Norfolk County, Virginia State Court Records

In Norfolk County, court records are official documents that detail individuals' legal proceedings within the state. Court records typically include civil records, family cases, criminal prosecutions, traffic cases, and even probate records. Depending on the type of case, some court records may also include details such as case filings, motions, names of parties involved, judgments, and court orders.

As they involve many diverse situations, court records are usually intertwined with other public records, such as arrest records, property records, vital records, or even arrest and inmate records. For instance, a court record about family or probate matters would typically include marriage records and birth records (if the union produced children).

In Virginia, court records are typically maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk. For Norfolk County, the records are typically maintained by the Norfolk Circuit Court Clerk.

It is, however, important to note that Norfolk no longer exists as a county by itself, as it was consolidated with the city of South Norfolk in 1963 to form the city of Chesapeake.

Are Norfolk County Court Records Public?

Under Virginia law, Norfolk County court records are considered public records. According to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Virginia FOIA), all public records maintained by government agencies should be made available to the general public unless the records are classified under the state's special exemption cases.

The Virginia Judicial system also maintains a case information online service for the dissemination of public records. This is to ensure that the Virginia Freedom of Information Act is upheld.

While the state upholds the VFOIA judiciously, public access to court records is not unlimited. The state protects certain records from public view to protect the affected individuals. Some records that may be exempt from the VFOIA include:

• Juvenile records
• Adoption records
• Records on child custody
• Mental health records
• Sealed or expunged records
• Records containing victim information.

What Information is Available in Norfolk County Court Records?

Depending on the nature of the case, the information available in Norfolk County court records can differ. However, common information available within court records includes:

• Case type
• Case number
• Date of filing
• Criminal charges
• Names of plaintiffs and defendants
• Name of judges assigned to the case
• Court orders
• Court hearing dates
• Motions and pleadings
• Probate filings
• Final dispositions
• Names of attorneys and jurors
• Docket entries
• Judgements and verdicts
• Sentencing information, and so on.

Norfolk County Court Records Search

To obtain access to court records in Norfolk County, individuals seeking these records must first determine whether the record in question was created when Norfolk was still an independent jurisdiction or whether it had been integrated into the city of Chesapeake. Locating the exact records within the Virginia Court systems largely depends on this fact. The county offers various methods of accessing court records. These include:

Online Access

Most court records in the county can be obtained through the Virginia General District Court Online Case Information System. This system allows individuals to browse through civil, criminal, or traffic cases by case number, citation number, hearing dates, or names of parties involved in the case.

The online case information system combs through the entire Virginia judiciary public case information system, including the General District Courts dockets and the Norfolk Circuit Court to bring up records when demanded.

To obtain court records online,

• Visit the official website for the Virginia General District Court Online Case Information System.
• At the left hand side of the page, choose how you would like to search for a case (eg case number, name of accused, etc)
• Input the name or case number, and click the search button.
• The related court records appear after this.

Although most court records can be obtained online, records pertaining to juvenile cases and family matters are usually more restricted, and may only be obtained in person at the county clerk office.

In-Person Access

Individuals may also visit the clerk's office in person to obtain official court records. When requesting official records, a valid means of identification may be required, especially for certified copies and sensitive cases.

In-person visits are usually more effective for obtaining historical files or certified copies. When requesting court records in person, the requesting individuals must provide details such as case number, names of parties in the case, or the date of filing.

When requesting in-person records, it is important to note that while clerk or courthouse staff may assist in locating public records, they cannot interpret court documents or provide legal advice.

If the records being requested were created before the dissolution of Norfolk County, individuals may need to consult with the archive department, which is typically maintained by the Virginia Library.

Individuals can visit the Norfolk Circuit Clerk's Office from 8:45 am to 4:45 pm, Mondays through Fridays.

Mail and Phone Requests

Court records can also be requested via phone or mail. Typically, written requests mailed to the Norfolk Circuit Clerk's Office yield the most results. Before mailing a written request to the clerk's office, the following information should be included within the request:

• Case number
• Full names of involved parties
• Type of record being requested
• Filing or hearing date
• Processing fees
• Mailing address and contact information of the requester

It is also important to note that the above information must be mailed to the circuit court clerk's office in a self-addressed stamped envelope to ensure that the required documents are sent to the correct address.

