Franklin County Court Records
Franklin County court records are filed with the Circuit Court Clerk's Office at 275 South Main Street in Rocky Mount, Virginia. Court records cover civil, criminal, family, and probate cases handled in the 22nd Judicial Circuit. You can search cases online through the Virginia Judicial System, visit the courthouse in person, or submit a mail request for copies. This page covers the clerk's role, how to search, what records contain, and what it costs to get copies.
Franklin County Overview
Franklin County Circuit Court Clerk
The Clerk of the Circuit Court in Franklin County is an elected official. Citizens elect the clerk every eight years. The clerk handles a broad set of duties: docketing judgments, filing financial statements under the Uniform Commercial Code, recording deeds and deed of trust documents, processing lawsuits, filing adoption proceedings, handling appeals from the General District Court, and issuing marriage licenses. The clerk also probates wills, collects fines and costs, and prepares criminal files and orders.
The Franklin County Circuit Court is at 275 South Main Street, Suite 212, Rocky Mount, VA 24151. The General District Court is in the same building at Suite 111. The Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court is at Suite 3 in the same courthouse complex. The main phone for the Circuit Court is (540) 483-3065.
| Office | Franklin County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 275 South Main Street, Suite 212 P.O. Box 567 Rocky Mount, VA 24151 |
| Phone | (540) 483-3065 |
| Fax | (540) 483-3042 |
| General District Court | Suite 111, P.O. Box 569 Phone: (540) 483-3060 |
| JDR District Court | Suite 3, Rocky Mount, VA 24151 Phone: (540) 483-3055 |
| Website | franklincountyva.gov/507/Clerk-of-the-Circuit-Court |
The Franklin County Clerk of Circuit Court page describes the full range of services the office provides. It is a good starting point if you are not sure which document type you need or which office handles a specific request.
The Franklin County Circuit Court clerk page on the county website details the office's responsibilities, from recording deeds to processing divorce filings and probating wills.
Searching Franklin County Court Records Online and In Person
You can search Franklin County court records online through the Virginia Circuit Court Case Information System. This free tool lets you search by party name, case number, or hearing date for cases in the 22nd Judicial Circuit. For district court cases, use the General District Court Case Information portal. Both are available without a login or fee.
The Virginia Courts online case information portal also provides access to civil and criminal cases statewide. You select the locality, then search by name or case number. Franklin County cases appear in the system when the court has made them available through the state's case management infrastructure.
For in-person visits, go to 275 South Main Street in Rocky Mount during courthouse hours. Staff can locate records, let you review files, and make copies on request. For records involving the General District Court or the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, go to the appropriate suite in the same building. The General District Court has exclusive jurisdiction over civil claims below $4,500 and shared jurisdiction with the Circuit Court for claims between $4,500 and $25,000.
Note: Online civil records from Franklin County are available through the Circuit Court Case Information portal, but not all older records may be in the system. For historical records, an in-person visit may be necessary.
Franklin County General District Court
The Franklin County General District Court is in the 22nd Judicial District. It handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and civil claims under $25,000. Cases that cannot be resolved in the General District Court can be appealed to the Circuit Court for a de novo hearing. The district court is at 275 South Main Street, Suite 111, Rocky Mount, with a phone of (540) 483-3060 and a fax of (540) 483-3036. Search district court cases through the statewide GDC portal.
What Franklin County Court Records Contain
Franklin County court records include a wide range of documents. Civil case files hold complaints, motions, court orders, and final judgments. Criminal files include indictments, plea agreements, guilty verdicts, sentencing orders, and probation documents. Family law records cover divorces, custody orders, support agreements, name changes, and adoptions. Probate files include wills, estate inventories, guardianship orders, and letters testamentary. All of these are on file with the Circuit Court Clerk.
The clerk also keeps land records for Franklin County. Deeds, deeds of trust, mechanics liens, plats, and related instruments are recorded and indexed at the clerk's office. Judgments and financing statements are also part of this system. Marriage licenses, UCC filings, and military discharges are maintained as well. Most are public records accessible to anyone during office hours.
Getting Copies of Franklin County Court Records
Copy fees in Virginia circuit courts are standardized: $0.50 per page for plain copies, plus $2.00 for certified copies, and $2.50 more for triple-seal copies. To request by mail, write to the Franklin County Circuit Court Clerk at P.O. Box 567, Rocky Mount, VA 24151. Include the names of all parties, the case number or approximate year, and a check or money order made out to the clerk. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want the copies returned by mail.
In-person visits work well for people who need a file quickly or want to review the full contents before ordering specific pages. Go to 275 South Main Street, Suite 212 during courthouse hours. Staff will pull the file. You can review it and order copies on the spot. Bring a photo ID with you.
Public Records and FOIA in Franklin County
Virginia's Freedom of Information Act, Va. Code § 2.2-3700, makes most Franklin County court records open to the public. You do not have to justify why you want a record or show any connection to a case. Sealed records, records involving juveniles, and some records restricted by other statutes are exceptions. The clerk must give you a written reason if access to a record is denied. For more detail on FOIA rights in Virginia, visit nfoic.org/virginia-foia-laws.
Court records are also governed by Virginia Code § 17.1-208, which addresses access to circuit court records specifically. This statute reinforces the general rule that most court records are open.
Legal Resources in Franklin County
The Virginia State Bar lawyer referral service operates at (800) 552-7977. Blue Ridge Legal Services provides free civil legal help to low-income residents in the Southwest Virginia region, including Franklin County. Call ahead to confirm eligibility and what types of cases they handle. The Virginia self-help court portal at selfhelp.vacourts.gov offers guides, forms, and step-by-step help for civil and family law matters without a lawyer. It is a useful resource for people who want to understand the process before hiring an attorney or proceeding on their own.
Nearby Counties
Franklin County is in the foothills of the Blue Ridge in Southwest Virginia. These surrounding counties also have Circuit Court Clerk offices with public records.