District of Columbia Civil Court Records

There are only two types of courts in the District of Columbia or Washington, D.C.: the Superior Court and the Court of Appeals.

The Superior Court is the trial court with general jurisdiction in the District of Columbia. Its Civil Division hears and rules on most civil cases in the area. Also, this Division has three more parts: the Civil Action Branch, the Small Claims and Conciliation Branch, and the Landlord and Tenant Branch.

The Civil Action Branch, also called the Office of the Civil Clerk, resolves civil disputes in which the amount in issue exceeds $10,000 except for cases under the jurisdiction of a federal court.

On the other hand, the Small Claims and Conciliation Branch, also called the Washington D.C. Small Claims Court, handles cases where the money at stake is less than $10,000.

Finally, the Branch of the Landlord and Tenant hears civil cases that involve landlords and tenants.

Aside from the Civil Division, the Superior Court has more divisions like the Probate, the Office of the Auditor Master, and the Family Court Operations for other civil court records in the District of Columbia.

But the city's most important court is the D.C. Court of Appeals. It looks at appeals sent from the Superior Court and makes a final decision. This court can also review decisions made by the city's administrative boards, commissions, and agencies.

Can you access the District of Columbia Civil Court Records? The D.C. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) states that court records in the area are public, and you have the right to ask for these records. But note that you can't see sealed or confidential court records in the District of Columbia.

In the District of Columbia, Bankruptcy Records are court records created by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Columbia during bankruptcy proceedings.

Bankruptcy filing is a legal way for people and businesses who can't pay their debts to get some relief. These proceedings give people who can't pay their debts another chance by letting them sell their assets or set up a plan to pay back their debts.

In addition, they guarantee that creditors get paid on time via reorganization or liquidation of troubled enterprises.

Most District of Columbia Bankruptcy Records consists of personal information and financial records detailing the debtor's identification, assets, liabilities, spending, and income. However, these court records may have varied details based on the bankruptcy type filed in the city.

In the District of Columbia, the most prevalent bankruptcy filings are as follows:

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Under this type, the estate of the debtor undergoes liquidation. It is the process through which a trustee sells a debtor's nonexempt assets for cash and distributes the money to the debtor's creditors.

Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Chapter 11, often known as the "reorganization chapter". allows corporations, partnerships, and individuals to restructure and establish a debt repayment plan without liquidating all of their assets.

When a debtor files this bankruptcy chapter, they present a plan to creditors that, if accepted by creditors and allowed by the court, would let the debtor restructure personal, financial, or business affairs and regain economic viability.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

A debtor with a regular income who feels they can repay their obligations within a reasonable time frame and whose debts do not exceed certain debt restrictions may file for this bankruptcy filing.

Under this proceeding, the debtor may submit a Chapter 13 plan agreeing to pay a part of future income to the trustee for distribution to creditors. If the court accepts it, the debtor will be safe (can retain their assets) throughout debt repayment.

In the District of Columbia Bankruptcy Records, you can also encounter Chapters 9,12, and 15 aside from the abovementioned types.

How To Find District of Columbia Bankruptcy Records?

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Columbia generates, stores, and preserves bankruptcy court documents. You can find these records on the court's website since it allows retrieval of case records from previous bankruptcy court proceedings.

The court also employs Case Management/Electronic Case File (CM/ECF), the automated docket and electronic filing system used by the federal courts. Through the CM/ECF website, you may see court dockets and other bankruptcy-related papers and pleadings.

Although most of this site's data is available, only lawyers may print case papers from their office printers. Consequently, you can only obtain bankruptcy records from the CM/ECF database with the assistance of a licensed attorney.

Participants in a case can also use this database to look at information about the lawsuit and documents filed electronically before December 1, 2003. But if you are not the party involved, you can look at these records on the public computers in the Clerk's Office or ask for copies of documents sent through the mail for $0.50 per page.

Another option is to use the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER). For a fee, this electronic public access tool lets you acquire federal bankruptcy court cases and docket information online.

In the District of Columbia Civil Court Records, a lien is a notice attached to a property. It acts as a security interest to secure a debt or obligation. Thus, liens allow creditors to recover money from the debtor.

In the District of Columbia Property Lien Records, there are several liens placed on real and personal property, and the most common ones are the following:

Tax Lien

A District of Columbia tax lien is a legal action against people who don't pay taxes. Default taxpayers may get a tax lien on their property from the D.C. Recorder of Deeds.

