Botetourt County Court Docket Records

Botetourt County court docket records are kept by the Clerk of the 25th Judicial Circuit Court at the historic Botetourt County Courthouse on Main Street in Fincastle, Virginia. The Clerk's Office maintains civil filings, felony criminal cases, land records going back to 1770, divorce proceedings, and probate matters filed with the Circuit Court. You can search Botetourt docket records free through the Virginia Judicial System's online case portal or visit the courthouse in Fincastle during the 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM business hours to use public access terminals and view records in person.

Botetourt Circuit Court Clerk's Office

The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Botetourt County is Hon. Tommy L. Moore. The office is located at P.O. Box 219, Courthouse, Main Street, Fincastle, VA 24090. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The main phone number is (540) 473-8274 and the fax is (540) 473-8209. The full listing of contact information and online resources appears on the Botetourt Circuit Court page at vacourts.gov.

The Clerk maintains all official records of the Botetourt Circuit Court. These include civil case files, felony criminal filings, land records dating from the county's formation in 1770, probate records, wills, marriage licenses, and all orders and judgments entered by the circuit court judges. Public access terminals in the Clerk's Office allow any person to search docket records and view case information during regular business hours without needing to state a purpose. Staff assist with questions about specific filings, copy requests, and how to use the record indexes. The Clerk's Office accepts cash, check, and credit card for fees.

Note: The Botetourt County Courthouse in Fincastle is a historic structure, and the Clerk's Office is open to walk-in visitors during the 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM weekday hours.

How to Search Botetourt County Dockets

The primary online tool for Botetourt County docket records is the Virginia Circuit Court Case Information System. Select "Botetourt County Circuit" from the jurisdiction dropdown. You can search by party name, case number, or hearing date. The portal is free and updates in real time from the Clerk's Office. Results show the case type, filing date, parties, scheduled hearings, and final disposition for closed cases.

Each case record in the system has tabs for Name List, Pleadings/Orders, and Services. The Services tab shows how process was delivered using method codes such as IP (in person), MA (mailed), NF (not found), and NS (not served). This helps you track whether a defendant has been properly served in a civil case. In-person searches are available at the courthouse during regular hours. The public access terminals in the Clerk's Office let you browse docket entries and view case records without any advance appointment.

Botetourt General District Court Dockets

Botetourt County is also served by a General District Court that is part of the 25th Judicial District of Virginia. The court handles traffic violations, misdemeanor criminal cases, preliminary hearings for felony matters, and civil claims up to $25,000. Small claims of $4,500 or less follow a simplified procedure. The court is located in Fincastle and its contact details appear on the Botetourt General District Court page at vacourts.gov.

The screenshot below shows the General District Court listing for Botetourt County on the Virginia Judicial System website, which includes contact information and links to online docket search tools for the district court.

General District Court dockets in Botetourt County are searchable through the Virginia General District Court Online Case Information System, which is free and accessible without registration.

If a party disagrees with a General District Court decision in Botetourt County, they can appeal to the Circuit Court. The Circuit Court holds a new trial rather than reviewing the district court's decision. Both sets of dockets are public records under Virginia law.

What Botetourt County Docket Records Include

Court docket records in Botetourt County document every step of a case from filing to final disposition. Criminal dockets show the charging document, arraignment date, bond status, pretrial motions, trial scheduling, verdict, and sentencing. Civil dockets record the complaint, service of process, responsive pleadings, discovery orders, court hearings, and the final judgment. Every document the Clerk receives becomes a docket entry and is part of the permanent court record open to the public.

Land records indexed in the Clerk's system cover deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, liens, easements, and subdivision plats. Botetourt County land records date from 1770 when the county was formed from Augusta County. These historic records document the early settlement of the upper James River valley and include instruments from colonial-era land grants. Early deed and will books are preserved in the Clerk's archive and available for research at the Fincastle courthouse. When a property is sold, financed, or encumbered by a lien in Botetourt County, the instrument is recorded here and becomes part of the public record.

Most docket records in Botetourt County are open under Virginia Code § 17.1-208, which requires clerks to make all circuit court records available for public inspection during business hours.

FOIA and Public Access in Botetourt County

The Virginia Freedom of Information Act, § 2.2-3700, establishes that all public records are open by default. Any person can inspect court docket records in Botetourt County without stating a reason. For routine records available through the online portal or public terminals in the Clerk's Office, no formal request process is needed. Simply search the case system or visit the Clerk's Office during business hours.

If a record is not immediately accessible, a written public records request can be submitted. The Virginia courts public records page explains how to submit a formal request to the judicial branch. The Clerk must respond within five business days. Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court records and records sealed by court order are not available through FOIA. The Clerk must explain in writing why any request is denied.

Copy Fees for Botetourt County Court Records

Copy fees for Botetourt County court records follow the schedule set by Virginia Code § 17.1-275. Standard paper or electronic image copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies carry an additional $2.00 per document. If a judge's certificate must be attached, add another $0.50. These fees apply to all records in the Clerk's custody, from case files to land instruments and probate documents.

Recording fees for land instruments are based on page count. Documents of 10 pages or fewer cost $18 to record. Instruments running 11 to 30 pages cost $32. Documents with 31 or more pages carry a $52 recording fee. Civil filing fees depend on the amount in controversy. Cases seeking under $50,000 carry a $100 clerk's fee. Cases between $50,000 and $100,000 carry $200. The Clerk's Office accepts cash, check, and credit card payments.

Historic Records in Botetourt County

Botetourt County was formed in 1770 from Augusta County, and the Clerk's archive holds records from that year forward. The land deed books and will registers from the late 18th century document the original settlement and land grants in the upper James River region. These records have been preserved in the Fincastle courthouse and are available for public research. Many older instruments have been indexed and can be located through the grantor-grantee index maintained by the Clerk's Office.

For supplemental research, the Library of Virginia in Richmond maintains microfilm and digitized collections from Botetourt County. The Library's Chancery Records Index includes equity cases from Botetourt going back to the 19th century. Researchers can access these materials either online through the Library's portal or in person at 800 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219. Staff can help trace records through the county's formation and subsequent land transactions over two and a half centuries of local history.

The full legal framework for court records preservation in Virginia is found in Title 17.1 of the Code of Virginia, which sets requirements for all circuit court clerks, including Botetourt.

Nearby Counties

Botetourt County borders several counties in the Valley and Ridge region of Virginia, all with their own circuit court records and docket search tools.