Alexandria Civil Court Records

Civil court records for the City of Alexandria are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk for the 18th Judicial Circuit, located in the historic King Street courthouse. The clerk's office holds all civil filings, judgments, land records, and court orders filed within the city. You can search Alexandria civil court records online through the state CJISWeb system, visit the clerk's office in person, or access land records through the state's COVERS system. This page covers how to find cases, get copies, and use available online tools.

Alexandria Circuit Court Clerk

J. Greg Parks serves as the Circuit Court Clerk for the City of Alexandria. The main courthouse is at 520 King Street, Room 307. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Land recording closes at 3:00 PM each day. The office handles all civil case filings, judgments, land instruments, and related court records for this independent city.

The city maintains a second branch office at the West End location on Mark Center Drive. That branch is open on Tuesdays and Fridays only. If you need to file documents or get records near the west side of the city, check availability before making a trip. Civil Motions Day is held every second and fourth Wednesday at 10:00 AM at the main courthouse.

The Alexandria Circuit Court page on vacourts.gov has direct links to clerk contact details, court calendars, and online search tools. It is the best starting point if you are not sure where to begin.

Staff at the main office can assist with most civil records requests. For large document orders or research involving older records, calling ahead to (703) 746-4044 will save time.

Search Alexandria Civil Court Records Online

The Circuit Court Case Information System (CJISWeb) is the primary free tool for searching Alexandria civil court records. Choose Alexandria from the locality list, then search by party name, case number, or date range. The system returns case type, status, parties involved, and docket entries. CJISWeb is available at no cost and runs around the clock.

For land records, Alexandria uses the COVERS (Commonwealth of Virginia Electronic Recording System) statewide platform. This system allows access to recorded land instruments including deeds, deeds of trust, and plats. Title professionals and attorneys who need frequent access may apply for an OCRA (Online Circuit Remote Access) subscription, which gives deeper access to recorded documents remotely. Contact the clerk's office for OCRA enrollment information.

The General District Court online case information system covers small claims and lower civil matters separately from the circuit court. Cases with claims under $25,000 may be filed in General District Court. Both systems are free and open to the public.

Alexandria civil court records go back many years. Older records that predate electronic systems may require an in-person visit or a written request. The clerk's staff can let you know which records are available digitally and which ones must be pulled from paper files.

Civil Filing Fees and Procedures

Civil cases in Alexandria are filed at the King Street courthouse. Filing fees follow the state schedule under Virginia Code § 17.1-275. The base fee is $100 for claims up to $3,000, $200 for claims from $3,000 to $10,000, $300 for claims from $10,000 to $25,000, and $400 for claims over $25,000. Additional local surcharges may apply for courthouse security and law library funds.

Subpoena fees are set locally. A standard witness subpoena costs $31.00. A subpoena duces tecum (for documents) is $36.00. If you need the sheriff to serve a subpoena, add $12.00 for that service. These fees apply in addition to any filing fees already paid.

Attorneys may use the Virginia Judiciary E-Filing System (VJEFS) for electronic submission of civil documents. E-filing is available 24 hours a day and avoids paper surcharges. Self-represented parties file in person at the clerk's office. Standard civil forms are available at courts.state.va.us/forms/circuit.

Under Virginia Code § 17.1-208, all civil court records in Alexandria are presumed public. Any person may view case files at the clerk's office during business hours at no charge. You do not need a reason and do not need to be a party to the case.

Getting Copies of Alexandria Court Records

Copies of Alexandria civil court records are available in person or by mail. Standard photocopies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $2.00 per document. For mail requests, send a written request to 520 King Street, Room 307, Alexandria, VA 22314. Include the case number or party names, the documents you need, and payment by check or money order.

The COVERS land records system allows remote access to recorded land documents for subscribers. This is used mainly by title search professionals and real estate attorneys who need regular access to Alexandria's recorded instruments. For occasional access, visit the clerk's office or the West End Branch during open hours.

Note: Sealed records, juvenile case records, and expunged matters are not available for public inspection regardless of request method.

Nearby Cities

Alexandria is an independent city in northern Virginia near several other localities with their own civil court records. Falls Church is a small independent city just north of Alexandria, served by Arlington County Circuit Court. Fairfax lies to the west and shares its circuit court with Fairfax County. Manassas is further southwest with its own circuit court clerk. Fredericksburg is to the south along Interstate 95 and handles records through the 15th Judicial Circuit. For county-level records in the area, Arlington County borders Alexandria to the north and maintains its own civil court records.