Virginia runs its trial courts as one statewide system, but you deal with them one courthouse at a time. A traffic summons, a probate filing and a protective order each belong in a different office, and the right door depends on where you live. This page explains how the courts are organized, what each level handles, and how rural and metro areas differ. It also points to real courthouses from our database, from Alexandria Circuit Court on King Street to Bland Magistrate Court on Main Street.

How the Virginia Court System Is Organized

At the top sits the Supreme Court of Virginia, which has seven justices. It also runs the system day to day through the Office of the Executive Secretary. That office handles statewide court technology, judicial training and administrative rules, so a clerk in Wise and a clerk in Alexandria follow the same basic procedures.

Judges are chosen differently here than in most states. The General Assembly elects them, not the voters. Circuit court judges serve eight-year terms, and district court judges serve six. The Court of Appeals of Virginia reviews many appeals from circuit courts, mainly in criminal and family cases.

The trial courts are grouped into 31 judicial circuits. Within each locality you will find a circuit court, a general district court and a juvenile and domestic relations district court. Magistrates work from separate offices across the state. In small localities, several of these courts often share one building.

Virginia's local government layout also shapes where you go. The state has 95 counties and 38 independent cities, and an independent city is not part of any county. That is why our pages for places such as Staunton, Martinsville and Newport News carry a "county" label in the web address, even though each is a city with its own court offices. Shared names add confusion. Fairfax, Franklin, Richmond and Roanoke each exist as both a county and a city, so check which one your paperwork names.

Two kinds of staff run the counters. Circuit court clerks are elected constitutional officers who serve eight-year terms. Clerks of the district courts are appointed by the judges. Either way, the clerk's office is where you file papers, pay costs and ask procedural questions.

Which Court Handles What: Circuit, District and Magistrate Offices

Most mistakes come from walking into the wrong building or the wrong office. This is how the work divides up.

Appeals from a district court conviction or civil judgment go to the circuit court. In many cases the circuit court hears the matter fresh, as a new trial. The deadline is short, often about ten days, so ask the clerk right away rather than waiting for a letter.

Protective orders show how the layers connect. A magistrate can issue an emergency protective order that lasts up to 72 hours. A follow-up hearing in juvenile and domestic relations court can lead to a longer order, which can run up to two years. Victims can start at either the magistrate's office or the clerk's counter at the juvenile and domestic relations court.

Metro Virginia and Rural Virginia: What Changes at the Counter

The statewide rules are the same everywhere, but the experience at the counter is not.

Northern Virginia

Dockets are heavy and buildings are busy. In Fairfax County, the Fairfax County Magistrate Court at 10520 Judicial Drive (703-246-2178) is one of seven listings we track. Arlington Circuit Court sits at 1425 North Courthouse Road (703-228-4399), and Alexandria Circuit Court is at 520 King Street (703-838-4044). Expect security screening, limited parking and long lines on traffic-court mornings.

Greater Richmond

One Richmond-area listing trips people up. Henrico Circuit Court (4301 East Parham Road, 804-501-4202) carries a Richmond mailing address, but it serves Henrico County, not the independent city. If your matter involves the city itself, start with our City of Richmond County page. Farther south, Hopewell Magistrate Court II is at 100 East Broadway (804-541-2395) and serves another independent city.

Hampton Roads and the Peninsula

Newport News Circuit Court is at 2500 Washington Avenue (757-926-8561), and the Newport News County page covers the rest of that city's listings. Norfolk Circuit Court is at 100 Saint Pauls Boulevard (757-664-4580). Williamsburg and James City County share court services, which is why the magistrate court at 9320 Merrimac Trail (757-820-3951) is named for both. Gloucester County lies north of the York River, and Gloucester Circuit Court is at 7400 Justice Drive in Gloucester Courthouse (804-693-2502).

The Valley and Southwest Virginia

Rural courts cover wide areas with small staffs. In the northern Shenandoah Valley, Winchester Circuit Court is at 5 North Kent Street (540-667-5570). Staunton Magistrate Court sits at 350 Technology Drive (540-245-5420); see Staunton County for the city's six listings. Farther southwest, Washington County has Abingdon Magistrate Court at 15205 Joe Derting Drive (276-676-6228). Wise County Circuit Court is at 206 East Main Street in Wise (276-328-6111), and Independence Magistrate Court in Grayson County is at 122 State Route T 1101 (276-773-3203). Bland Magistrate Court, at 612 Main Street (276-688-4641), serves one of the state's smaller counties.

Judges in these areas often cover several localities, so certain case types are heard only on set days. A drive to the courthouse can take well over half an hour. Confirm the date and the courtroom before you leave home.

Before You Go: Confirming Details at a Virginia Courthouse

Court locations and hours change, so a two-minute call saves a wasted trip. Listing titles can also differ from official names. The official titles usually follow the pattern of "Circuit Court," "General District Court" or "Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court" for each locality.

Start with your paperwork. A summons or notice lists the court, case number, date and time. If you have a case number, the Online Case Information System, run by the Office of the Executive Secretary, lets you look up many district and circuit court cases.

Bring a short set of items to any hearing: photo ID, the summons or notice, supporting documents with copies, and a payment method the clerk accepts. Courthouses screen visitors at the door, so leave tools and other restricted items in the car. Arrive early, because the clerk may need to locate your file before the judge calls the case.

