Salem Civil Court Records

Salem civil court records are filed and maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Salem, Virginia, an independent city in the Roanoke Valley with its own separate clerk and records.

Salem Circuit Court Clerk

The Clerk of Circuit Court for Salem is Chance Crawford. The office handles civil case filings, land records, judgments, wills, and official court documents for the 23rd Judicial Circuit. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The courthouse is at 2 East Calhoun Street in Salem. Salem is part of the 23rd Judicial Circuit along with the City of Roanoke and Roanoke County, but Salem has its own independent clerk and maintains records separately from those jurisdictions.

The Salem Circuit Court page on vacourts.gov has current contact details and links to the online case search. In CJISWeb, search "Salem City" to find Salem civil records. This is separate from "Roanoke City" and "Roanoke County" — each has its own entry and its own set of records, even though all three share the 23rd Judicial Circuit. A common mistake is searching only Roanoke County or Roanoke City when the matter involves Salem.

Salem is an independent city in the Roanoke Valley, surrounded by Roanoke County. It is the home of Roanoke College and serves as a distinct commercial and residential community within the broader Roanoke metropolitan area. Civil court records here cover property disputes, contract cases, business matters, judgment liens, and landlord-tenant filings. Despite its location within the valley alongside the much larger City of Roanoke, Salem has maintained its own separate court system for decades. Both the Roanoke County clerk and the Roanoke City clerk are housed at separate locations; Salem's clerk at 2 East Calhoun Street is distinct from both.

Search Salem Civil Court Records Online

The main tool for searching Salem civil court records is the Circuit Court Case Information System (CJISWeb). Select "Salem City" from the locality list. Do not confuse this with Roanoke City or Roanoke County, which are separate entries. The system is free and requires no login.

For civil claims in general district court, use the General District Court online system. The Virginia Courts self-help portal helps identify which court has your case.

Civil Court Filing in Salem

Civil cases in Salem are filed at 2 East Calhoun Street. 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 court records are presumed public under Virginia Code § 17.1-208. Standard copies cost $0.50 per page.

Nearby Areas

Salem is in the Roanoke Valley, surrounded by Roanoke County. The City of Roanoke is adjacent to the east and has its own separate circuit court clerk. The City of Radford and Montgomery County are to the southwest. Each jurisdiction in the Roanoke Valley maintains its own civil court records in CJISWeb under a separate entry.