Wythe County Court Records

Virginia law describes a "court record" or "court case record" as any document, information, data, or other item that a clerk of court maintains in connection with a particular case, proceeding, or action. These records facilitate judicial transparency and accountability, ensuring legal proceedings remain open to public scrutiny or review. Court records are also vital historical and academic research resources and hold precedential significance in current or future legal proceedings.

Virginia court records—for example, the Wythe County court records—encompass different documentary materials that were generated by the court, received from other agencies, or filed by the litigants. These include dockets, motions, briefs, opinions, summonses, answers, interrogatories, warrants, judgments, transcripts, and other similar records.

Are Court Records Public in Wythe County?

Yes. Under Titles 16.1 and 17.1 of the Virginia Code, members of the public can access court case records maintained by the Wythe County court clerks unless a record is explicitly exempt by law or court order. Below are examples of Wythe County court records restricted from the public's viewing:

• Juvenile records
• Sealed or expunged records
• Records subject to attorney-client privilege
• Identities of certain witnesses and victims
• Medical records

Note: A different set of regulations—Part Eleven of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia—governs public access to records of judicial officers and judicial administrative records, including the applicable exemptions.

Wythe County Court Records Search

The following approaches can be utilized to obtain Wythe County court records:

• Visit the physical location of the court that received the case filing
• Contact or write to the court clerk's office
• Search online databases provided by courts and third-party vendors

Wythe County Courts

Wythe County has the Circuit, General District, and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District courts. These courts handle varying legal matters filed or initiated in Wythe County, with the Circuit Court having the broadest trial jurisdiction. Below are the court locations and contact numbers:

Wythe Circuit Court
27th Judicial Circuit of Virginia
Circuit Court Building
225 South Fourth Street
Room 105
Wytheville, VA 24382
Phone: (276) 223-6050
Fax: (276) 223-6057

Wythe General District Court
27th Judicial District of Virginia
245 South 4th Street
Suite 205
Wytheville, VA 24382
Phone: (276) 223-6075
Fax: (276) 223-6087

Wythe Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
27th Judicial District of Virginia
225 South 4th Street
Suite 204
Wytheville, VA 24382-2595
Phone: (276) 223-6080
Fax: (276) 223-6094

Wythe County Criminal and Civil Records

Cases heard by the courts of Wythe County are generally either civil (non-criminal disputes between two or more parties) or criminal (penal code violations subject to fines, imprisonment, or other penalties). The records from these cases are known as civil or criminal court records, respectively.

A Wythe County criminal or civil court record can be obtained from the court that handled the case. The Virginia Court System web page has a comprehensive overview of the statewide court system, including specific cases heard by each court. After identifying the appropriate court of jurisdiction, one can visit its physical address during regular business hours to seek document inspection or duplication.

At the same time, individuals can call a court clerk's office or access search tools on the Virginia Judicial System's Online Case Status and Information page. Online case access is free, but users require at least a litigant's name, case number, or hearing date to search and view Wythe court records.

Similarly, requesters are not charged for case access at a courthouse, but those who want to copy or certify a Wythe County court record may be liable for the associated costs.

Wythe County criminal court records are not the same as Wythe County criminal records. The former are maintained by the courts and the latter by the Virginia State Police (VSP) as part of comprehensive Virginia State criminal histories. Still, individuals can find local criminal information, like Wythe County arrest records, at local law enforcement agencies.

Wythe County Marriage Records

The Clerk of the Circuit Court's office maintains Wythe County marriage records, which, together with birth and death records, form part of the Wythe County vital records.

Access to the county's marriage records can be obtained by submitting the applicable fee and a written request to the office. The request should include the spouses' full names, the date of marriage, and the requester's contact information. Additional requirements, such as ID verification, may apply. Submissions can be made in person or via mail (a self-addressed and stamped envelope is required for mail requests). Below is the Circuit Clerk's office address:

225 South Fourth Street
Wytheville, VA 24382
Phone: (276) 223-6050
Fax: (276) 223-6057

A Wythe County marriage certificate can also be requested from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) - Vital Records for $12.

Wythe County Divorce Records

Divorce cases are heard in the Wythe County Circuit Court, and the Clerk's office maintains associated records. Parties interested in viewing a divorce case or copying a particular case document/file can stop by the courthouse during office hours.

Alternatively, an individual can obtain free access to divorce proceedings via the Circuit Court Case Information System using a party name or case number. Case documents cannot be downloaded or printed from this portal.

Wythe County Birth Records

The VDH's Vital Records Division processes applications for certified copies of Wythe County birth records. Individuals may drop off a written and duly signed application, a legible ID photocopy, and a $12 fee at the front desk of the Mount Rogers Health District location.

A Wythe County birth certificate can also be purchased online on the VDH's portal or by submitting mail requests to the following address:

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

Note: Wythe County birth records—necessary for proving a person's identity, age, or parentage—only become public 100 years after an event's date, provided no law, court, or law enforcement request precludes public access (Va. Code Ann § 32.1-271(D)). Until that time lapses, the records can only be released to eligible parties, such as Wythe County birth certificate registrants and their immediate family members.

Wythe County Death Records

Members of the public can write to the Virginia Department of Health's (VDH) Vital Records office for Wythe County death records. These records are useful for determining mortality rates, monitoring disease patterns, collecting inheritances, and conducting genealogical research.

Applications can be submitted in person at the Mount Rogers Health District location, via mail, or online (as explained above). Like other Wythe County vital records, requesters must pay a $12 fee for each Wythe County death certificate. However, a 25-year restriction affects death records—only eligible parties can obtain records aged less than 25 years from the date of the event.

Wythe County Probate Court Records

The Wythe County Circuit Court is the county's probate court, which oversees the administration of decedents' estates. Anyone can visit the court's physical location during regular office hours to make an inspection or copying request for probate court records. Usually, fees are applicable for copy requests, but records may be inspected for free.

Requesters can also access the online Circuit Court Case Information portal, where probate case searches can be conducted with a name, case number, or hearing date at no cost.

Wythe County Property Records

Property (land) records refer to any writing affecting the title to real property that a law authorizes a clerk to record on paper or in electronic format (Va. Code Ann. § 17.1-292(B)). Such records are deemed part of the Wythe County public records and are, therefore, accessible to any interested individual.

The Wythe County Clerk of the Circuit Court is the primary custodian of property records, which include deeds, mortgages, surveys, assignments, easements, etc. This office can be visited at 225 South Fourth Street, Wytheville, VA 24382, or contacted at (276) 223-6050 to purchase property documents.

Individuals can also subscribe to the Circuit Court Secure Remote Access to Land Records system to view digitized land records.

Wythe County Court Records Online

Beyond government offices and repositories, members of the public have access to third-party websites, like Virginiacourtrecords.us, to conduct Wythe County public records searches. Public records retrievable from these websites include Wythe criminal records, court case information, and property data.

Third-party databases offer basic name search functionalities, with the option to add more information known about a search subject, such as their last residential city/state and age. These websites also have statewide and nationwide search capabilities, making them handy when seeking extensive information. However, users may experience data accuracy limitations while using third-party systems, making it a good practice to cross-reference against records maintained by official sources.