.

Lee County Marriage Records

Lee County marriage records are official documents kept by the Lee County Circuit Court Clerk's Office that show when and where two people were legally joined in marriage. After a couple applies for and receives a marriage license, the officiant returns the completed license within 5 days. At this point, it becomes part of the permanent county marriage records. Anyone who needs a certified copy of a Lee County marriage certificate can acquire it by visiting the Clerk's office or requesting one by mail. They must provide the Clerk's office with a valid identification and pay a fee ($3). The certificate includes the couple's names, the date and location of the marriage, and the officiant's name, and it may be used for legal purposes like changing a last name or updating insurance records.

Lee County Divorce Records

The Circuit Court Clerk's Office maintains all Lee County divorce records, including the papers filed during the case, any agreements made, and the final court decision. To get a certified copy of a Lee County divorce record, inquirers will be required to provide the names of both people who got divorced (and the case number, if they have it), show a valid photo ID, and pay a fee. This may be done in person at the Clerk's office or by mailing the request to the address below:

P.O. Box 326
33640 Main Street
Jonesville, VA

While the Virginia Judicial System's Case Status and Information portal allows users view basic case details online, complete certified copies of divorce decrees must be requested directly from the Clerk and typically cannot be downloaded from the web. Certified divorce records are often required for name changes, remarriage licenses, or insurance and pension updates.

Lee County Birth Records

Lee County birth records, part of Lee County vital records, are official documents showing a person's name, birth date and place, and parents, and are maintained by the Lee County Health Department. Per Virginia Code § 32.1-271, these records remain confidential for 100 years after the date of birth, meaning they are not available to the public until then. Only the named individual, immediate family, legal guardians, or authorized agents can request a certified Lee County birth certificate—by providing the required details, valid ID, proof of relationship or authority, and a $12 fee—and while these certificates are needed for official identification, records older than 100 years become public for genealogy research.

Lee County Death Records

The Lee County Health Department manages and disseminates the county's death records. These records show the person's name, where and when they died, what caused their death, and which doctor certified it.

By state law (Virginia Code § 32.1-271(D)), death records stay private for 25 years after the date of death. Only close family members, legal representatives, or someone with a court order can get a certified copy during this time. Once 25 years have passed, the records become public. Then anyone can use them for school projects, family history research, or other studies.

People often need a certified death certificate to settle an estate, claim life insurance, or update government records such as Social Security or pension benefits.

Lee County Probate Court Records

Lee County's Circuit Court handles all probate records, which show what happens to someone's property after they pass away. These files can include wills, lists of belongings, who will manage the estate, and official orders about how assets are handled. Most probate records are open to the public unless the court seals them. To get copies, one can visit the Circuit Court Clerk's Office or send a written request that includes the person's name, case details, and the required fees. Requesters may also be able to find some older records online through the Virginia court system.

Lee County Property Records

Lee County's property records are public documents that detail who owns each parcel of land, describe its features and tax valuation, and track its sale history, mortgages, liens, and boundary maps (plats). The Land Records Division of the Lee County Circuit Court Clerk's Office keeps these records, which record seekers may look up at the county courthouse.

Lee County Court Records Online

Lee County court records may be found on third-party websites like Virginiacourtrecords.us, which allow searches by name, case number, or date. These platforms are convenient but may not show the most current or complete records, especially for sealed or confidential cases.