New Kent County Court Docket Records

New Kent County court docket records are held by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the Town of New Kent, Virginia, covering all civil cases, criminal proceedings, land instruments, and probate matters in the 9th Judicial Circuit. You can search these records for free online through the Virginia Judicial System's case information system, or visit the Clerk's Office in person at the New Kent County Courthouse during regular business hours. Both the Circuit Court and General District Court dockets are open to anyone, and no reason or personal connection to a case is required to look up filed records.

New Kent Circuit Court Clerk

The Clerk of the Circuit Court for New Kent County operates from the courthouse in New Kent, the county seat. The Clerk's Office is a constitutionally established position, elected by county residents, and it maintains all official records for the 9th Judicial Circuit. Duties include recording deeds and land instruments, processing wills and probate matters, issuing marriage licenses, collecting court costs on criminal cases, and maintaining all civil and criminal case files. Public access to the record room is available during normal courthouse hours without an appointment.

The image below is from the New Kent Circuit Court listing on the Virginia Judicial System website, which provides the current Clerk's contact information and a link to the online case search tool.

The page shows the Clerk's address in New Kent, the office phone number, and direct access to the Circuit Court Case Information System for searching New Kent County court docket records online.

New Kent County is part of the 9th Judicial Circuit, which also includes neighboring counties in eastern Virginia. The county has seen population growth as a bedroom community in the Richmond metro region, which has increased the volume of land and civil filings processed through the Clerk's Office in recent years.

Note: Mail-in requests for copies and certified documents are accepted by the New Kent Clerk's Office. Enclose payment when submitting a copy request by mail.

Searching New Kent County Court Dockets

The main free tool for New Kent County circuit court docket searches is the Virginia Circuit Court Case Information System. Select New Kent County from the jurisdiction dropdown and search by party name, case number, or date range. The system returns the case type, parties involved, filing date, and all upcoming docket events. No account or fee is required to search. Enable JavaScript and cookies in your browser for the best results.

For district court cases, use the Virginia General District Court Online Case Information System to search misdemeanor, traffic, and small civil matters for New Kent County. The image below is from the New Kent General District Court page on vacourts.gov, which shows the court's address and a link to the district docket search system.

The page includes the court's location in New Kent, office hours, phone number, and a link for searching General District Court docket records for New Kent County cases.

To pay court fines or costs online, the Virginia Judiciary Online Payment System accepts credit and debit cards. A 4% convenience fee applies. Check the Virginia Judicial System main portal for current schedules and updates for New Kent County courts.

General District Court in New Kent County

New Kent County General District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and civil disputes up to $25,000. These dockets are public and searchable online through the General District Court case information system. Felony charges originate in the General District Court as preliminary hearings before being certified to the Circuit Court. The General District Court does not hold jury trials. Appeals from its rulings go to the Circuit Court for a complete new hearing.

Both courts operate from the New Kent courthouse. If you are not sure which court handled a case, the General District Court search covers traffic and misdemeanor matters, while the Circuit Court system handles felonies, larger civil claims, divorces, and land records. Searching both is quick and covers the full range of New Kent County court docket filings.

What New Kent Court Docket Records Include

Court docket records in New Kent County document the complete event history of each case from initial filing through final resolution. Civil case dockets list the type of action, all parties, every pleading and motion submitted, and each scheduled hearing. Criminal dockets record the charge, the defendant's name, arraignment date, any continuances, and the case outcome. Land records, deeds of trust, wills, estate inventories, and other instruments recorded with the Clerk are also part of the public record maintained at the New Kent courthouse.

Under Virginia Code § 17.1-208, any person may inspect records maintained by the Clerk of Circuit Court during office hours. The Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700) adds a broad presumption that all public records are open unless a specific exemption applies. No reason or personal interest is required to search or copy court docket records in New Kent County.

Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court records remain sealed under Virginia law and are not searchable through any public database. All other circuit and district court docket records in New Kent County are open to any person who requests access.

Fees for Copies and Court Filings

Standard copies from the New Kent County Clerk's Office cost $0.50 per page under Virginia Code § 17.1-275. Certified copies add $2.00 per document, and a judge's certification adds another $0.50. These rates are set by state statute and apply equally to all Virginia circuit court clerks.

Civil filing fees depend on the amount of the claim. Cases under $50,000 carry a $100 clerk's fee. Claims from $50,000 to $100,000 cost $200 to file. Cases from $100,000 to $500,000 carry a $250 fee, and claims over $500,000 cost $300. Recording fees for deeds and instruments are $18 for 10 pages or fewer, $32 for 11 to 30 pages, and $52 for documents over 30 pages. The complete fee schedule appears in Title 17.1 of the Code of Virginia.

Note: Civil procedure rules governing how dockets are maintained across Virginia courts are found in Title 8.01 of the Code of Virginia.

Historic Records and Research in New Kent County

New Kent County was established in 1654, making it one of the older counties in Virginia. The Clerk's Office holds records with deep historical roots, including early deed books, wills, and court orders. Older records not available through the online case search system may be accessed at the Library of Virginia in Richmond. The Library holds microfilmed materials from New Kent County and a Chancery Records Index that covers historical cases from the 19th century and earlier. Contact the Library's reference staff or use its online catalog to determine what New Kent County records are available for research.

Nearby Counties

New Kent County sits between Richmond and Williamsburg, bordered by Charles City, James City, and Hanover counties.