Find Family Court Records in Henrico County

Henrico County family court records are maintained by two separate courts: the Circuit Court holds divorce, property, and spousal support files, while the J&DR Court keeps custody, child support, and protective order records.

Henrico County Circuit Court Family Records

The Henrico County Circuit Court is in the 14th Judicial Circuit and handles all divorce, property division, and spousal support cases filed in Henrico County. It is one of the busier suburban courts in Virginia, serving a large population in the Richmond metro area. All filings become part of the permanent public record held by the Clerk of Circuit Court.

Divorce filings in Henrico County follow Chapter 6 of Title 20 of the Virginia Code. Under § 20-91, spouses can file for no-fault divorce after living separate and apart for one year. That period is cut to six months if both parties have signed a separation agreement and there are no minor children. Fault-based grounds include adultery, cruelty, willful desertion, and felony conviction. The court applies § 20-107.3 to classify and divide marital property and debts in contested cases.

Spousal support orders in Henrico County are governed by § 20-107.1. The court considers the needs and earning potential of each party, the length of the marriage, and the standard of living the couple maintained. There is no formula for spousal support in Virginia. The Clerk maintains the official court record and makes most files available to the public under § 17.1-208.

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

The Henrico County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court is the court to contact for custody, visitation, child support, paternity, and family abuse protective orders. It operates under Chapter 11 of Title 16.1, which gives it exclusive original jurisdiction over these family matters outside of active divorce proceedings.

To open a custody case in the J&DR Court, a parent or caretaker must file a petition at the clerk's window. The court sets a hearing date, and both parties receive notice. If the case is contested, the court may appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the child's interests. Mediation is available at no cost through the court's dispute resolution program before a contested hearing takes place.

Child support amounts are set using the guidelines in § 20-108.2. Both parents' gross incomes are factored in along with the custody arrangement. Work-related childcare costs and health insurance premiums can also be added to the base support amount. The J&DR Court enforces support through wage withholding and can refer delinquent payers to the Division of Child Support Enforcement.

How to Request Henrico County Family Court Records

Most family court records in Henrico County are open to the public. You can search and access them in person, by mail, or online through the state's free case lookup system.

The Virginia Judicial System's online case information portal is available to anyone at no charge. You can search by party name or case number and see filing dates, hearing schedules, and case status for both Circuit Court and J&DR cases in Henrico County. Document images are not available through this tool. To get copies of actual filed documents, contact the clerk's office directly.

For in-person requests, go to the Henrico County courthouse during business hours. Bring the full name of at least one party and the approximate year of filing. Clerk staff can find the case in the index and pull the file for review. Copy fees are set under § 17.1-275 and cannot exceed actual duplication costs. Certified copies require a specific written request and carry a higher fee.

To request records by mail, write to the clerk's office and include both parties' names, the case number if known, a description of the documents needed, and either a payment or a request for a fee estimate before payment. The statutory deadline for response is 30 days under § 17.1-208(F), but most requests are handled much sooner.

Types of Family Court Records in Henrico County

Henrico County family court files can include a wide range of documents depending on the type of case and how contested it was. A typical divorce file at the Circuit Court contains the complaint for divorce, the final decree, and any property settlement or separation agreement filed with the court. Contested cases can have much larger files with depositions, appraisals, and hearing transcripts.

• Divorce complaints and final decrees
• Property settlement and separation agreements
• Equitable distribution orders
• Custody and visitation orders
• Child support orders and income withholding
• Protective orders (emergency, preliminary, final)
• Paternity petitions and orders
• Spousal support and modification orders

Certain records are not public. Adoption files and juvenile delinquency records are sealed by law. Records from child abuse and neglect proceedings are also restricted. If you need access to a restricted file, you must file a motion in the court that holds the record and demonstrate good cause for access. The judge reviews the motion and decides whether the circumstances justify disclosure.

Child Custody Standards in Henrico County

Henrico County courts apply the best interests of the child standard under § 20-124.2 and § 20-124.3 when deciding custody cases. Virginia law does not give either parent a preference based on age, gender, or any other factor. The child's welfare is the primary consideration, and both parents are evaluated equally.

The ten statutory factors the court must weigh include the child's age and physical and mental condition, the age and condition of each parent, each parent's relationship with the child, the child's relationships with siblings and extended family members, each parent's past role in the child's upbringing, and each parent's willingness to actively support the other parent's relationship with the child. The court also considers the reasonable preference of a child who is mature enough to express one, and any history of family abuse or sexual abuse by either party.

Section 20-124.4 requires parents in contested custody cases to attend a dispute resolution orientation before the case can go to trial. This is free and uses certified mediators. Many Henrico County families resolve custody disputes through mediation without a full hearing. If mediation does not work, the case proceeds to a contested hearing where each parent presents evidence.

Relocation with a child requires 30 days written notice to the other parent under § 20-124.5. A parent who moves without notice risks having the custody order changed.

Virginia Child Support Enforcement Services

Henrico County residents can use Virginia's statewide child support enforcement program for help with establishing, modifying, or collecting support. The Division of Child Support Enforcement within the Virginia Department of Social Services provides services at no cost to custodial parents and serves any family regardless of income.

The Division can establish paternity through genetic testing, issue administrative support orders under § 63.2-1903, enforce orders by withholding income at the source, intercept tax refunds, suspend driver's licenses and professional licenses, and report delinquent parents to credit bureaus. Administrative orders have the same force as court orders. Henrico County's DCSE local office can be reached through the statewide program.

Court records in Henrico County are retained for at least 20 years from the date of the last order under § 17.1-213. This makes it possible to access older divorce and custody files well after cases close.

Virginia Vital Records for Henrico County

Marriage and divorce records for Henrico County are also on file with the Virginia Department of Health Vital Records office. The Vital Records office maintains statewide indexes and can issue certified copies of marriage and divorce certificates. This is a good option if you need a certified copy but cannot come to the courthouse in person.

Marriage licenses for Henrico County are issued by the Clerk of Circuit Court under § 20-14. Licenses are valid for 60 days. After the ceremony, the signed license is returned to the clerk, who files and preserves the original. Certified copies are available from both the clerk and the Vital Records office.

Nearby Virginia Cities

The independent city of Richmond borders Henrico County and has its own Circuit Court and J&DR Court for family law matters.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Henrico County. If you are unsure which court has jurisdiction, confirm your address.