In the District of Columbia, tax defaulters have ten days to pay their taxes after getting a notice.

Judgment Lien

A judgment lien may be on a debtor's property after a civil proceeding. Civil judgments usually include monetary compensation, and creditors may file this lien after the decision to secure payment from the judgment debtor. It grants the creditor the right to get paid from the money generated by the sale of the debtor's property.

No matter who owns a D.C. property, a judgment lien stays for 12 years.

Mechanic's Lien

A District of Columbia mechanic's lien is a security interest given to people who helped improve a property by providing labor or materials. It compensates builders and repairers legally. Only contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers who worked on a project to improve a property can file mechanics' liens.

If eligible, you can file this lien by filling out a Notice of Mechanic's Lien form and sending it to the Office of the Recorder of Deeds.

Mortgage Lien

This lien is an agreement for a creditor to hold a piece of real property as security for a loan. The property owner gives the lien to the creditor, who must file it with the Recorder of Deeds to make it public. After repayment, the creditor submits a Satisfaction of Mortgage notice to eliminate the lien.

UCC Lien

By establishing a security interest in the borrower's assets, a UCC Lien protects sellers from bad debt. In nonpayment, the seller or creditor may repossess the debtor's personal property provided as collateral.

The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) covers sales of commodities, securities, and negotiable instruments but not contracts for services or real estate. Article 9 of the UCC allows creditors to attach this lien on the debtor's property, usually products or materials.

How To Check District of Columbia Property Lien Records?

Different parts of the government handle and keep track of various liens in the city. Before looking for liens in the District of Columbia, you must identify the kind of claim and the filing location.

For instance, the D.C. Recorder of Deeds of the Office of Tax and Revenue is in charge of indexing, recording, and storing most judgment liens in the area. It also set up a website that you can use to search these records online.

On the other hand, for liens placed in vehicles, you can visit and ask the Washington State Department of Licensing.

Under the D.C. Code section 50–2301.02(4), the District of Columbia Civil Driving Violation Records or traffic infractions are minor offenses that only result in a fine.

Consequently, an infraction is any behavior susceptible to administrative adjudication under Chapter 23 of the D.C. Code that does not initiate a Superior Court case.

The typical civil driving violation records in the District of Columbia include bicycle, parking, moving, pedestrian, and equipment violations. Some examples are:

• Speeding
• Distracted driving
• Open container
• Spilling load
• Passing a halted school bus with flashing lights
• Equipment violations such as inadequate foot/hand brakes, unapproved lights, no fenders, broken speedometer, and no rearview mirrors
• Child safety seat violations
• Colliding with a fixed object without damage or harm
• Refusal to give the right-of-way
• Pursuing too closely
• Driving through a roadblock
• Not providing proof of insurance
• Walking unexpectedly into a vehicle's path
• Parking in no parking space
• Changing lanes carelessly
• Excessive idling
• Driving through the grass in a national park
• Operating unregistered bike

Since there is no jail time for these infractions, they do not appear on a person's criminal record. Nonetheless, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), responsible for settling such cases, includes these offenses on the driving records of District of Columbia residents.

How To Look Up District of Columbia Civil Driving Violation Records?

You can look up District of Columbia Civil Driving Violation Records by getting a Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) or traffic record from the DMV. You can ask for it online, in person, or by mail.

To request online, you must visit the DMV Driver Record Request Search and enter the necessary information, such as your full name, date of birth, license number, etc.

Alternatively, you can personally go to a DMV Service Center with official documents like a license number, social security number, proof of identification, etc., to get a record.

Lastly, to ask for a copy by mail, send a letter to the department with the necessary fees. This method usually takes seven to ten working days to process.

Legal Judgment Records in the District of Columbia result from court-resolved civil disputes. These papers give information about a case's conclusion by summarizing the court's final ruling in a judicial action.

A District of Columbia judgment is a court order delivered in response to a legal dispute between parties. It outlines the parties' rights and duties in a lawsuit. Although a judgment might be a precise instruction to execute or refrain from performing an activity, it often relates to debt collection.

Rule 54 of the D.C. Rules of Civil Procedure and Title 15 of the D.C. Code regulate civil judgment procedures in the District of Columbia.

How To Look Up District of Columbia Legal Judgment Records?

