Loudoun County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Loudoun County, located in northern Virginia, was named after John Campbell, the fourth Earl of Loudoun. It spans a total land area of 515.7 square miles and has an estimated population of 420,773, making it the 3rd most populous county in the state. Leesburg serves as its county seat. The Loudoun County court system comprises the Loudoun County Circuit Court and the Loudoun County District Court. These Courts, located within the 20th Judicial District, follow procedures required by law to serve the interest of justice and the public, which is vital to upholding peace and order in the county.

The Loudoun County Circuit Court located in Leesburg has general jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases. It typically handles cases beyond the purview of other courts. Criminal cases such as misdemeanors charged by a grand jury indictment, felonies, and lesser-included offenses are handled by the court. The civil jurisdiction includes claims in which the amount in dispute exceeds $4,500. The court also handles cases such as divorce, dissolution of marriage, adoptions, probate of will, protection orders, and property disputes.

Loudoun County District Court is made up of the General Court and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. These courts, located at the Loudoun County Courthouse in Leesburg, have jurisdiction over certain criminal and civil cases. The General Court has exclusive jurisdiction over most general civil claims but shares jurisdiction with the Circuit Court over claims exceeding $4,500. However, such claims must be less than $25,000. Furthermore, the Small Claims Division handles money and property claims not exceeding $5,000. Preliminary hearings for felony cases, misdemeanors, ordinance violations, and criminal traffic infractions are handled by the Criminal Division of the District Court.

On the other hand, the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court has jurisdiction over most domestic relations cases, such as adoptions, termination of parental rights and responsibilities, child neglect, and abuse. The court may also handle criminal offenses involving family members or harm to children. In addition, certain juvenile cases, including judicial consent to medical procedures for a child, emancipation, protective orders, traffic offenses, and mental health cases involving minors, are within its purview. Moreso, it shares jurisdiction with the General District Court over mental commitment proceedings.

Loudoun County has a crime rate of 5.3 per 1,000 residents, according to the annual report on crime and crime control for 2021, and Loudoun County Circuit Court handled over 1,915 civil cases and 1,667 criminal cases in 2023, according to the Virginia Judicial System Caseload Statistical Information. The Loudoun County Court Clerk maintains the records of court proceedings and makes them accessible to the general public. Interested persons may obtain copies of Circuit Court criminal records by completing the request form and submitting it via mail.

In addition, members of the public may visit the Clerk's Office to inspect and request non-confidential court records or use the statewide records search portal. However, certain court documents in Loudoun County are sealed by court orders due to the sensitive nature of the information. These records are not open to public inspection, although they may be accessed by authorized persons. In Loudoun County, sealed court records include those on mental health evaluation, adoption, information about jurors, personal identifiers, juveniles, and victims of domestic abuse.

In summary, the Circuit and District Courts make up the court system in Loudoun County. These courts uphold the rights of the county's residents by ensuring fair trial proceedings. They are committed to the well-being of the county through the delivery of quality and timely services. The transparent and easily accessible management of court records contributes to the public's trust in the judicial system and helps to identify areas of improvement.