Search Richmond Family Court Records

Richmond family court records are maintained by the Circuit Court for divorce, property, and spousal support cases, and by the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court for custody, child support, and protective order matters.

Richmond Circuit Court Family Records

The Richmond Circuit Court sits in the 13th Judicial Circuit and handles all divorce, property division, and spousal support cases filed in the city. Located at 400 N 9th Street, this court is the court of record for major family law matters. The Clerk of Circuit Court keeps all filed pleadings, financial statements, and final orders and makes them available to the public under state law.

Divorce in Richmond is governed by Chapter 6 of Title 20 of the Virginia Code. Under § 20-91, a no-fault divorce requires one year of continuous separation. If no minor children are involved and the parties have a written separation agreement, that period is six months. Fault grounds include adultery, cruelty, willful desertion, and felony conviction. Property is divided under § 20-107.3, which calls for equitable distribution based on the nature of each asset, each party's contributions, and other relevant factors.

Spousal support is set under § 20-107.1. The court reviews both parties' incomes and earning capacity, the standard of living during the marriage, the length of the marriage, and other factors before making an award. All filed documents are public records under § 17.1-208 unless sealed by court order.

J&DR Court: Custody, Support, and Protective Orders

The Richmond Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court handles custody, visitation, child support, paternity, and family abuse protective order matters. It is located at 1600 W Broad Street. This court hears most family matters involving children and domestic relations that do not require a jury trial.

The J&DR Court operates under Chapter 11 of Title 16.1. Section 16.1-241 gives this court exclusive original jurisdiction over custody and visitation petitions, support cases, paternity proceedings, and family abuse protective orders. Parents seeking to establish or modify a custody or support order outside of a pending divorce case must file in the J&DR Court.

Child support in Richmond is calculated under § 20-108.2 using both parents' gross incomes. The formula accounts for the custody arrangement and can be adjusted for work-related childcare, health insurance, and other expenses. Support for full-time high school students can continue past age 18, up to age 19.

How to Request Richmond Family Court Records

Family court records in Richmond are public and can be accessed in several ways. You can visit the courthouse in person, send a written mail request, or use the Virginia Judicial System's free online search tool to look up basic case information.

The Virginia case information portal lets you search by party name or case number and shows case status, hearing dates, and basic details for both Circuit Court and J&DR cases. It does not provide copies of filed documents. For actual document copies, you must contact the Circuit Court Clerk at 400 N 9th St or the J&DR Court at 1600 W Broad St.

In-person requests are handled during courthouse business hours. Bring the full name of at least one party and the approximate filing year. Fees for copies are set by § 17.1-275. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. Mail requests must include the case details, your contact information, and payment or a request for a cost estimate. Under § 17.1-208(F), the clerk has up to 30 days to respond, though most requests are handled faster.

Types of Family Court Records in Richmond

Family court records in Richmond cover a wide range of filings. Circuit Court divorce files typically include the complaint, financial disclosure statements, property settlement agreements, parenting plans, and the final decree. Contested cases may include depositions, expert reports, and exhibits. J&DR files cover custody orders, support orders, and protective orders.

• Divorce decrees and final orders
• Property settlement agreements
• Custody and visitation orders
• Child support orders and wage withholding notices
• Spousal support orders
• Protective orders under § 16.1-253.2
• Paternity orders and voluntary acknowledgments
• Modification orders for custody or support

Certain records are sealed by law. Adoption files, juvenile delinquency records, and child abuse and neglect cases are restricted. To access sealed records, you must file a motion with the court showing good cause. The judge decides whether to allow access based on the specific circumstances of your request.

Child Custody Standards in Richmond

Custody decisions in Richmond follow the best interests of the child standard set out in § 20-124.2 and § 20-124.3. Virginia does not presume that either parent is better suited for custody. The court focuses solely on the child's welfare.

The statutory factors include the child's age and physical condition, each parent's physical and mental health, the relationship each parent has with the child, the child's need for continuity with siblings and extended family, each parent's role in past caregiving, each parent's willingness to support the other's relationship with the child, and any history of family abuse or sexual abuse. The child's preference is a factor when the child is old enough to form a reasonable opinion.

Section 20-124.4 requires parents in contested custody cases to attend a dispute resolution orientation session before trial. Mediation is used widely in Richmond to help families reach custody and visitation agreements without a contested hearing. Under § 20-124.5, a parent who plans to relocate with the child must give the other parent at least 30 days written notice. A planned move can trigger a review of the existing custody order.

Richmond courts may also issue parenting time orders as part of a final custody arrangement, setting out a specific schedule for each parent's time with the child.

Child Support Enforcement in Richmond

Richmond residents can use Virginia's child support program for help establishing and enforcing support orders. The Division of Child Support Enforcement at the Department of Social Services handles cases statewide and provides services to any parent or caretaker. The Division can locate a non-custodial parent, establish paternity through genetic testing, obtain a support order, and enforce it through income withholding, tax refund intercepts, license suspension, and credit reporting.

Administrative support orders issued under § 63.2-1903 carry the same legal weight as court orders. Interstate cases involving parents in different states are handled under UIFSA in Chapter 5.3 of Title 20. Civil family court records in Richmond are kept for at least 20 years under § 17.1-213.

Virginia Vital Records for Richmond

Certified copies of marriage and divorce records for Richmond cases are also available from the Virginia Department of Health Vital Records office. The Vital Records office maintains statewide indexes and can mail certified copies. This is useful if you need a certified copy for legal or administrative purposes and cannot visit the courthouse.

Marriage licenses in Richmond are issued by the Clerk of Circuit Court under § 20-14 and 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 Circuit Court Clerk and the Vital Records office.

Nearby Virginia Cities

These independent cities are close to Richmond. Each has its own Circuit Court and J&DR Court for family law matters.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Richmond. If you are unsure which court serves your address, contact the clerk's office.