Find Hanover County Court Records

Hanover County court records are kept by the Clerk of Circuit Court at the county complex in Hanover, Virginia. The county is part of the 15th Judicial Circuit. You can search case information online through Virginia's statewide case tools or through Hanover County's own online portal, visit the Clerk's office in person, or request records by mail. Civil and criminal case files, land records, wills, marriage licenses, and probate documents are all part of the public record and available under Virginia law.

Hanover County Circuit Court Clerk

The Hanover County Clerk of Circuit Court maintains all official court records for the county. The office handles civil and criminal case files, land records, judgments, UCC filings, wills, and marriage records. The Clerk also processes applications for concealed handgun permits, issues hunting and fishing licenses, handles notary commission applications, processes passport applications, and probates wills. The office qualifies executors, administrators, guardians, and conservators. Change of name forms are also available through the Clerk.

The Clerk's office is at 7530 County Complex Road in Hanover. It's open Monday through Friday. Call (804) 365-6150 before visiting to confirm hours and what you'll need. Mail requests are accepted. Hanover County's Clerk's Office is one of the more active offices in central Virginia, serving a county with a large and growing population north of Richmond.

The Hanover County Circuit Court online portal lets you search land records, judgment indexes, UCC filings, will indexes, and marriage records. You can purchase copies of documents online without visiting the office. Certified copies can also be requested remotely through the portal.

This screenshot shows the Hanover County Circuit Court Clerk's online portal, where you can search indexes to land, judgment, will, and marriage records and request certified copies remotely.

How to Search Hanover County Court Records

Hanover County has its own online records portal at hanovercountyva-web.tylerhost.net. This tool gives you access to indexes for land records, judgments, UCC filings, wills, and marriage records. You can view the index and purchase copies of documents you find. Copies cost fifty cents a page plus a credit card processing fee. Subscriptions for the portal cost $50.00 per month or $500 per year.

For civil and criminal case information, use the Circuit Court Case Information System. Select "Hanover County Circuit Court" from the dropdown and search by name, case number, or hearing date. For General District Court matters, use the General District Court Online Case Information system. Both state tools are free and don't require an account.

This page outlines the range of services provided by the Hanover County Circuit Court Clerk's Office, from court records to concealed handgun permits and change of name forms.

Hanover County General District Court Records

The Hanover County General District Court is located at 7515 Library Drive, Hanover, VA 23069. The court's phone is (804) 365-6191. It handles traffic violations, misdemeanor criminal matters, civil claims up to $25,000, and small claims up to $5,000. Preliminary hearings in felony cases are also conducted here. The Hanover Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court is at 7507 Library Drive, Hanover, VA 23069, with a phone of (804) 365-6209.

General District Court records are searchable through the GDC Online Case Information system. Select Hanover County from the court list. Certified documents from the General District Court typically cost $2 to $5 per document. Appeals from General District Court decisions must be filed with the Circuit Court within ten days of the judgment.

Note: Records from the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court are confidential under Virginia law and are not accessible through public search tools.

Types of Court Records in Hanover County

Hanover County Circuit Court records include civil case filings, felony criminal cases, probate records, divorce proceedings, and land records. Civil case files hold the initial complaint, all motions, court orders, and the final judgment. Felony criminal files contain indictments, plea agreements, and sentencing orders. Probate records cover wills, estate inventories, and guardianship matters. Marriage records from the Clerk's office date to the county's incorporation in 1720. Land records go back to at least 1733.

UCC filings, judgment liens, and other documents affecting property interests are also recorded at the Clerk's office. The online portal at hanovercountyva-web.tylerhost.net lets you search the index for these records and order copies without visiting in person. The portal covers land, judgment, UCC, will, and marriage record indexes. For full case file access and court proceeding records, the state's Circuit Court Case Information System is the right tool.

Most Hanover County court records are public under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Va. Code § 2.2-3700. Sealed cases, juvenile records, and adoption files are not accessible to the public.

Getting Copies of Hanover Court Records

Standard copies from the Hanover County Clerk's office cost $0.50 per page. Through the online portal, copies also cost fifty cents per page plus a credit card processing fee. Certified copies carry the deputy clerk's signature and seal and have an added fee of $2.00 per document. Triple-seal copies, signed by the Clerk and a judge, cost an additional $2.50 per document. General District Court certified documents typically run $2 to $5 each.

Mail requests are accepted at the Circuit Court office. Include the case number or year the case was filed, the full names of all parties, and a certified check or money order made out to the Clerk of Hanover Circuit Court. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. In-person requests are handled quickly, often the same day. The online portal is the fastest way to get land record index searches and copies without a trip to the courthouse.

Public Access and FOIA in Hanover County

Under Va. Code § 2.2-3700, Virginia residents have the right to inspect and copy public records held by government bodies including the Hanover County courts. The Clerk of Circuit Court must respond to records requests within five business days. You don't need to explain why you want the records. Court records are public and can be used freely once you have them.

Some records are exempt from public access. Sealed court files, juvenile records, adoption records, and records connected to ongoing investigations are not open. Virginia's FOIA law limits formal requests to state residents and qualifying media entities. More information on Virginia's open records laws is at nfoic.org/virginia-foia-laws.

Legal Resources in Hanover County

The Virginia Courts Self-Help website provides free guides on how to find a case, file a small claim, respond to a civil suit, and understand court documents. The site covers both Circuit Court and General District Court matters and is available to anyone without an account. It's a solid starting point if you're new to navigating court records in Hanover County.

The Virginia State Bar runs a lawyer referral service for people who need legal counsel. Central Virginia Legal Aid Society serves residents with lower incomes and can help with family law, housing, and civil matters. Contact your local legal aid office to ask about eligibility and available services in Hanover County.

Nearby Counties

Hanover County is located north of Richmond in the Richmond metro area. It borders several counties in the central Virginia region.