Spotsylvania County Court Records

Spotsylvania County court records are official documentation of case proceedings held in the county courts. They exist in various forms, including paper, photographic, video, or audio. Related documents include summons, pleas, indictments, orders, judgments, motions, affidavits, and transcripts. Virginia court records are generally public, thus promoting transparency and accountability in the justice system. Furthermore, this enables the public to stay updated on cases of interest and to review court decisions.

Are Court Records Public in Spotsylvania County?

Yes. Under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), court records are generally considered public records. This means that any interested person may access, review, and copy them. While record requestors are not obligated by law to disclose the purpose of their request, provisions under the FOIA allow record custodians to charge a reasonable fee to cover copying or any other cost expedited by the request.

Regardless of this law, certain exceptions and limitations may apply to the public availability of court records. Crucial determining factors include the content of the record in question, restricting court orders, and specific privacy laws enshrined in the Constitution. Classified information is redacted from public copies.

Non-public court records typically remain available only to their subjects or their attorneys, select court officers, law enforcement agencies, and specially authorized third parties with reasonable interest in the case. The following contents of Spotsylvania court records are non-public:

• Sealed court records.
• Criminal court records where the defendant was found innocent.
• Identifying or personal information about minors.
• Sensitive information, such as confidential financial details or social security numbers.
• Documents that may reveal classified information about an ongoing investigation.
• Records related to mental health proceedings.
• Adoption records.
• Adult and juvenile custody.
• Information that may endanger a witness, a law enforcement officer, or any person.

Spotsylvania County Court Records Search

Residents of Spotsylvania County may view or copy court records via any of the following means:

• At the presiding courthouse.
• Official websites provided by the court.
• Private record aggregators.

Spotsylvania County Court Records Search by Name

Individuals may look up a court or any other kind of Spotsylvania County public record of another person if they know their first and last name. However, the said record must be public. Otherwise, they must be directly connected to the case or a case party. Names are general search criteria for finding court records on the circuit and district court websites, as well as other private websites created for court case lookups. However, additional information, such as hearing dates, case numbers, and filing dates, can aid in the retrieval of the needed record.

Spotsylvania County Courts

There are three courts in Spotsylvania, each having distinct jurisdictions. The Circuit Court has general jurisdiction, while the district and juvenile courts have limited jurisdiction. All three courthouses are located at the same address.

Spotsylvania County Circuit Court – 15th Judicial Circuit
9107 Judicial Center Lane
P.O. Box 96
Spotsylvania, VA 22553
Phone: (540) 507-7600
Fax: (540) 582-2169

Spotsylvania County General District Court – 15th Judicial District
9113 Courthouse Road
P.O. Box 339
Spotsylvania, VA 22553
Phone: (540) 507-7680
Fax: (540) 582-7288

Spotsylvania County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
9113 Courthouse Road
P.O. Box 157
Spotsylvania, VA 22553
Phone: (540) 507-7676
Fax: (540) 582-2029

Spotsylvania County Circuit Court Case Search

The Spotsylvania Circuit Court is a trial court of general jurisdiction, hearing all types of criminal and civil cases. All records are publicly available online. This website covers several Virginia counties and requires that a researcher specify the county where the case of interest was adjudicated.

Records access is free; researchers can search by name, case number, or hearing date. Furthermore, record seekers may contact the court clerk’s office during official hours for records not found online or to make further inquiries.

Spotsylvania County District Court Records

The Spotsylvania General District Court has limited jurisdiction. This court hears civil cases involving amounts not more than $25,000. Furthermore, it conducts trials for misdemeanor offenses and traffic infractions. The court clerk maintains all records created for these cases and facilitates record searches at their office. Records may also be viewed online, except those related to protective orders, civil commitment proceedings, temporary detention orders, and medical emergency custody.

Search criteria include party name, case number, and hearing date. On this site, a researcher can also search for information about a service or process, such as a subpoena or summons, by entering the name of the individual served. There are no fees for using this site.

Spotsylvania County Criminal Records

A person’s criminal records provide a detailed overview of their crime involvement and their interaction with the criminal justice system. They generally contain information about multiple arrest incidents, the alleged charges, sentencing information, court dispositions, etc. The dissemination of criminal records is governed by Virginia Code §19.2-389. Interested parties may query the Virginia State Police for criminal records.

Individual requestors should complete the SP-167 form and submit it by mail to the Virginia State Police. Note that the submitted form must be notarized and completed in accordance with the stipulated instructions. A $15.00 per search fee applies. Note that there are various forms for different types of criminal records and requesting entities. The SP-230 form, for instance, may only be used by employers, whereas the SP-266 form is used for sex offender searches.

Mailing address:

Virginia State Police
Civil and Applicant Records Exchange (CARE)
7700 Midlothian Turnpike
North Chesterfield, Virginia 23235.

Spotsylvania County Criminal Court Case Lookup

The Spotsylvania County Circuit Court handles all criminal court cases. Certain misdemeanors with less severity are handled by the county’s district court. Both court clerks maintain related records and make them available for public inspection and copying. Records are available online on the respective court's websites and are searchable by defendant name, case number, or hearing date. Information obtainable online includes a case’s filing date, the defendant’s address, charge details, arrest date, hearing dates, types, dispositions, and pleas.

