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Albemarle County, Virginia State Court Records

Albemarle County court records are documents maintained by the court clerk to preserve important information about court proceedings. The Albemarle County Circuit Clerk's office is the county's foremost custodial agency for court records, although other courts within the county's legal system have clerks who are responsible for records generated by them.

Various documents comprise Albemarle court records, including affidavits, summonses, please, exhibits, judgments, subpoenas, petitions, and orders. Albemarle County court records often intertwine with records from other public agencies. Arrest records, for instance, frequently appear on criminal case records. Similarly, property records and vital records are often related to court records in cases like divorces and estate proceedings.

Are Albemarle County Court Records Public?

Yes, Albemarle County court records are public under Virginia Code § 17.1-208 (also known as the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)). In line with this provision, the general public has the right to view, request, and obtain copies of court records from any court clerk's office or other public custodian. However, certain court cases are considered sensitive, and their records are usually not open to the public, e.g., adoption cases, mental health proceedings, and cases handled in the county's Juvenile and Domestic Court (especially those pertaining to minors).

Requests for such records are denied, and in cases where only a portion of a requested record contains sensitive data, the affected portion is redacted before the requester is furnished with the records. If there exists a legitimate interest that justifies a person's access to a nonpublic court record, they are allowed to appeal to the court to grant them access through a court order. Other nonpublic court case information includes:

  • Social security numbers or other sensitive personal identifiers
  • Attorney-client privileged communications
  • Proprietary information
  • Sealed or expunged cases
  • Juvenile information

What Information is Available in Albemarle County Court Records?

Information obtainable through an Albemarle County court record search depends on the mode of access: online resources are generally more limited compared to when a person requests a record directly from the court clerk's office. Notwithstanding, a person should expect to find the following:

  • Case part names
  • Case status
  • Case number
  • Case filing and court dates
  • Name of attorneys
  • Name of the presiding court and judge(s)
  • Claims or charges
  • Docket entries

Albemarle County Court Records Search

The following are the main ways of accessing Albemarle County court records:

Online Access

A free statewide resource, known as the Online Case Information System (OCIS), allows interested persons to access adult criminal and traffic court records in Albemarle County. Alternatively, record seekers can find records for other case types on the circuit court or district court case information websites. Searches require the subject's name, case number, or filing date. It is important to specify Albemarle during the search to narrow down the returned search result.

Individuals can also submit an FOIA request online. For requests submitted online, the requester may choose to review or pick up the records in person at the clerk's office, have the record mailed or emailed to them, or receive the record by fax.

In-Person Access

Individuals may submit an FOIA request at the clerk's office (where the case was filed). On the request, they must be able to describe the record with reasonable specificity. Furthermore, clerks are legally authorized to assess the costs of copying, searching, and supplying the records, and requesters must be willing to pay the applicable fees. Remember to check the appropriate court website or call the clerk's office for visitation schedules and time.

Mail and Phone Requests

Interested persons can send their FOIA request by mail to the presiding courthouse. The mail must contain the sender's address, a sufficient description of the requested records, and the associated fee. However, it is best to contact the clerk's office by phone for mailing instructions and accepted payment methods, as well as the applicable fee.

Fees for Court Records in Albemarle County

Albemarle County court record fees are standardized by state laws and vary by court. They are as follows:

  • Circuit Court (§ 17.1-275)
    • $0.50 per page or electronic image
    • Additional $2.00 per certified document
  • District Court (§ 16.1-69.48:2)
    • $1.00 for the first 2 pages
    • $0.50 for each additional page
  • Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
    • $1.00 for the first 2 pages
    • $0.50 for subsequent pages

Albemarle County Courthouse Locations

Albemarle County has three main courts, each with distinct case jurisdictions. The circuit court is the county's general-jurisdiction trial court, while the general district and the juvenile/domestic relations courts are limited-jurisdiction trial courts. Their addresses and contact information are as follows:

Albemarle Circuit Court

Albemarle County Courthouse

Court Square

350 Park Street

Charlottesville, VA 22902-5113

Phone: (434) 972-4083, (434) 972-4086 (Civil), and (434) 972-4085 (Criminal)

Fax: (434) 293-0298

Albemarle General District Court

350 Park Street

Charlottesville, VA 22902-5113

Phone: (434) 972-4004, (434) 972-4007 (Civil)

Fax: (434) 972-4092

Email: albemarlegd@vacourts.gov

Albemarle Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

411 East High Street

Charlottesville, VA 22902-5119

Phone: (434) 979-7165

Fax: (434) 293-0211

Albemarle County Probate Records

Probate records are all court records pertaining to estate settlements, wills, conservatorships, trusts, guardianship, etc. They are filed by theProbate Division of the AlbemarleCircuit Court Clerk's Office and are considered public, unless otherwise provided by law or restricted by court order. To view records, visit the clerk's office and submit an FOIA request, which must contain case identification data, such as the decedent's name or case number.

Criminal Records Access in Albemarle County

The Albemarle County General District and Circuit Courts share jurisdiction over criminal cases filed in the county's legal system. While the Albemarle General District Court hears misdemeanors and ordinance violations, the Albemarle Circuit Court hears all felonies and misdemeanor cases that were appealed from the General District Court. Researchers may request records at the relevant clerk's office or check online via OCIS. A case number or defendant's name is required for a search.

The Virginia State Police are responsible for state-level criminal background checks. Requests are name-based or fingerprint-based and are to be sent by mail. The fingerprint option is reserved for specific government agencies. To submit a name-based request, complete, notarize, and submit Form SP-167 by mail to

Virginia State Police

Civil & Applicant Records Exchange (CARE)

7700 Midlothian Turnpike

North Chesterfield, VA 23235

Albemarle County Family Court Records

Albemarle family court records are public under Virginia's Freedom of Information Act. However, strict restrictions exist on certain family matters due to their sensitive nature, e.g., adoption, custody records, and all records pertaining to minors. The Circuit and Juvenile & Domestic Relations courts share jurisdiction over family matters, each with distinct case types. Public family case records may be obtained from the relevant court clerk's office or online.

Copies cost a fee, which depends on the number of pages obtained. Certified copies are only available at the clerk's office and would incur extra costs. Generally, a record seeker must possess a party name or the case number to aid identification and retrieval. For nonpublic family case records, a requester must be an immediate family member or possess a court order permitting their access to the said records.

Federal Court Records in Albemarle County

Federal matters in Albemarle County are handled by the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, located in the Charlottesville courthouse. Cases heard in this court are documented using the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER). This portal also serves as a public resource for accessing this court's record.

While account creation is free, accessing documents through PACER costs 10 cents per page, with a single document capped at $3.00. Users qualify for fee waivers when they accumulate $30.00 in charges within a given quarter. Records can be searched using a case number or the name of an involved party, and results can be narrowed down by the county or city in which the case was heard.

Albemarle County Court