Henrico County Court Records

Henrico County court records are kept by the Clerk of Circuit Court at the courthouse on East Parham Road in Henrico. You can search case files online through the county's own portal or through the Virginia judicial system's statewide tools, or visit the clerk's office in person to view files and request copies. The county operates one of the busier court systems in Virginia, with a separate circuit court, general district court, and juvenile and domestic relations court each maintaining their own records.

Circuit Court Clerk Henrico County

The Clerk of Henrico Circuit Court is Hon. Heidi S. Barshinger. Her office keeps all court records for the county, including civil and criminal case files, land records, probate matters, marriage licenses, and judgments. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. You can reach staff by phone, and the office accepts cash, check, money orders, and credit cards. A two percent convenience fee applies to Visa and MasterCard payments.

The Henrico Circuit Court is part of the 14th Judicial Circuit of Virginia. The clerk's main office is located in the Courthouse Building on East Parham Road. A mailing address is also available for submitting written requests. The Criminal Division handles all felony cases and misdemeanors that originate in circuit court. The General District Court is a separate entity with its own clerk's office and handles different matter types. The Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court handles family-related matters and its records are not public.

The Henrico County Clerk's Office page at henrico.us/clerk lists available forms for criminal, civil, deed, and fiduciary matters, along with instructions for copy requests.

This screenshot shows the Henrico County clerk's office page, which provides contact details, available forms, and guidance on requesting copies of court records.

How to Search Henrico County Court Records

Henrico County has its own online portal for viewing circuit court records. The Henrico Circuit Court online records page at henrico.gov gives public users access to case information. Attorneys and qualified users can apply for OCRA (Officer of the Court Remote Access), which provides a higher level of remote access to case files. OCRA inquiries can be sent to circuitclerk@henrico.us, and an application and subscriber agreement are required.

For broader searches across the state system, use the Circuit Court Case Information System. Select Henrico County Circuit from the dropdown and search by party name, case number, or hearing date. The system reflects real-time data from the clerk's office. General District Court records are available through the GDC Online Case Information portal, which covers traffic, misdemeanor, and civil cases heard in Henrico's general district court.

In-person visits to the clerk's office give you access to the full case file. You can view documents that may not appear in the online system, including exhibits and older filings. Bring any information you have about the case, such as a party name or year of filing. Staff can assist with name searches when you do not have a case number ready.

This screenshot shows the Henrico circuit court online records page, where users can access case information or apply for the OCRA remote access program.

Note: Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court records in Henrico County are not public and are not available through any online system.

General District Court in Henrico County

The Henrico County General District Court is a separate court from the Circuit Court. It handles civil claims up to $25,000, traffic violations, misdemeanor criminal cases, and preliminary hearings for felony charges. Small claims matters involving up to $5,000 can be filed here as well. The General District Court has its own clerk's office and maintains its own set of records, separate from those held by the Circuit Court Clerk.

Cases in the General District Court are not jury trials. A judge decides the outcome. If a party disagrees with the ruling, they can appeal to the Circuit Court, but a notice of appeal must be filed within ten days of the judgment. The General District Court online system at eapps.courts.state.va.us/gdcourts lets you search Henrico GDC cases by name, case number, or date.

Henrico Court Record Types

Henrico County court records span a wide range of case types and document formats. Circuit Court records include civil lawsuit filings, felony criminal matters, divorce and custody cases, appeals from lower courts, estate probate filings, and land record documents. Each civil or criminal case file holds the initial petition or complaint, all motions and responses, court orders, and the final judgment or ruling. The clerk's office is also where you find deeds, mortgages, judgment liens, and plats recorded for property in the county.

Criminal court records show the charges filed against a defendant, any arrest warrants or indictments, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and post-conviction filings. Civil records show who filed the case, what was disputed, how the court ruled, and any financial judgments entered. Land records kept by the Henrico Clerk include deeds of trust, assignments, certificates of satisfaction, and other instruments recorded since the county was established.

The Henrico land records recording page at henrico.us provides information on submitting documents for recording. As of January 1, 2020, a $5.00 per instrument fee applies to land records filed by paper. Documents must meet the Library of Virginia's standards for recorded instruments, and plats must meet separate plat standards. The Record Room line is (804) 501-4249 for land record questions.

This screenshot shows the Henrico land records page, which covers recording requirements and fees for documents submitted to the clerk's office.

Most Henrico County court records are available for public inspection under Virginia's open records laws. Some files, including sealed cases, juvenile records, and adoption files, are restricted. Personal identification numbers in court filings are partially redacted under Va. Code Section 8.01-420.8, which requires that only the last four digits of Social Security numbers and similar identifiers appear in public documents.

Copies and Fees for Henrico Records

Standard copies of court records from the Henrico clerk's office cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies, which include the deputy clerk's signature and official seal, carry an additional fee of $2.00 per document. If you need a triple-seal copy signed by both the clerk and a judge, the additional cost is $2.50 per document. These fees apply to civil and criminal records as well as land records kept by the clerk.

The clerk accepts cash, checks, money orders, Visa, and MasterCard. Credit and debit card payments incur a two percent convenience fee. For mail requests, include the case number or the year and names of both parties, along with a certified check or money order payable to the Clerk of the Henrico Circuit Court. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope so the clerk can return documents to you. Call (804) 501-4202 before mailing to confirm availability and exact costs.

Online payments for fines in criminal cases are handled through the Virginia Judiciary Online Payment System. A convenience fee applies to card payments made through that portal.

FOIA and Public Access in Henrico

Virginia's Freedom of Information Act, found at Va. Code § 2.2-3700, gives residents the right to inspect and copy public records held by government offices including the Henrico Circuit Court clerk. All court records are presumed open unless a specific exemption applies. The clerk must respond to records requests within five business days. You do not need to explain why you want the records or how you plan to use them.

Some records are not open. Sealed case files, adoption records, juvenile court records, certain mental health documents, and active criminal investigation files may be withheld. Virginia limits formal FOIA requests to state residents, so you must be a Virginia citizen or a qualifying media outlet to submit a written request. Additional information about the law is available at nfoic.org/virginia-foia-laws.

Note: The OCRA remote access program for attorneys provides a higher level of access beyond what is available through standard public search tools.

Legal Help for Henrico County Cases

If you need help with a court matter in Henrico County, a few resources can point you in the right direction. The Virginia Courts Self-Help site at selfhelp.vacourts.gov has plain-language guides for common court tasks, including how to find a case, understand court documents, and file a response to a civil suit. The site is free and does not require an account.

The Virginia State Bar lawyer referral service can connect you with an attorney in Henrico or the surrounding area. Call (800) 552-7977 to reach the referral line. Legal aid organizations in the Richmond metro area serve low-income residents and may be able to assist with civil matters such as housing, family law, or small claims cases. Contact your local legal aid office to ask about income guidelines and available services.

This screenshot shows a Henrico County court records information page summarizing the three courts, their contact details, and links to online case search tools.

Nearby Counties

Henrico County surrounds the city of Richmond and borders several other Virginia counties. If you are unsure which court handles your case, confirm the address of the incident or residence before filing.