The processing times of written requests may vary, depending on the records being requested. In most cases, written requests are processed within a few business days. Payment for the processing fees are usually accepted by money orders, or any other methods specified by the court clerk.

Request for court records can be mailed to:

Norfolk Circuit Court Clerk

150 St. Paul's Boulevard

Norfolk, VA 23510

Phone: (757) 664-4580

Fees for Court Records in Norfolk County

Generally, access to public records is free. This means simply viewing or inspecting records does not attract fees. However, the state of Virginia allows clerks and public agencies to charge fees when time and resources are spent to locate, duplicate, or supply records.

Common charges include:

• Photocopy fees per page
• Certified copy fees
• Postage and mailing costs
• Cost of storage media (such as CDs or flash drives) when applicable
• Document search or retrieval fees for archived files

Depending on the location of the court clerk, and how much time was spent retrieving the records, the fees may vary from one courthouse to another. Requesting individuals are often informed about any processing fees before processing begins.

Norfolk County Courthouse Locations

Although Norfolk County no longer exists, the Norfolk Circuit Courts are still very much operational, with three official court-house locations.

The state of Virginia assigns the following courts to handle records and other related official cases related to Norfolk County:

Court	Address	Phone Number
Norfolk Circuit Court	150 St. Paul's Boulevard, Norfolk, VA 23510	757-664-4580 757-389-8942
Norfolk General District Court	150 St. Paul's Boulevard, Norfolk, VA 23510	757-664-4910
Norfolk Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court	920 City Hall Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23510	757-664-7340

The above courts share official business hours of 8:45 am - 4:45 pm, Mondays through Fridays, except on stated public holidays.

Criminal Records Access in Norfolk County

In Norfolk, local criminal case records are maintained by the General District Court and are made available through the Virginia General District Court online portal. However, these are not the same as criminal background checks.

Officially, statewide criminal history and background checks are managed by the Virginia State Police, which serves as the central database for all criminal history-related information within the state. Criminal background checks for employment, licensing, and housing opportunities are typically requested through the Virginia State Police.

Additionally, court records on criminal cases can also be obtained in person at the office of the District Court Clerk. These records may include details like criminal complaints, hearing dates, dispositions, and final sentences.

It is important to note that juvenile records and expunged records may not show up on background checks.

Norfolk County Probate Records

In Norfolk County, probate records are official documents that entail the legal process of settling an individual's estate upon their demise. These documents often include wills, conservatorships, trusts, estates, and testamentary letters. Recent probate filings may be obtained in person from the local clerk's office.

Probate records are generally handled by a Circuit Court Clerk's Office, and are generally public. However, documents with filings involving minors or sensitive medical and financial information are often partially redacted.

Norfolk County Family Court Records

In Norfolk, cases involving divorce proceedings, child custody and visitation arrangements, spousal support cases, and guardianship are often considered family law records. Basic information about these cases is obtainable through the Virginia online case information portal. In contrast, certified copies and complete case files can only be requested at the Clerk's office or through a written request.

It is important to note that records involving adoption, minors, or abuse are often kept exempt from public view. Additionally, obtaining certified copies of family court records involves submitting a request letter and paying the associated certification and copying fees.

Adoption and juvenile records are confidential per Virginia State Statute; however, other family records are usually partially sealed or redacted to protect children's identities.

Federal Court Records in Norfolk County

Federal court records are different from state records, as they fall under federal jurisdiction and are therefore governed by federal law. Federal court records in Norfolk arise from cases filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Norfolk Division, whose courthouse is located at 600 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23510-1915.

Some examples of federal cases include federal criminal prosecutions, bankruptcy proceedings, constitutional claims, maritime disputes, and lawsuits involving federal agencies. Federal case information is commonly accessed through the national Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system, which provides electronic access to dockets and filed documents for federal courts nationwide.