Russell County Court Records

Russell County court records are official documents maintained by the local courts during legal proceedings. In Russell County, Virginia, these records cover a variety of case types, including civil, criminal, family, traffic, probate, and property matters. They include case filings, motions, judgments, court orders, audio and video recordings, and other materials generated in the course of adjudicating legal disputes. These documents are essential for preserving case histories and supporting legal rights, public transparency, and the administration of justice.

Are Court Records Public in Russell County?

Yes. Court records in Russell County are presumed to be public under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Va. Code § 2.2-3700 et seq.) and Va. Code § 17.1-208. These laws authorize public inspection of court records unless a specific exemption applies. Examples of exempt records include sealed court documents, juvenile case records (Va. Code § 16.1-305), mental health evaluations, adoption proceedings, and any document containing redacted personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers or medical information.

Russell County Court Records Search

Interested members of the public may perform a Russell County court records search through the following channels:

Russell County Clerk of the Circuit Court – For felony criminal cases, divorce records, estate and probate files, civil disputes over $25,000, and land records. Requests can be made in person, by mail, or online (via Secure Remote Access).

Circuit Court Clerk's Office
83 East Main Street
P.O. Box 435
Lebanon, VA 24266
Phone: (276) 889-8023
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

General District and Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Courts – For misdemeanor cases, traffic violations, small claims, juvenile delinquency, custody, support, and protective orders.

District Court Clerk's Office
83 East Main Street
P.O. Box 65
Lebanon, VA 24266
Phone: (276) 889-8051
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Online Access – Court records for Russell County may be accessed through Virginia's Judicial System portals. General case information is free. Document images for land records, judgments, wills, and probate matters are available through the subscription-based Secure Remote Access (SRA) system.

To request a record, individuals should provide full names of involved parties, case numbers (if available), type of case, and date of filing. Government-issued photo identification is required for certified records, and fees apply for copies and certifications.

Russell County Criminal and Civil Court Records

The Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains felony criminal records, major civil cases, and appeals. These records can be inspected at the courthouse or requested by mail. Case file contents include criminal complaints, indictments, plea agreements, sentencing orders, civil complaints, court rulings, and associated documents.

The General District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic citations, and civil suits under $25,000. Interested parties may inspect public records at the Clerk's Office or use the Virginia General District Court Case Information portal to perform name-based lookups.

Russell County Marriage and Divorce Records

Marriage records issued in Russell County since 1849 are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk. Records from 1941 onward are also available digitally through the SRA system. To obtain a certified copy, individuals must submit the full names of the couple, the approximate date of marriage, and a government-issued ID.

Requests can be made:

• In person at the Clerk's Office
• By mail (include a $3.00 check or money order and a self-addressed stamped envelope)
• Online via SRA (subscription required)

Divorce records from 1849 to present are held by the Russell County Circuit Court. Certified copies can be requested in person or by mail. Older divorce files and chancery records before 1948 may also be available through the Library of Virginia in Richmond.

Russell County Birth and Death Records

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Office of Vital Records is the official custodian of certified birth and death records for Russell County. Records from 1912 to present are available to eligible applicants. Requests can be made in person, by mail, or online via VitalChek. Applicants must submit an application form, photo ID, and a $12.00 fee per copy.

Virginia Department of Health
Office of Vital Records
2001 Maywill Street,
Suite 101
Richmond, VA 23230
Phone: (804) 662-6200

Indexes of historical birth (1853–1896) and death records (1877–1939) may be reviewed at the Russell County Public Library or the Library of Virginia.

Russell County Probate Court Records

The Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains probate files for Russell County. These include wills, estate inventories, fiduciary accounts, administrator appointments, and court orders relating to estate proceedings. Most probate records from 1999 to present can be accessed through the Secure Remote Access portal.

Older or archived records may be accessed at:

Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: (804) 692-3500

Russell County Property Records

The Clerk of the Circuit Court is the official recorder of property-related documents in Russell County. The Clerk maintains deeds, plats, liens, easements, and other land records. Records from 1966 onward are available online through Secure Remote Access. Earlier records can be examined in person at the courthouse.

Property tax assessments, parcel maps, and ownership data may be obtained from:

Commissioner of Revenue
137 Highland Drive,
Suite B
Lebanon, VA 24266
Phone: (276) 889-8028

Russell County Treasurer's Office
137 Highland Drive, Suite C
Lebanon, VA 24266
Phone: (276) 889-8030

Russell County Court Records Online

Online court records are accessible through the Virginia Judicial System website. Users can search General District and Circuit Court records by name or case number. The Secure Remote Access (SRA) subscription portal provides access to scanned images of judgments, deeds, marriage licenses, and probate documents for document retrieval. Third-party public record websites like Virginiacourtrecords.us also offer search tools, but records obtained from unofficial sources should be verified with the court.