Courts

Before applying for a business license through the County of Henrico Finance Department, business owners must register the business name with the Clerk of the Virginia State Corporation Commission if the business will be operating under an assumed or fictitious name.

A civil celebrant is a person authorized by the Circuit Court to perform and officiate a legal marriage ceremony.

You may obtain copies from the Henrico Circuit Court Clerk’s Office of any public record such as deeds, plats, wills, judgments, court orders and marriage licenses.

The Criminal Division is responsible for the indexing, processing and maintaining of all Felony, Certified and Appealed Misdemeanor and Appealed Traffic cases. In all of these cases, the Commonwealth of Virginia is the Complainant. The person charged with the offense is the Defendant.

Civil cases are brought to enforce, redress, or protect the private rights of an individual, organization or government entity.

In civil cases where monetary claims range from $4,500 to $25,000, the Circuit Court has concurrent jurisdiction with the General District Court. Monetary disputes involving more than $25,000 fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Circuit Court.

The Circuit Court Clerk’s Office records deeds, deeds of trust (mortgages), and other official instruments/documents associated with land transactions.

The Code of Virginia grants the Clerk of the Circuit Court the authority to Probate a Will, to appoint and qualify an Executor or Administrator for a Decedent’s Estate, to appoint and qualify a Testamentary Trustee, to qualify a Conservator and/or a Guardian for an Incapacitated Adult.

There are three types of stalking/serious bodily injury protective orders: Emergency, Preliminary, and Permanent Protective Orders. An Emergency Protective Order (up to 72 hours) can be issued by a magistrate or a police officer. (If a warrant is issued for assault and battery against a family or household member and the magistrate finds there is probable danger of further acts of family abuse by the defendant, the magistrate is directed to issue an emergency protective order.)

Provide victims with confidentiality forms, assist victims in the courtroom during trials, schedule and attend Commonwealth Attorney meetings with victims/witnesses, schedule interpreters for court and meetings, when necessary, provide court room tours to victims and witnesses, advise when two-way closed-circuit testimony may be an option.

Provides information about the Virginia Victim’s Fund, refers to social services or other agencies for financial assistance, provide information regarding restitution, assist with the return of property held by law enforcement, submit travel reimbursements and transportation assistance bills to the Supreme Court.

Share the victim’s opinions regarding the case with the Commonwealth Attorney’s office, provides information about written and oral victim impact statements, notify victims of the right to remain in the courtroom during witness testimony.

Provide victims with advance notice of court hearings, provide plea agreement notifications with the Commonwealth Attorney’s office, provide employer, school, and/or landlord intercession letters, provide information for jail notifications (VINELINK) and Department of Corrections notifications (NAAVI), provide information for Attorney General appeal notifications.

Provides information on how to obtain a protective order, provides a separate waiting area in the courthouse for victims/witnesses, assists with transportation to court if needed, notifies courthouse security of issues, assists with providing law enforcement escorts to a car if requested, provides information about local shelters, completes lethality assessments.

Provide final disposition letters, provide services in cases returned on appeal, provide information for jail notifications (VINELINK) and Department of Corrections notifications (NAAVI), provide restitution letters and brochures.

This site provides neutral legal information only as a public service by the Virginia Access to Justice Commission for self-represented litigants. Judges and clerks of court may have a local practice that is not reflected on this website. Always check with your local court about its procedures. This site does not take the place of an attorney, and cannot advise you on strategy or tell you what to say in court. Please note that only an attorney representing you can provide legal advice. Visit the Find a Lawyer page for more information.