Search Richmond Court Docket Records

Richmond court docket records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk and the General District Court for the 13th Judicial Circuit. As an independent city, Richmond operates its own court system with no ties to any surrounding county. You can search Richmond court dockets online through the state's free case search tools, or go in person to the John Marshall Courts Building downtown. This page covers both courts, their contact info, how to find and request records, and the fees and rules that apply.

Richmond Circuit Court Dockets

The Richmond Circuit Court sits in the John Marshall Courts Building at 400 N. 9th Street, Richmond, VA 23219. The Clerk of Circuit Court is Hon. Edward F. Jewett. His office handles all circuit-level case filings and maintains the official court dockets for Richmond. You can reach the clerk at (804) 646-6505 or by email at Edward.Jewett@rva.gov. Fax is (804) 646-6562. Office hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.

The 13th Circuit serves Richmond city only. The Chief Judge is Hon. Jacqueline S. McClenney. Other judges on the bench include Richard B. Campbell, Claire G. Cardwell, Bradley B. Cavedo, Clarence N. Jenkins Jr., Devika E. Davis, and Tracy W.J. Thorne-Begland. Circuit Court jurisdiction covers felony criminal matters, civil cases over $4,500, divorces, probate, and appeals from General District Court.

You can search Richmond circuit court dockets at no charge using the Circuit Court Case Information System. Search by party name or case number to get the docket sheet, case status, and filed documents. The system is available online any time. For the full case file, you need to go to the clerk's office in person.

The Virginia Judicial System portal at vacourts.gov is the central hub for all court information in the state, including Richmond Circuit Court. From there you can reach court-specific pages, case search tools, and resources for the public.

Richmond General District Court

The Richmond General District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and civil claims up to $25,000. It also holds preliminary hearings for felony cases before sending them to Circuit Court. The GD Court is located in the same downtown complex and shares the same address at the John Marshall Courts Building.

Search Richmond General District Court dockets for free using the General District Court case search. Select Richmond City from the list, then enter a name or case number. Results include case type, charge, hearing dates, and current disposition. Traffic cases are also searchable through this tool.

The Richmond General District Court page on vacourts.gov has court contact details, hours, and links to the online docket search. Use it to confirm the clerk's current contact information before visiting in person.

JDR Court records in Richmond are confidential. Juvenile and Domestic Relations cases are not part of the public docket. Do not expect to find those records through the online search tools or through a standard records request at the clerk's counter.

How to Search Richmond Court Records

Richmond court dockets are searchable online at no cost. Go to the Circuit Court case search for felony, civil, divorce, and probate matters. Go to the GD Court search for misdemeanor, traffic, and small civil cases. Both tools let you search by party name or case number. You don't need an account or login to use either system.

When searching, use the full name of the person or business you're looking for. Results may show multiple matches. Check case type and filing year to narrow down the right one. If you find the case you need, write down the case number before going to the courthouse. That speeds up in-person requests a lot.

Richmond also has local court practices available as a PDF. The Richmond Circuit Court Suggested Practices and Procedures document explains how the court handles scheduling, motions, and other procedural matters. If you are filing or responding to a civil case, reading that document first is a good idea.

For in-person searches, go to the clerk's office at 400 N. 9th Street during hours. Bring photo ID. Court staff can look up cases and pull case files. Copies of records follow the fee schedule set by Code of Virginia section 17.1-208, which governs public inspection rights, and section 17.1-275, which sets copy fees at $0.50 per page for standard copies and $2.00 per document for certified copies.

Richmond Court Filing and Local Rules

Richmond Circuit Court follows both statewide procedural rules under Title 8.01 of the Code of Virginia and its own local practices. The local practices document is updated periodically, so check the court's current version before filing anything. Attorneys and self-represented parties are both expected to follow the local practices.

Civil filing fees follow the state schedule. Cases under $50,000 cost $100 to file. Cases between $50,000 and $100,000 cost $200. Cases from $100,000 to $500,000 cost $250. Cases over $500,000 cost $300. These amounts apply in Richmond as in every Virginia circuit court.

Richmond handles a high volume of criminal cases due to its size as a state capital and major city. Circuit court criminal dockets include all felony charges, sentencing orders, and appeals from GD Court. The public docket is available through the case search system, though some case documents may be restricted by court order.

The Library of Virginia holds archived court records from earlier periods that predate the online systems. If you need historical Richmond court dockets going back many decades, the Library of Virginia is the place to start. Their collections include Circuit Court order books and related court records from across the state.

Note: Richmond court online payment for fines and fees can be made through the Virginia Judiciary Online Payment System.

Nearby Cities

These independent Virginia cities are close to Richmond. Each maintains its own circuit and district court dockets.