Portsmouth City Court Records

Portsmouth City court records contain files of court activities, such as court proceedings and judicial actions. Court records are vital in legal processes for many reasons, including ensuring transparency in court proceedings and providing an accurate record of what occurred during legal processes.

Portsmouth City court records typically contain case identifiers and specific information based on the record type. For example, bankruptcy records comprise financial records and asset information. In contrast, criminal court case records will feature evidence, trial transcripts, and arrest information.

Note: Virginia court records, including Portsmouth court records, may exist as court case records, trial transcripts, motions, evidence, docket entries, and judgments.

Are Court Records Public in Portsmouth City?

Under state laws, Portsmouth City court records are mostly accessible to the public. The Virginia Public Record Act empowers all persons or entities to make inquiries and obtain court records from designated local or state agencies. In turn, the custodian agency must honor requests for court records, provided the requester meets the legal requirement.

That said, not all Portsmouth court records are open to public members. State laws permit custodian agencies to deny requests for specific records. The exempt record may contain information whose disclosure is not in the public interest. Virginia's Public Records Act (§ 42.1-78) prevents the disclosure of records deemed confidential. Other examples of exempt records are:

• Court documents on attorney-client communication
• Court orders concerning confidential criminal investigations or prosecutions (§ 2.2-3706.1)
• Classified court records pertaining to involuntary admission (§ 37.2-818).
• Internal court records exempted by the Virginia Supreme Court
• Court documents sealed by a court order or state or federal statutes.

Portsmouth City Court Records Search

Record seekers can search Portsmouth City court records using state or local government resources. For instance, the Virginia Judicial System maintains a search portal for all cases documented in Portsmouth. The county courthouses are also good resources for searching for and obtaining copies of court documents.

Portsmouth City Court Records Search by Name

Record seekers may search Portsmouth City court records using the case party’s name. Requesters may use the Virginia Judicial System’s online case search portal to name-search court records. The portal provides access to criminal, civil, traffic, and juvenile court cases tried within Portsmouth City.

Alternatively, record seekers can search court records by name at the courthouses that tried the case. Requesters only need to make a request at the court’s physical location. Note that the courts may charge fees for producing copies of the requested court document.

Portsmouth City Courts

Portsmouth City is home to a general district court, a juvenile and domestic relations district court, and a circuit court. The circuit courts oversee criminal and civil cases beyond the jurisdiction of the district courts. In contrast, the general district court hears less severe criminal and civil cases. The domestic and juvenile courts handle juvenile and family-related cases. Portsmouth City courts’ location and contact information are provided below:

City of Portsmouth Circuit Court - 3rd Judicial Circuit
Portsmouth Judicial Center
1345 Court Street
P.O. Box 1217
Portsmouth, VA 23705
Phone: (757) 393-8671
Fax: (757) 393-2024

City of Portsmouth General District Court - 3rd Judicial District
Portsmouth Judicial Center
1345 Court Street
Suite 104
P.O. Box 129
Portsmouth, VA 23705
Phone: (757) 393-8624 (Civil)
Fax: (757) 399-6736 (Civil)
Phone: (757) 393-8681 (Criminal)
Fax: (757) 399-8634 (Criminal)
Phone: (757) 393-8506 (Traffic)
Fax: (757) 393-8010 (Traffic)

City of Portsmouth Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court
Portsmouth Judicial Center
1345 Court Street
Suite 103
Portsmouth, VA 23704
Phone: (757) 393-8851
Fax: (757) 393-2020

Portsmouth City District Court Records

Portsmouth City has two district courts: the general district court and the juvenile & domestic relations district court. The former oversees criminal or civil cases below the circuit court’s jurisdiction. As the name implies, the juvenile and domestic relations court handles cases under these categories.

Requesters seeking to obtain general district court case records must use the state’s online case management system. The portal offers multiple search options for accessing records.

Record seekers can also access juvenile and domestic relations district court records online. The cases may be searched using the case party’s name, hearing date, or case number.

An alternative way to obtain the record is to visit the court’s location. The courts will attend to in-person requests during business hours. Record seekers may need to present a valid identification if requesting sensitive or confidential documents.

Portsmouth City Criminal Records

Portsmouth criminal records provide information on an individual's criminal history. The record covers Portsmouth County arrest records, criminal convictions, dismissed charges, pending charges, and inmate information.

Record seekers can obtain Portsmouth criminal records from the Virginia State Police. The agency functions as the record custodian, allowing mail or in-person requests to obtain criminal records. Thus, interested parties must follow these steps to get the records:

1. Visit the agency’s online request form page.
2. Select the appropriate form for the request.
3. Fill out the agency’s online request form
4. Click on “Confirm” to generate and printout the form
5. Attach a completed fingerprint card (for applicants who want the record to include dismissed or pending charges). Applicants can get fingerprinted at the local law enforcement agency.
6. Attach the required fee using the preferred payment option. Payments via money order or check must be made payable to Virginia State Police. Criminal history records cost $15 per request.
7. Mail the completed form and fees to:

Virginia State Police
Civil & Applicants Records Exchange
P.O. Box 85076
Richmond, VA 23285

Requesters may drop off the request form in person by visiting the Virginia Department of State Police Headquarters at:

7700 Midlothian Turnpike
North Chesterfield, VA 23235

Portsmouth City Criminal Court Case Lookup

Interested parties can look up criminal court records in Portsmouth through state and local agencies and resources. To obtain criminal records locally, requesters must determine the court that convicted the record subject. Next, requesters must visit the courts’ address to request the records in person.