You can look up District of Columbia Legal Judgment Records through the D.C. Superior Court. You can contact or visit the court to request these records.

But the best approach is to use the Superior Court's Online Case Search System. With this system, anyone who has access to the internet can easily find District of Columbia Legal Judgment Records.

In the District of Columbia Civil Court Records, Small Claims Records include all papers filed, submitted, or made during a small claims case.

The Small Claims Court, also known as the Small Claims and Conciliation Branch, is part of the Civil Division of the Superior Court in the District of Columbia. Its job is to handle civil disputes with damages of $10,000 or less.

So, if you want to get your money back from someone else—for a broken contract, unpaid wages, lousy check, auto repair bill, or any other reason—you can use the court to do so. The court provides a more straightforward, low-cost method for settling minor, non-criminal issues.

In the District of Columbia, you can go to court against a person or business by giving the small claims clerk a Small Claims Information Sheet and a Statement of Claim.

How To Look Up District of Columbia Small Claims Records?

Like most court records, you can look up District of Columbia Small Claims Records through the clerk's assistance. So, visit or contact the Civil Division's Clerk of the Superior Court to effectively get these records.

You can also look at these records remotely through the Superior Court's Online Case Search System, explicitly using the Odyssey Portal.

In the District of Columbia, a traditional law marriage is over when the couple gets a divorce. Unlike some states in the U.S., D.C. law does not require both spouses to live in the area of jurisdiction. Instead, one person only needs to have lived in D.C. for at least six months before the filing date to file for divorce.

Divorce Court Records in the District of Columbia can reveal private information about minors, finances, and crimes like domestic abuse. Because divorces are so personal, these court records are usually much more challenging to find than other public records.

If you file for a D.C. divorce, the Superior Court will record and compile any information and documents during the proceeding in three different forms:

Divorce Certificate

A divorce certificate is a state-issued record of a lawful divorce. It lists the divorce's court case number, venue and date of filing, and parties' former names.

This document has restricted purposes, such as obtaining a travel visa, certifying singlehood, proving a divorce happened, and changing a name.

Divorce Decree

A D.C. divorce decree is a court-issued document that details the significant decisions underlying the dissolution of the marriage. It signifies the court's verdict and final judgments after divorce procedures.

It is an essential component of marriage dissolution since it often incorporates post-marital agreements about property division, alimony, child custody, and child support.

Divorce Record

After a common-law marriage or formal union, a divorce record proves legal separation. A complete divorce file usually includes divorce court findings and separation stipulations.

How To Look Up District of Columbia Divorce Court Records?

To look up District of Columbia Divorce Court Records, you must contact or visit the Family Court Operations Division of the Superior Court. Also, if you want divorce decrees since September 16, 1956, you can ask the Court Clerk to get them.

Alternatively, like in other court records, you can use the Superior Court's Online Case Search System to find a divorce court record. In this system, aside from the Odyssey Portal, you can also explore the eAccess for these records.

The Probate Court Records in the District of Columbia pertain to the distribution of the estate and the care of surviving dependents.

It often entails establishing the validity of the dead person's will, paying off their debts and taxes, locating their property and having it appraised, and distributing their assets following their will or state law.

Some cases recorded in the District of Columbia Probate Court are estates of deceased persons, certain trusts, guardianships of minors' estates, conservatorships, and guardianships of adults who cannot make care decisions.

This page lets you learn more about the probate proceedings in the District of Columbia.

Where can you find the District of Columbia Probate Court Records? The Probate Division of the Superior Court has updated probate records in the District of Columbia. You can also locate some probate matters in the Office of the Auditor Master.

Since there are only two courts in the District of Columbia, finding the courthouse responsible for court records in the city is easy. In this place, the Divisions of the Superior Court are in charge of keeping the District of Columbia Civil Court Records.

Thus, you should contact the Court's Division Clerk that filed and recorded these documents to see or receive an official copy. You can find information on the court's many divisions on this Superior Court page.

If you want to avoid visiting or contacting the Court's Division Clerk, you can use the Superior Court's Online Case Search System to find civil court cases in the District of Columbia. Try to explore the Odyssey Portal and eAccess to search for a record in this system.

Though this system is free, it is pretty complex. Thus, it is helpful if you read this user guide first.

Nonetheless, if you need to locate a civil case or a court record in the District of Columbia quickly, you can use this Smart Search.