Orange County Court Records

Orange County court records are documents prepared and filed by the court clerk in legal proceedings. Court records in this county typically comprise suits, claims, pleadings, motions, exhibits, orders, witness testimony, affidavits, warrants, docket entries, transcripts, names of the plaintiff/claimant or defendant/respondent, attorney, court location, trial dates, case type, and all relevant case information.

Court records are significant in legal research. They are used by attorneys, courts, researchers, law enforcement authorities, and general members of the public to conduct legal research and ensure that due process is followed and legal proceedings are conducted fairly. In Orange, court records serve as case law and set legal precedents that courts of lower jurisdictions are required to follow. Case laws guide future rulings and interpretations of a particular law and statute.

Are Court Records Public in Orange County?

Yes. The Virginia Freedom of Information Act states that all government documents, regardless of physical form or features, in the custody of a public body, its officers, or employees shall be readily accessible to all (§ 2.2-3700 - §2.2-3714, Code of Virginia). Simply put, all documents and papers created or owned by or in possession of an agency of the government in the transaction of public business are public records.

The following records are, however, not subject to mandatory disclosure and may be expressly restricted from public access or redacted by the official custodian:

• Sealed or expunged records
• Information connected to an ongoing investigation by the Attorney General
• Information on criminal/civil involuntary commitment
• Records pertaining to law enforcement investigations and methods
• Information divulged in confidence to law enforcement authorities
• Records pertaining to the identity of a victim
• Information that may compromise the safety or privacy of any person
• Personal identifying information, medical or finance records in non-criminal cases.
• Juvenile Records.

Orange County Court Records Search

Residents of Orange County, Virginia, may perform a court record search at any of the following locations or online resources:

• The court presiding over the case
• The Office of the court clerk
• Virginia Judicial System Case Information System
• Third-party, public record search websites

Orange County Courts

The Orange County court system comprises a Circuit Court, a General District Court, and a Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. Below is a directory of court addresses and contact information for Orange County courts.

Orange County Circuit Court - 16th Judicial Circuit
Orange County Courthouse
110 N Madison Road, Suite 300
P.O. Box 230
Orange, VA 22960
Phone: (540) 672-4030
Fax: (540) 672-2939

Orange County General District Court - 16th Judicial District
110 North Madison Road, Suite 100
P.O. Box 821
Orange, VA 22960
Phone: (540) 672-3150
Fax: (540) 672-9438

Orange County Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court
110 North Madison Road, Suite 100
P.O. Box 821
Orange, VA 22960
Phone: (540) 672-3150
Fax: (540) 672-9438

Orange County Criminal and Civil Records

In Orange County, civil court records are created to document all court proceedings for non-criminal disputes. The most common types of civil cases are intellectual property infringement, breach of contracts, labor law violations, torts (defamation, negligence, trespass, personal injury, property damage), tenancy agreements, class action suits, complaints against the city, probate, consumer protection, and family law matters.

The Orange County court clerk is the custodian of all court records, including civil, criminal, traffic, probate, and family law records. Therefore, interested persons can inspect, view, or request copies of civil or criminal court records at the county court clerk's Office or through Virginia's Judicial System Case Information System. Unless exempt by law or court order, Orange County criminal records and civil court case records are public information. Individuals can access Circuit Court Case Information, General District Court Case Information, and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court online by location, case name, case number, or hearing date.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office is responsible for keeping the peace and maintaining law and order. The County Sheriff's Office and municipal police department are the primary sources for obtaining arrest and criminal information regarding Orange County. Interested persons may contact or visit the Orange County Sheriff's Office for inquiries on how to obtain Orange County Criminal Records, inmate, and arrest information.

Orange County Sheriff's Office
11282 Government Center Drive
Orange, VA 22960.

Mailing Address:

11282 Government Center Drive
Orange, VA 22960
Phone: (540) 672-1200
Fax: (540) 672-7824

Orange County Marriage Records

For marriage licenses issued in Orange County, either of the parties can order a certified copy of their marriage license to be delivered by mail or picked up in person from the Orange County Circuit Court Clerk's Office.

Alternatively, one can purchase certified copies of vital records such as marriage, divorce, birth, and death records from the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records. The Orange County Marriage Certificate can be ordered online from the Office of Vital Records or delivered by mail.

To purchase an Orange County Marriage certificate, complete the VS6MD application form along with a $12 fee and a clear photocopy of a valid government-issued photo ID. Applicants must stand in legal relationships or be an immediate family member of the person named in the record (record owner, parents, adult child, adult sibling, current spouse, legal representative). Send the completed application form to the address below. Online applications for all vital records have a two-week processing time, while mail requests are typically processed in four weeks.

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

Orange County Divorce Records

Requests for Orange County Divorce records should be directed to the VDH Office of Vital Records. These records are not accessible to every member of the public. The requester must be an immediate family member, legal guardian, or legal representative of the person named in the record.

The processing time for mail applications is four weeks, while online orders are processed within two weeks. To order, either complete the online application form or download and fill out the physical application for certification of a divorce record form and mail it with the mandatory fees ($12) and accepted form of ID to the Office of Vital Records.

Orange County Birth Records

Orange County birth and death records are vital records maintained by the Virginia Department of Health. All birth certificates and deaths in Virginia are available for eligible applicants at $12 per record. Immediate family members, including parents, spouses, adult children and siblings, and grandparents, can apply for and receive a copy of Virginia birth certificates.

Individuals can purchase a copy of the Orange County Birth Record online. Alternatively, print and complete a copy of the application for certification of birth record form and mail it to the Office of Vital Records. For Swifter delivery, look up the nearest County Health Department and apply in person.

Orange County Health Department
450 North Madison Road
Orange, VA 22960
Phone: (540) 672-1291
Fax: (540) 672-3109

Orange County Death Records

Just like other vital records disseminated by the Virginia Department of Health, access to Orange County death records is limited to immediate family, and state statutes prescribe a $12 fee per certification of each death record. Requesters who meet all qualifying criteria may purchase the record online at the Office of Vital Records' website. Alternatively, mail the application form to the Office (four weeks processing time) or visit the nearest local health department to apply in person.

Orange County Probate Court Records

The Orange County Circuit Court probate division handles all probate matters for the county concerning proving and recording the deceased's last will, appointing executors and administrators of a deceased's estate, guardianship, adoption, and other related matters. Orange County probate court records may be accessed at the probate clerk's Office.

Orange County Property Records

The Orange County Circuit Court clerk records and files all official land records from as early as 1934 till present. The Circuit Court clerk's record room is open to the public from 8 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. The record room contains deed books, plats, and judgments (including those over land). The Clerk's Office also offers restricted and subscription-based access to the Land Records Management System. Individuals who wish to access this system may complete the Remote Access Application form and submit it to the Clerk's Office for approval.

Orange County Court Records Online

Third-party public records sites are alternative search tools researchers can consider. These websites allow researchers to find case information across multiple jurisdictions. Their features make them convenient and accessible research tools. Like government sources, users must provide basic information about the case to enable them to find the specific record needed. The standard search criteria for third-party sites such as Virginiacourtrecords.us are case number, party name, and court location.

A significant challenge researchers may experience while using third-party sites is the accuracy of information. The information available on these private websites is not updated as promptly as court records in the custody of the court clerks. Hence, they are sometimes not as comprehensive and in-depth as required.