Chesterfield County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Named for the fourth Earl of Chesterfield, Philip Dormer Stanhope, Chesterfield is home to 60 public parks and several athletic complexes. Its County seat is the Chesterfield Court House. In addition to its rich history and expansive greenery, it is also equipped with a robust court system. Chesterfield court system, comprising of the Chesterfield Circuit Court, the Chesterfield General District Court, and the Chesterfield Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, collaborates with other law enforcement agencies to ensure that peace and justice are maintained in the county. Though situated in the same courthouse in Chesterfield, each court has jurisdiction over distinct legal matters.

The Chesterfield Circuit Court has jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases in the county, however, it focuses on cases beyond the jurisdiction of other courts. Cases handled by the Circuit Court include civil claims for more than $25,000, family law matters, felonies, property issues, and probate of wills. The General District Court shares jurisdiction with the Circuit Court over civil claims between $4,500 and $25,000. However, it has exclusive jurisdiction over civil claims of less than $4500. The General District Court also handles preliminary hearings for felonies, misdemeanors, and traffic infractions. The Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court shares jurisdiction over adult mental commitment proceedings with the General District Court. They also handle cases involving the proper care of a minor (adoption, child abuse, child support) and juvenile offenses.

With up to 14,000 cases heard annually, it is obvious that the Chesterfield court system is efficient in serving its 364,548 residents. The records of most court proceedings are public, therefore they can be reviewed by members of the public. However, some records like juvenile records, records of an ongoing investigation, medical/mental health records, and personal information of parties involved in a case are exempt from public disclosure. These types of records do require special permission or a court order to gain access which can be handled within the County Clerk's Office. Each court in Chesterfield County has a Clerk, who is responsible for maintaining court records. You can approach them to request public court records or utilize the Virginia Judicial System webpage.

The Chesterfield court system is geared towards delivering justice across a variety of cases, especially civil and criminal cases. With efficiency and transparency as its watchwords, one can say that the Chesterfield court system is a major cornerstone in its government.