Get Spotsylvania County Civil Court Records

All courts in Spotsylvania have jurisdiction over civil cases. The major distinguishing factors of their jurisdictional limits are the severity of the case at hand and the amount of money involved. For instance, while the district court can only preside over civil cases involving no more than $25.00, the circuit court handles matters involving upwards of $25.00.

The county’s circuit and district courts provide searchable online databases to aid online access to public civil court records. Since most cases handled at the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court involve juveniles, inquirers are advised to visit the court clerk to inquire about the availability of records and other relevant details. Civil court records can also be viewed using third-party aggregate websites for a fee. In any case, an inquirer is required to possess the case number or the first and last name of the plaintiff or defendant involved in the case.

Spotsylvania County Family Court Records

Most family-related court cases are adjudicated in the Spotsylvania Juvenile and Domestic Relations (JDR) District Court. Cases handled by this court include:

• Child abuse or neglect
• Spousal support
• Child adoption
• Court-ordered rehabilitation services
• Enforcement of support orders
• Juvenile emancipation or work permits.

The Spotsylvania County Circuit Court has jurisdiction over divorce cases and other matters related to marriage dissolutions. Their respective court clerks maintain all related court records and may facilitate a search. Public family court records handled by the circuit court are available on the court’s online search database. Juvenile case hearings at the JDR, as well as all associated records, are not open to the general public. However, exemptions are made for cases where the involved crime is equivalent to a felony (if committed by an adult) and the minor is 14 years of age or older at the time they committed the offense. Visit the courthouse for further inquiries.

9113 Courthouse Road
Judicial Center, Building B, 2nd Floor
P.O. Box 157
Spotsylvania, VA 22553-0157
Phone: (540) 507-7676
Fax: (540) 582-2029

Spotsylvania Dissolution of Marriage Records

Dissolutions of marriages are adjudicated in the Spotsylvania County Circuit Court. See the next header for information on how to obtain related records.

Spotsylvania County Marriage and Divorce Records

Marriages and divorces in Spotsylvania fall under the jurisdiction of the county’s circuit court. To find information on any marriage or divorce that occurred in this court, contact the office of the court clerk with the name of any of the marriage participants. Researchers may also obtain records from the Department of Health’s Division of Vital Records. Note that marriage and divorce records in Virginia only become public after 25 years. Prior to that, only immediate family members may obtain them.

The Vital Records Office charges a $12.00 fee for each requested record copy. Payment options include checks, money orders, cash, and mobile. Researchers at this office may apply online for a fee or visit the customer service lobby Monday through Friday (7:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.) at

2001 Maywill Street
Suite #101
Richmond VA 23230.

Spotsylvania Birth and Death Records

Spotsylvania County birth records become public information after 100 years, while death records become public information after 25 years. Both record types are classified under Spotsylvania County vital records. Apart from the record’s subject, only their immediate family members (mother, father, brother, sister, spouse, child, or grandparents) with a valid means of identification may obtain a vital record from official custodians.

The state’s Bureau of Vital Statistics and the county’s Health Department maintain databases of these records and may facilitate a public search. Inquirers may submit an application by mail or at the front desk. Applications must contain the requester’s signature, a valid ID, and a $12.00 fee. Payment methods include money orders, checks, cash, and bank cards.

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

Spotsylvania County Probate Court Records

Probate matters are handled by the Spotsylvania Circuit Court. While probate court records are generally considered public, documents containing certain sensitive information (such as information about juveniles or confidential financial details) are subject to privacy restrictions. Interested parties should query the circuit court clerk’s office for the availability of the record they seek, associated search fees, and other information needed to obtain the record. The court’s case search website is a convenient place to start the search.

Spotsylvania County Property Records

Spotsylvania property records are public and may be accessed online (per Code of Virginia §58.1-3122.2 (1998)). Inquirers can view land records in person at the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office by paying a subscription. This office maintains records created from 1722 to the present. Records created before January 1996 may be viewed on the grantee/grantor index. Contact the record rooms at (540) 507-7609. Applicable fees are $0.50 per page for plain documents and $2.00 per page for certified documents. A 3% convenience fee is required for card payments.

The County Commissioner of Revenue also maintains a website where interested parties may search for information on estate assessments. The search parameters allowed on this website are the physical address and parcel ID. Inquirers may contact the revenue commissioner’s office by email or Phone: ((540) 507-7053). For further assistance with accessing land records, one may contact a local title examiner.

Spotsylvania County Court Records Online

Many third-party websites exist for court record searches, such as Virginiacourtrecords.us. Private companies provide these websites for commercial purposes. Information available on third-party websites is gathered from several official sources, including court clerk offices and official court websites. Searches on these websites are generally name-based or by case number.

Unlike regular court-operated websites, they usually cover multiple courts, counties, or states and are convenient when a researcher does not know the county where a case of interest was filed. Most third-party websites offer free searches but require certain fees for in-depth information about a searched record.

Since these sites depend on official sources for the information they provide, they may not be reliable for ongoing court cases. Users are advised to only use information from reliable sources and to verify it with official sources.