Search Hanover Court Records

HanoverCountyCourt.us is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA and does not provide consumer reports.
All searches conducted on HanoverCountyCourt.us are subject to the Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.

Hanover County, Virginia Court Records

Hanover County court records refer to all the official documents created and handled by the courts that serve Hanover County, Virginia. These are judicial records that tell the full history of all the cases processed through the local court system. These court files reveal information about all filed motions, judgments, orders, and hearing dates. The Clerk of the Circuit Court is the primary custodian of these records (Virginia Code § 17.1-242). Court records frequently connect to other official records. A criminal case, for example, may link to arrest records held by law enforcement or vital records such as birth and death certificates.

Are Hanover County Court Records Public?

Yes. Hanover County court records are available to the public upon request. The Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Va. Code § 2.2-3700) holds that all public records, including court records, are open to inspection and copying by any person. However, not all court records are available for public access. Requests for records may be denied under the following circumstances:

  • A court has sealed the case or record.
  • The case involves juvenile proceedings (Va. Code § 16.1-305).
  • The record contains confidential victim or witness information.
  • The record contains adoption information (Va. Code § 63.2-1245).
  • State or federal law specifically makes the record confidential.
  • The file includes protected medical or mental health information.

What Information is Available in Hanover County Court Records?

Hanover County court records contain a wide range of information depending on the type and nature of the case. The following are usually found in these records:

  • Names of the lawyers, defendants and plaintiff
  • Case numbers
  • Dates of filing
  • Charges and how the case was resolved
  • Official court orders, rulings, and decisions
  • Hearing schedules and court dates
  • Details regarding bonds and bail

Hanover County Court Records Search

Hanover County court records are kept in three different courts. Each court deals with different kinds of cases, and the following options explain how to find and get these records:

  • Online Access

The following official portals provide online access to Hanover County court records. The available information on each portal differs by case type and court:

All Hanover County courts are located at the County complex. Public access terminals are available on-site for searching, viewing, and printing records. Also, court staff can pull specific case files and explain court procedures, but cannot provide legal advice.

Hanover County Courthouse complex

7530 County Complex Road

Hanover, VA 23069

  • Mail and Phone Requests

Requestors may also submit written record requests by mail or phone to the relevant court. All requests are treated on a first-in, first-out basis. Payments can be made by phone via check, money order, or credit card. Requests take three to seven workdays.

Circuit Court

Mailing Address

P.O. Box 39

Hanover, VA 23069

Phone: (804) 365-6151

General District Court

Mailing Address

P.O. Box 176

Hanover, VA 23069

Phone: (804) 365-6191

Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court

Mailing Address

P.O. Box 86

Hanover, VA 23069

Phone: (804) 365-6200

Fees for Court Records in Hanover County

There are usually no financial costs when inspecting Hanover County court records. This means any person may walk into a courthouse and review records at no cost. However, fees may apply if the court clerk has to perform processing actions, such as printing documents, searching files, or reviewing records for restricted information. Va. Code § 17.1-275 sets firm limits on what court clerks can charge requestors:

  • Each page of a standard Circuit Court copy costs $0.50.
  • Certified Circuit Court copies: $2.00 certification fee plus $0.50 per page
  • Triple Seal and exemplified copies are $2.50 plus $0.50 per page.
  • Copies for General District Court are $1.00 for the first two pages and $0.50 for each additional page.
  • $6.00 fixed price for a local criminal record check
  • Sheriff incident/accident report: $6.00 flat fee; free for verified victims

Hanover County Courthouse Locations

Hanover County has three trial courts and a magistrate's office. Here are the addresses and contact details for each one:

Hanover County Circuit Court

7530 County Complex Road

Hanover, VA 23069

Phone: (804) 365-6151

Hanover County General District Court

7530 County Complex Road

Hanover, VA 23069

Phone: (804) 365-6191 (Criminal/Traffic), (804) 365-6457 (Civil)

Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court

7530 County Complex Road,

Hanover, VA 23069

Phone: (804) 365-6200

Hanover County Magistrate's Office

7240 Courtland Farm Road,

Hanover, VA 23069

Phone: (804) 365-6206

Criminal Records Access in Hanover County

Statewide criminal history checks are not handled by the Hanover County courts. Those are done by the Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE), a division of the Virginia State Police. Therefore, parties should contact the Virginia State Police directly rather than the county courts for a thorough, statewide background check. For criminal records tied to local court proceedings, interested persons may access records through the following options:

  • The county's online court portals: The General District Court's online search system allows the public to search for misdemeanors and traffic infractions. The Circuit Court's portal allows a lookup for felony cases.
  • In-person search: Requestors can visit the Circuit Court Clerk's Office (for felony cases) or the District Court Clerk's office (for traffic violations and misdemeanors) at the County Complex during business hours (Mon-Fri, 8:00 AM-4:30 PM).

Hanover County Probate Records

Hanover County probate records are court records made when a deceased party's estate is managed. The Probate Division of the Hanover County Circuit Court handles these estate files, reviews wills, and supervises the allocation of assets to the rightful beneficiaries.

The Circuit Court states probate as the process of validating a will and adding it to the public record. Recent probate records can be accessed by visiting the court's website or in-person inquiries at the courthouse. Access is, however, restricted in certain situations. Listed below are some examples of probate records:

  • Wills
  • Testamentary trusts created through a will
  • Lists of heirs
  • Estate inventories and accountings
  • Guardianships of a minor's estate
  • Adult guardianship records
  • Conservatorship records

Requestors should note that in guardianship matters, financial and medical information is private and only available to the parties, lawyers, and court-appointed agents. In these situations, Social Security numbers are sealed and usually need a court order to be accessed.

Hanover County Family Court Records

Hanover County divorces, annulments, and adoptions cases are handled by the Circuit Court, while the Juvenile and Domestic Relations (J&DR) deals with custody, visitation, child and spousal support, and juvenile cases. Access to family court records is usually determined by case type:

  • Divorce records are public under Virginia Code § 17.1-208(B), unless sealed by a judge under Virginia Code § 20-124.
  • According to Virginia Code § 16.1-305, custody and visitation records are private and accessible only to parties, lawyers, and approved agencies.
  • According to Virginia Code § 63.2-1245, adoption records are permanently sealed and can only be accessed with a court order.
  • Support records are confidential under Virginia Code § 16.1-305, open only to litigants, counsel, and authorized social service agencies.

The public can search basic, non-confidential family court records using the Circuit Court's online case search system. In-person requests at the appropriate Court Clerk's Office are another viable option. The Circuit Court Clerk is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The J&DR Clerk closes at 4:00 PM. Copies from the Circuit Court cost $0.50 per page plus a $2.00 certification fee and are also available by mail or by phone. J&DR copies require a valid government-issued photo ID and verified standing as a party to the case. Mailed J&DR requests should include a notarized signature and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Federal Court Records in Hanover County

Federal court records are documents created by United States federal courts during civil, criminal, appellate, and bankruptcy proceedings. These records include case filings, orders, judgments, and transcripts.

Hanover County falls within the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Interested persons access federal court records through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). PACER charges $0.10 per page viewed. Records not available online may be requested directly from the federal court clerk's office.

Hanover County Court