In contrast, Portsmouth criminal records are accessible online through the state’s online case management portal. To find records on the portals, requesters must select the court and county where the case occurred. Furthermore, requesters must fill out search details like the case party’s name, case number, and docket number.

Get Portsmouth City Civil Court Records

Civil records in Portsmouth contain information on disputes and civil cases. The records may include information on cases involving general civil, small claims, civil equity, foreclosure, and liens.

Portsmouth’s circuit and district courts oversee civil court cases and enable access to the records. Record seekers may inquire about civil court records in person at the courts’ addresses.

In contrast, Virginia Judicary’s online case management system stores online versions of the county’s civil court records. Interested parties can use the tools to search for and view the records. Note that record seekers must provide search information like the case party’s name or case number to access the records.

Portsmouth City Family Court Records

Family court records provide information on domestic relations and juvenile court cases. Portsmouth’s Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court handles cases in this category. The court may also serve as the custodian of family court records. Interested parties may request the records in person at the court’s location. It’s recommended that the court be visited during regular business hours to obtain the record.

Record seekers will also find Portsmouth City on the state-owned online case search portal. To use the portal, requesters must provide these details:

• The case party’s name, case number, or hearing date
• Court Name
• Case category

Portsmouth family court records may contain sections that are exempt under state laws. Furthermore, custodian agencies will redact the sections from unauthorized requesters. Requesters typically eligible to obtain confidential records are the record subject, their close relatives, and their legal representatives.

Family court records are significant in tracing ancestry and protecting a person’s right to property.

Portsmouth City Marriage and Divorce Records

The Virginia Department of Health is the designated custodian of divorce and marriage records generated in Portsmouth City. This means interested applicants must direct their request to the agency. Nevertheless, the agency will only release the records to the following requesters:

• The record subject
• Immediate family members: parents, siblings, grandparents, and offspring
• Legal guardians with proof of custody

Note: Portsmouth marriage and divorce records become publicly accessible after 25 years.

To obtain Portsmouth marriage or divorce certificates, record seekers may choose any of these options:

• Records request through drop-off at the VDH’s Office of Vital Records
• Fill out an online application form for the records.

To use the drop-off option, requesters must send a request form along with other necessary files to the VDH at:

VDH, Office of Vital Records
P.O. Box 1000
Richmond, Virginia 23218-1000
Phone: (804) 662-6200

The request must include the following files:

• Record the subject’s information, such as the name, birthdate, parent’s name, and other required data.
• A valid government ID
• The requester’s signature
• A $12 search fee for any payment method. Checks or money orders must be payable to the State Health Department.

In contrast, requesters can request the records by using the agency’s online request portal. To use this option, requesters must fill out or upload the necessary details, documents, and fees on the form.

Portsmouth Birth and Death Records

Portsmouth birth and death records are accessible at the VDH’s Office of Vital Records. The agency is responsible for recording and issuing the records to requesters. Nevertheless, the agency will only issue the records to eligible requesters, which may include the following:

• The record subject
• Immediate family members
• Legal guardians with proof of custody

Note: Public members or ineligible requesters can only obtain Portsmouth birth certificates for less than 100 years.

To obtain Portsmouth birth records, record seekers may use the agency’s online request portal or drop the request off in person at the agency’s location. The VDH also accepts mail-in requests for the records.

Record seekers must follow these steps to drop off or send the request via mail to the VDH:

1. Create an application form that contains the record subject’s basic information. This may include the names, birth date, event location and time, and parent’s information.
2. Include a copy of a valid ID.
3. Attach a $12 search and copy fee in any preferred payment option. Checks or money orders must be payable to the State Health Department
4. Send the requested documents via drop-off or mail to the VDH at:

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

Portsmouth vital records, such as birth and death records, reveal information on life events. Record bearers may use these records to prove their identity and protect their right to property.

Portsmouth City Probate Court Records

Portsmouth Circuit Court oversees probate court cases. The probate cases may include wills, trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships. Persons or entities seeking to obtain the court case records must contact the circuit court during business hours at:

City of Portsmouth Circuit Court - 3rd Judicial Circuit
Portsmouth Judicial Center
1345 Court Street
P.O. Box 1217
Portsmouth, VA 23705
Phone: (757) 393-8671
Fax: (757) 393-2024

Portsmouth City Property Records

The Portsmouth City Real Estate Assessor’s Office keeps all property-related documents. Property records under the assessor’s office include information on property tax, ownership, valuation, parcel ID, deeds, and property sales data.

Record seekers can obtain Portsmouth City property records through the agency’s online search portal. On the portal, there are options to search property records by neighborhood, parcel ID, and map.

Portsmouth City Court Records Online

The general public may be able to obtain public records using the Virginia Judicial System’s online case search portal. Portsmouth court records may also be accessible through third-party resources like virginiacourtrecords.us. The site offers a convenient and fast way to search for and obtain court records. Users are also not limited by location barriers commonly found in official resources. Nevertheless, third-party sites are not substitutes for official search options. The sites are primarily unregulated and may feature incomplete, inaccurate, or inconsistent data.