Founded in 1749, Chesterfield County is part of the Richmond metropolitan area in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The country has over 350,000 residents, making it the fourth-most populous county in the Commonwealth. Chesterfield Court House serves as its county seat.

Courts in Chesterfield County

Chesterfield County has three courts: the Circuit Court, the General District Court, and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.

The Circuit Court constitutes Virginia's 12th Judicial Circuit. It has jurisdiction over non-criminal cases that are filed in the county, such as civil actions in which the monetary disputes exceed $4,500. Civil cases that the Circuit Court handles include adoptions, divorce proceedings, guardianships and conservatorships, wills and estate administrations, and petitions for authorization to perform marriages. The Circuit Court also has criminal jurisdiction over appeals from lower courts, felonies, and misdemeanor cases with Grand Jury indictment.

Chesterfield's County General District Court has a Civil Court division that has concurrent jurisdiction with the Circuit Court over civil actions in which the amount in dispute does not exceed $25,000 and personal injury claims up to $50,000. It also hears lawsuits involving property damages. The Small Claims Court division handles civil lawsuits where either party seeks the recovery of personal property or monetary compensation of up to $5,000. Additionally, The District Court has a Criminal Court division that conducts felony preliminary hearings and trials for misdemeanor crimes.

Juvenile delinquency, juvenile traffic cases, and other matters concerning minors below 18 years old are handled by the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. The court also makes decisions concerning child custody, visitation rights, child and spousal support, foster care, domestic-related criminal matters, and protective orders.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Chesterfield County

The Clerks of Circuit Court and General District Court in Chesterfield County maintain the case files and information that are generated at their respective courthouses. Virginia Judiciary provides an online portal where anyone can find public court records in Chesterfield County. Alternatively, the general public can also inspect or obtain copies of court records from the Clerk of the court where the case was filed. Requests for copies of court records in Chesterfield can be through mail or in person at the Clerk's Office.

Types of Public Court Records in Chesterfield County

In Chesterfield County, the following types of non-confidential court records are publicly available:

• Small Claims Court Records
• Civil Court Records
• Criminal Court Records
• Domestic Relations Court Records

Confidential Court Records in Chesterfield County

Confidential court records in Chesterfield County include District and Circuit court case information/files that are limited from public disclosure by Virginia laws or court orders. Confidential records are inaccessible to the public because they contain private or sensitive information. While public court records are available to anyone, confidential court information is only available to individuals authorized by court statutes or Virginia laws.

Confidential court records in Chesterfield County include:

• Juvenile records
• Psychological reports
• Medical records
• Social Security numbers
• Financial information, such as credit/debit card details and bank accounts
• Records containing the names and ages of minors

Juvenile Delinquency in Chesterfield, VA

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Chesterfield County, juvenile delinquency offenses are on the rise. There are many reasons for the inflation in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Virginia often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of charges, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 866 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Chesterfield County. Of that total, 83% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 718 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Chesterfield County, are focusing on family counseling and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Chesterfield County juvenile delinquency tallies will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Chesterfield County, VA

https://www.virginia.gov/

County Seat:	Chesterfield
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1749
Total Square Miles:	437
2019 Population:	343,599
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	9901 Lori Road, PO BOX 40 County Government Offices Chesterfield , VA 23832-0903 http://www.chesterfield.gov/