King William County Court Records Search

King William County court records are kept by the Clerk of Circuit Court at the courthouse in King William, Virginia. The county is part of Virginia's 9th Judicial Circuit, presided over by Hon. B. Elliott Bondurant. You can search case records online through the Virginia judicial system or visit the courthouse to get copies. The Clerk's office handles civil and criminal cases, land records, wills, probate, and marriage licenses, with records on file going back to 1885 after earlier fires destroyed prior documents.

King William County Circuit Court Clerk

The Clerk of Circuit Court is elected to an eight-year term and serves as the official custodian of all court records in King William County. The office handles civil and criminal case files, land records, wills, probate filings, marriage licenses, and judgments. The Clerk also dockets judgments, files UCC statements, and processes deeds and deeds of trust for the county. Records on file date from 1885, when a fire destroyed earlier documents. Some deed books back to 1702 survive in photocopied form.

The office is open weekdays from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. You can call (804) 769-4936 with questions about specific records or to confirm what you need before visiting. For jury trial schedule updates, a separate line is available at (804) 769-3028. Coversheet form CC-1416 is required for all new civil case filings. The office also accepts e-recording of land records through approved vendors Simplifile and CSC.

The county website at kwc.gov/175/Clerk-of-Circuit-Court has current information on the Clerk's services, forms, and procedures. The King William Circuit Court page on vacourts.gov links to the statewide case search system and court schedules.

Land records are a major function of the King William Clerk's office. Property owners can sign up for the free VADeed Alert notification service at risweb.vacourts.gov/VADeedAlert to get alerts when documents are recorded against their property. The Virginia Courts website provides the circuit court case search portal shown below.

The statewide circuit court case search system covers King William County and lets you look up case records by name or case number at no cost.

How to Search King William Court Records

The Circuit Court Case Information System is the primary online tool for King William County circuit court records. Select King William County from the dropdown and search by name, case number, or hearing date. The system provides docket entries, party names, case type, and real-time status from the Clerk's own database. Civil cases, felony criminal cases, and appeals are all searchable here.

For traffic violations, misdemeanors, and civil matters under $25,000, the General District Court Online Case Information portal is what you need. It pulls case data from the district court and shows charges, hearing dates, and outcomes. Both systems are free and work without any account or login. The Circuit Court is the only court in Virginia where jury trials are held, and it has exclusive jurisdiction over felonies and monetary claims over $50,000.

In-person access at the Clerk's office in King William gives you the most complete view of any file. Older land records and probate documents that predate the digital systems are available at the counter. The office staff can do a name search if you don't have a case number. Call ahead to confirm what documents you need and whether anything must be requested in advance. Mail requests are accepted with proper identification of the case and prepayment.

Note: Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court records are sealed by law and not open to the public without a court order.

King William General District Court

The King William County General District Court handles traffic cases, misdemeanor criminal matters, civil claims up to $25,000, and preliminary hearings for felony charges. Small claims cases of up to $5,000 are also filed in the district court. The General District Court is the first stop for most civil and criminal matters before they may move to the Circuit Court on appeal.

You can look up King William General District Court case records through the GDC Online Case Information portal. The district court's page on the Virginia Courts website is at vacourts.gov/courts/gd/KingWilliam/home.html. Appeals from General District Court decisions must be filed with the Circuit Court within ten days of judgment.

What Court Records Contain in King William

Circuit Court records in King William County include civil lawsuit filings, felony criminal cases, adoptions, divorce proceedings, custody orders, and probate filings. The Circuit Court also hears disputes over wills, trusts, and property. Case files hold the original petition or complaint, all motions from both sides, court orders, and the final judgment. Land records kept by the Clerk include deeds, deeds of trust, assignments, certificates of satisfaction, and plats.

Criminal court records show the charges, warrants, indictments, plea agreements, and sentencing orders. Civil records show the parties, the nature of the dispute, monetary judgments, and appeal documents. Probate records include wills, estate inventories, and court orders related to estate settlement. The King William Clerk's office also maintains UCC financing statements and handles concealed handgun permit records and notary commissions.

Most records are open to the public under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Va. Code § 2.2-3700. Sealed records, adoption files, juvenile court records, and criminal investigation documents are not open to the public. When you are unsure whether a file is public, call the Clerk at (804) 769-4936 before making the trip.

Getting Copies of King William Court Records

Copies of court records from the King William County Clerk's office cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies, which carry the deputy clerk's signature and official seal, cost an additional $2.00 per document. Triple-seal copies signed by both the Clerk and a judge add another $2.50 to the total. These fees cover court documents, land records, and most other official files held by the Clerk.

Land records are also available through the Clerk's land records division at kwc.gov/361/Land-Records. E-recording is accepted through Simplifile and CSC. Mail requests require the names of all parties, the case year, and a check or money order made out to the Clerk of the King William Circuit Court. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return. In-person requests are typically handled the same day. Mail requests may take a few business days.

Public Access and FOIA

The Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Va. Code § 2.2-3700, gives state residents the right to inspect and copy public records held by government bodies including the courts. The Clerk of Circuit Court must respond to a records request within five business days. You do not need to explain why you want the records.

Exemptions include sealed cases, adoption records, juvenile court files, criminal investigation records, and certain mental health documents. More about Virginia's open records law is available at nfoic.org/virginia-foia-laws. Contact the Clerk's office if you have questions about whether a specific record is available to the public.

Legal Resources for King William County

The Virginia Courts Self-Help website at selfhelp.vacourts.gov provides guides on common court matters, including how to file a small claim, respond to civil suits, and find a case online. It is a useful starting point if you are handling a court matter on your own and need help understanding what steps to take.

The Virginia State Bar offers a referral service to help you find a licensed attorney. Virginia Legal Aid organizations serve residents who may not be able to afford private counsel. Contact your local legal aid office to ask about available services and income guidelines. These programs can help with civil matters in King William County courts.

Nearby Counties

King William County is located in the Middle Peninsula region of Virginia, near Hanover, New Kent, and King and Queen counties.