Colonial Heights Family Court Records
Colonial Heights family court records are filed with the Circuit Court and the J&DR Court. The Circuit Court handles divorce and property matters; the J&DR Court handles custody, support, and protective orders.
City of Colonial Heights Overview
Colonial Heights Circuit Court Family Records
Colonial Heights is an independent city in the Richmond metropolitan area, located just south of Petersburg. The Colonial Heights Circuit Court sits in the 12th Judicial Circuit along with Chesterfield County. The Circuit Court handles divorce, property division, and spousal support cases for Colonial Heights city residents. All divorce filings become part of the permanent public record maintained by the Clerk of Circuit Court at 550 Boulevard.
Virginia divorce law is in Chapter 6 of Title 20. Under § 20-91, a no-fault divorce requires one year of separation. That period drops to six months when the parties have no minor children and have signed a written separation agreement. Fault-based divorce is available for adultery, cruelty, willful desertion, and felony conviction. Property division under § 20-107.3 requires the court to classify, value, and equitably distribute all marital assets and debts. Spousal support is governed by § 20-107.1, which requires courts to weigh each party's income, needs, the length of the marriage, and other relevant factors.
The Clerk of Circuit Court at 550 Boulevard maintains all case files. The clerk's office is the place to go for divorce records, property settlement agreements, and final decrees from Colonial Heights family cases.
| Office | Colonial Heights Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 550 Boulevard, Colonial Heights, VA 23834 |
| Phone | (804) 520-9364 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Website | Circuit Court Directory |
J&DR Court: Custody, Support, and Protective Orders
The Colonial Heights Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court is at the same address as the Circuit Court at 550 Boulevard. This court handles child custody and visitation, child support, paternity, and family abuse protective orders for Colonial Heights residents. It also covers juvenile delinquency, which is handled separately from civil family matters.
The J&DR Court's authority comes from Chapter 11 of Title 16.1. Under § 16.1-241, this court has exclusive original jurisdiction over custody, support, visitation, and protective order matters when no divorce is pending in the Circuit Court. Child support is calculated under § 20-108.2, using both parents' gross incomes and the custody arrangement to arrive at a presumptive monthly amount. Courts may deviate when circumstances justify a different amount. Support can extend to age 19 for students who are still enrolled in high school full-time.
| Office | Colonial Heights J&DR Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 550 Boulevard, Colonial Heights, VA 23834 |
| Phone | (804) 520-9397 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
Note: Emergency protective orders in Colonial Heights are available at any time through the on-duty magistrate under § 16.1-253.4. Emergency orders take effect immediately and remain in force until the next court session.
How to Request Colonial Heights Family Court Records
Family court records in Colonial Heights are public under § 17.1-208 unless sealed. You can access them in person at 550 Boulevard, by mail, or through the Virginia Judicial System's free online case search. Both courts are in the same building, which makes in-person visits convenient.
The Virginia Judicial System's online case information system covers Colonial Heights Circuit Court and J&DR cases. Search by party name or case number at no charge. The tool shows case status, hearing dates, and basic case information but does not provide document images. For copies of actual records, contact the clerk's office.
In-person visits to 550 Boulevard are the most reliable approach. Have the full name of at least one party and the approximate filing year. The clerk's staff will find the file. Copy fees are set under § 17.1-275. Certified copies cost more and require a written request. Mail requests should include party names, case number if available, your return address, and payment. The clerk has 30 days to respond under § 17.1-208(F).
Types of Family Court Records Available
Colonial Heights Circuit Court divorce files include the complaint, financial disclosures, any settlement agreement, and the final decree. Contested cases may also include depositions, expert valuations, and multiple interim orders. J&DR Court files contain custody petitions, support orders, protective orders, and paternity documents.
- Divorce complaints and final decrees
- Property settlement and separation agreements
- Equitable distribution orders
- Custody and visitation orders
- Child support orders and income withholding notices
- Protective orders under § 16.1-253.2
- Paternity orders and voluntary acknowledgments
- Spousal support and modification orders
Adoption records are sealed. Juvenile delinquency files and certain child abuse and neglect proceedings are restricted. Access to sealed records requires a court order on a showing of good cause.
Child Custody in Colonial Heights
Custody cases in Colonial Heights follow the best interests of the child standard in § 20-124.2 and § 20-124.3. No parent gets a presumption. Courts look at all ten statutory factors on a case-by-case basis.
The ten factors under § 20-124.3 include the child's age and physical and mental condition; each parent's age, condition, and role in raising the child; the child's relationships with each parent, siblings, and extended family; each parent's willingness to support the other parent's relationship with the child; any history of family abuse or sexual abuse; and the child's own preference if the child is sufficiently mature. Courts weigh all ten factors. No single one is decisive.
Section 20-124.4 requires dispute resolution orientation before a contested custody case proceeds to trial. Mediation leads to agreement in many Colonial Heights cases. When parents agree, courts enter the plan as an order if it serves the child's interests. Under § 20-124.5, a parent planning to relocate with the child must give 30 days' written notice. The other parent can challenge the move in court, and the court will hold a hearing to evaluate whether the relocation serves the child's best interests.
Virginia Child Support Enforcement Services
The Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE) assists Colonial Heights residents with child support establishment, modification, and collection. DCSE can establish paternity, issue administrative support orders under § 63.2-1903, and enforce orders through wage withholding, tax intercepts, and license suspensions. All services are available to parents and caretakers at no or low cost regardless of income. Interstate cases are handled under UIFSA in Chapter 5.3 of Title 20.
Court records in Colonial Heights are retained for at least 20 years from the final order under § 17.1-213. Older divorce and support files remain in the clerk's office long after the cases are closed.
Virginia Vital Records for Colonial Heights
Marriage and divorce certificates for Colonial Heights residents are on file with the Virginia Department of Health Vital Records office in Richmond. The Vital Records office issues certified copies and maintains a statewide index. Marriage licenses in Colonial Heights are issued by the Circuit Court Clerk under § 20-14. Licenses are valid for 60 days. After the ceremony, the officiant returns the signed license to the clerk for filing. Certified copies are available from both the clerk's office and the Vital Records office.
Nearby Virginia Jurisdictions
These cities and counties are in the Richmond-Petersburg area near Colonial Heights. Chesterfield County shares the 12th Circuit with Colonial Heights.