Clerks and magistrates are neutral and cannot tell you what to argue or how to plead. If you need a lawyer and cannot afford one, contact your regional legal aid office. In criminal cases where jail is possible, ask the court about appointed counsel. The Virginia State Bar also runs lawyer referral resources.

Pay fines and costs by the date on your notice. Missing a court date can lead to a default judgment, an arrest order or, in traffic cases, a driver's license suspension. If you cannot attend, call the clerk before the hearing and ask what the judge will accept.

Courts in Virginia operate under a unified state judicial system that handles everything from traffic infractions and small claims disputes to major felony trials and civil litigation. The Virginia Supreme Court serves as the highest state court with authority over all state court matters.

Courts locations are available in 125 cities across Virginia. They are spread across 118 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Richmond, Staunton, Newport News, reflecting areas where county seats and urban centers house multiple court divisions to handle high caseloads.

Residents of Virginia should know which court has jurisdiction over their matter — whether it is a municipal, district, circuit, or superior court — before filing documents or appearing for a hearing.

Courts by Counties

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
V
W
Y

Residents of Virginia who need to access court services should identify the correct court for their matter, check the court's website for filing fees, forms, and procedures, and consider using the court's self-help resources if they are not represented by an attorney.

Browse Courts by county across Virginia to find the nearest location.

Reading Virginia Court Listings Outside the Big Metros

Many Virginia courthouses sit in towns whose names tell the story. Amelia Court House, Gloucester Courthouse and Appomattox grew up around county seats, and the courts are still the center of town. Amelia County Court is at 16441 Court Street (804-561-2456), and Appomattox General District Court is at 297 Court Street (434-352-5540). On the Eastern Shore, Accomack Circuit Court is at 23316 Courthouse Avenue in Accomac (757-787-5776). The town drops the final "k" that the county keeps.

Combined arrangements are common where a city and county are closely linked. Our database files Rockingham County Magistrate Court (U.S. 33, Harrisonburg, 540-564-3847) under the City of Harrisonburg County page, because Harrisonburg is an independent city surrounded by Rockingham County. Martinsville City Court is at 55 West Church Street (276-403-5125); the Martinsville County page lists its neighbors.

Magistrate offices are scattered more widely than circuit courts. Bowling Green Magistrate Court (118 Courthouse Lane, 804-633-9245) serves Caroline County, and Waverly Magistrate Court (119 Bank Street, 804-834-2330) is in Sussex County. Salem Magistrate Court sits at 401 East Main Street (540-387-6092). Before driving anywhere, call the listed number and ask which office handles your matter that day.

Frequently Asked Questions About Virginia Courts

Apply at a circuit court clerk's office. Virginia clerks issue marriage licenses, and you are generally not limited to the locality where you live. That means you could use Alexandria Circuit Court on King Street, Norfolk Circuit Court on Saint Pauls Boulevard or a smaller clerk such as Wise County Circuit Court. Bring valid photo ID and be ready to provide the personal details the application requires. The license is valid for a limited window, so schedule the ceremony soon after, and plan to hold it in Virginia. Ask the clerk about fees and whether an appointment is needed.

Traffic tickets go to the general district court in the locality where the ticket was issued, not where you live. The summons states whether you may prepay or must appear. Many minor infractions can be prepaid, but reckless driving and other misdemeanors require a court date. Paying a prepayable ticket generally counts as a guilty plea, and it can add demerit points to your DMV record. If you were cited in Newport News but live in Gloucester County, you still deal with the Newport News court. To contest a ticket, appear at the listed time, and call the clerk first if you need a new date.

Magistrates handle the first steps of criminal and emergency matters. They issue arrest and search warrants, set bail, and issue emergency protective orders and certain emergency mental health orders. Offices such as Staunton Magistrate Court on Technology Drive, Bedford Magistrate Court on Broad Street and Salem Magistrate Court on East Main Street generally accept walk-ins, and many operate around the clock, sometimes by video link. A magistrate cannot give legal advice, hold a trial or reduce a charge. Call the listed number first, since staffing and access rules differ by region.

Start with the Online Case Information System operated by the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia. You can search by name or case number, and it covers many district and circuit court cases. For deeds, wills and probate files, contact the circuit court clerk in the locality, such as Henrico Circuit Court on East Parham Road or Arlington Circuit Court on North Courthouse Road. Juvenile and domestic relations records are generally restricted, and sealed matters will not appear. If online results look incomplete, call the clerk and ask staff to check the file.

File a notice of appeal with the clerk of the district court that decided your case. The deadline is short, commonly ten days from the judgment or sentence, so do not wait. A civil appeal usually involves fees and, when money was awarded against you, an appeal bond. In most cases the circuit court then hears the matter anew, as if the first trial had not happened. Appeals from circuit court go to the Court of Appeals of Virginia or the Supreme Court of Virginia, and those have strict filing rules, so consult a lawyer or legal aid office.

For traffic tickets and criminal charges, the court in the locality where the offense happened generally hears the case. A Hopewell resident cited in Gloucester County would go to Gloucester. Civil cases follow venue rules, which often point to where the defendant lives or where the dispute arose. Custody and support cases usually involve the area where the child lives. Because independent cities and counties have separate courts, confirm the exact jurisdiction on your paperwork. When in doubt, call a clerk, such as Winchester Circuit Court at 540-667-5570, and ask which court has your case.