Bristol Civil Court Records

Bristol civil court records are filed and maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Bristol, Virginia. The 28th Judicial Circuit handles civil cases for this independent city, covering contract disputes, property matters, judgments, and other civil filings.

Bristol Circuit Court Clerk

The Clerk of Circuit Court for Bristol is Kelly L. Flannagan. The office handles civil case filings, land records, judgments, wills, and official court documents for the 28th Judicial Circuit. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Land recording stops at 4:00 PM. The courthouse is at 497 Cumberland Street, Room 210. The 28th Circuit also covers Washington County; Bristol and Washington County share circuit judges but have separate clerk's offices.

The Bristol Circuit Court page on the state judicial website has current contact details and links to the online case search. The city also maintains a clerk's office page at bristolva.gov. Land records are available through an SRA subscription at $50 per month. Land recording stops at 4:00 PM.

Bristol is an independent city in far southwest Virginia, on the Tennessee border. The city shares a main street with Bristol, Tennessee - the state line runs down the center of State Street. Bristol, Virginia and Bristol, Tennessee are legally separate jurisdictions. The Virginia side maintains its own circuit court with records for civil cases filed in the City of Bristol, Virginia. The 28th Judicial Circuit covers both Bristol and adjacent Washington County.

Search Bristol Civil Court Records Online

The main tool for searching Bristol civil court records is the Circuit Court Case Information System (CJISWeb). Select Bristol City from the locality list and search by party name or case number. The system is free, requires no login, and shows case type, filing date, party names, and current status.

Note that Bristol, Virginia and Bristol, Tennessee are separate jurisdictions. CJISWeb only covers Virginia courts. If your case was filed in Tennessee, you need to search Tennessee court records separately. For Virginia cases, make sure to select "Bristol City" and not Washington County when searching, as those are separate entries in CJISWeb.

For civil claims in general district court, use the General District Court online system. This covers civil matters up to $25,000 and eviction cases. The Virginia Courts self-help portal helps identify which court has your case.

Civil Court Filing in Bristol

Civil cases in Bristol are filed at the Circuit Court Clerk's office at 497 Cumberland Street, Room 210. Filing fees follow the state schedule under Virginia Code § 17.1-275. Claims up to $3,000 carry a $100 fee. Cases from $3,000 to $10,000 cost $200. Suits between $10,000 and $25,000 cost $300. Cases over $25,000 require a $400 base fee.

Civil case forms are at courts.state.va.us/forms/circuit. Virginia State Bar members may use VJEFS to file electronically. Self-represented parties file paper documents in person. Civil court records are presumed public under Virginia Code § 17.1-208. Standard copies cost $0.50 per page; certified copies cost $2.00 per document.

Nearby Areas

Bristol is in far southwest Virginia on the Tennessee border. The adjacent county is Washington County, which surrounds the city. Washington County has its own circuit court clerk in Abingdon. Bristol, Tennessee (across State Street) is a separate jurisdiction with its own state court system. For Virginia civil records in the broader region, Washington County handles cases for the surrounding rural area.