Washington County Court Records

Washington County court records are documents, exhibits, and information on specific court proceedings in the county’s courts. These records are generated in the Circuit, General District, and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts in the county. Washington County court records comprise case filings, docket entries, warrants, petitions, transcripts, motions, orders, fines, and judgments. Information that may be found in these Virginia court records include names of the parties to a case, type of case, court name, name of judge, date of filing and proceedings, witnesses, attorney names, and sentence.

Are Court Records Public in Washington County?

Yes, Washington County Court records are accessible to the public. According to the Virginia Public Records Act, members of the public may request court records from the courts where the cases are heard. However, certain court records are exempted from public view for security or privacy reasons by court orders or Virginia laws. These records may only be accessed by authorized persons. Washington County confidential court records include:

• Medical and mental health records
• Most juvenile records
• Academic records
• Records containing proprietary information or trade secrets
• Records containing personally identifiable information
• Records related to public safety
• Grand jury proceedings
• Records of confidential informants

Washington County Court Records Search

Washington County court records are available to the public offline and online. Interested persons can use the Virginia Judicial System’s website to access specific court records from Washington County. They can also use third-party online resources to view the county’s court records. In addition, anyone can visit the county’s courts and request copies of public court records originating from them.

Washington County Courts

The court system in Washington County comprises Circuit, General District, and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts. The Washington County 28th Judicial Circuit Court hears all cases beyond the jurisdiction of other courts in the county. It handles felonies, grand jury-initiated misdemeanors, divorces, adoptions, probates, protective orders, and civil cases with claims over $25,000. It may also hear civil cases with claims between $4,500 and $25,000. The Washington County General District Court hears ordinance violations, traffic infractions, misdemeanors, and preliminary hearings for felonies. It has exclusive jurisdiction over civil cases under $4,500 and shares jurisdiction with the Circuit Court over civil cases with claims between $4,500 and $25,000. Juvenile issues and most domestic relations matters, including delinquency, child support, criminal cases involving family members, paternity, and emancipation, are handled by the Washington County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. The following are the locations of the courts in Washington County:

Washington County 28th Judicial Circuit Court
Washington County Courthouse
189 East Main Street
Abingdon, VA 24210
Phone: (276) 676-6224
Fax: (276) 676-6218

Washington County General District Court
Washington County Courthouse
191 East Main Street
Abingdon, VA 24210
Phone: (276) 676-6279
Fax: (276) 676-3136

Washington County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
Washington County Courthouse
187 East Main Street
Abingdon, VA 24210
Phone: (276) 676-6282
Fax: (276) 676-6217

Washington County Criminal Records

Washington County criminal records are the official documentation of an individual’s criminal history in the county. Criminal records contain records of arrest, trial, and incarceration. Portions of an individual’s criminal records in Washington County may be found with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia State Police, and Virginia Department of Corrections. Persons interested in obtaining Washington County arrest records and other criminal records can contact the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at:

Washington County Sheriff’s Office
Public Safety Building
20281 Rustic Lane
Abingdon, VA 24210

Record seekers can also contact the Washington County Jail and Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority to access the county’s criminal records. In addition, they can request a criminal record check from the Virginia State Police by mailing a completed Criminal History Record Check Form (SP-167) to the State Police at:

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

Get Washington County Civil Court Records

The Washington County 28th Judicial Circuit Court and the Washington County General District Court handle civil cases and generate civil court records in the county. The clerks of both courts maintain these records. Washington County civil court records are generally public records, and they include records from the following cases:

• Family Law
• Personal Injury Lawsuits
• Property Disputes
• Divorce Proceedings
• Libel and slander
• Employment Discrimination
• Labor disputes
• Consumer Protection
• Contract Disputes
• Professional malpractice cases
• Torts
• Probate and Estate

Persons interested in accessing civil court records from Washington County can visit the clerks of the courts where the records originated. They can also access them via online platforms provided by the state. Civil court records from the Circuit Court can be accessed on the Virginia Courts Case Information (Circuit) Portal, while those from the District Court can be accessed via the General District Court Online Case Information System Portal.

Washington County Marriage Records

Marriage records are documentation of the legal union of two persons in the county. They are generated by the Washington County Circuit Court and maintained by the clerk of the court. However, Virginia law mandates clerks of circuit courts to transfer marriage records to the Division of Vital Records under the Virginia Department of Health for formal custody and archiving. Washington County marriage records are not public until after 25 years but may be accessed at any time by persons named on the records, their attorneys, and their immediate family members. An eligible person interested in obtaining a Washington County marriage certificate can apply through the Online Application for a Vital Record Platform at $12 per record. They may also request it from the Division of Vital Records office at:

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

Washington County Divorce Records

Washington County divorce records are documents and files pertaining to the legal separation of married persons in the county. In Virginia, divorce records become public records after 25 years and can be accessed by anyone after that period. However, parties involved in the divorce, their attorneys, and their immediate family members can access Washington County divorce certificates at any time. The Virginia Division of Vital Records is responsible for maintaining the county’s divorce records. Eligible persons interested in obtaining these records may contact the division.

Washington Birth and Death Records

Birth and death records in Washington County are official documentation of births and deaths of persons in the county. These records form parts of the county’s vital statistics and are maintained by the Division of Vital Records. Washington County birth and death records may be used for the following purposes:

• Identity verification
• Genealogical research
• Medical research and epidemiology
• Social Security and benefits
• Family history and connections
• Demographic and statistical studies
• Estate settlement and inheritance

Per Virginia Code Section 32.1-271, Washington County birth and death records become public records after some specific years. Birth certificates can be accessed by the public after 100 years, while death certificates are accessible by anyone after 25 years. However, authorized persons such as family members and legal representatives may access these records at any time. Eligible persons can contact the Division of Vital Records to examine and request birth and death records from the county. They may also use the Online Application for a Vital Record Portal to request birth and death records.

Washington County Probate Court Records

Washington County Probate court records are documentation of probate matters, such as wills, estates, trusts, conservatorships, and guardianships, in the county. The Washington County Circuit Court handles probate matters, and records generated from probate cases are typically available to the public. Persons interested in obtaining the county’s probate records can contact the Washington County Circuit Court clerk at:

Clerk of Circuit Court
189 East Main Street
Abingdon, VA 24210
Phone: (276) 676-6224

Washington County Property Records

Washington County property records are public records and are maintained by the Washington County Commissioner of Revenue. Persons interested in obtaining property records can visit the Commissioner of Revenue’s Office at:

Washington County Commissioner of Revenue
Government Center Building
1 Government Center Place, Suite C
Abingdon, VA 24210
Phone: (276) 676-6270

The county’s property records may also be accessed using the Washington County, VA Real Estate Platform. Washington County property records include the following:

• Ownership: Deeds, titles, and transfer documents
• Taxes: Payment history and tax liens
• Description: Location, size, and boundaries
• Value: Assessment and appraisal records
• Liens: Outstanding debts and encumbrances
• Mortgages: Loan documents and payment history
• Easements: Agreements for shared use or access
• Maps: Plats, surveys, and geographic information system (GIS) data
• Zoning: Land-use regulations and permits

Washington County Court Records Online

Washington County court records may be accessed using third-party resources like virginiacourtrecords.us. Third-party resources provide user-friendly interfaces that offer more convenient and faster access to the county’s court records. A user may search for court records by party name, case number, or date, and they can view or download the results. However, third-party resources operate independently of official sources, and their information may be inaccurate or outdated.