Arlington County Civil Court Records

Arlington County civil court records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk at the Arlington courthouse, within the 17th Judicial Circuit. The clerk's office holds civil case filings, judgments, land records, and other official documents. You can search Arlington civil court records online through the state's CJISWeb system, and the county also provides e-filing and remote access options for attorneys. This page explains how to find records, use the search tools, and request copies.

Arlington County Circuit Court Clerk

Teresa Lara serves as the Circuit Court Clerk for Arlington County. The office is at 1425 North Courthouse Road, Suite 6700, Arlington, VA 22201. It is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Call the Civil Division at (703) 228-7010 for civil case questions. The Marriage License office can be reached at (703) 228-3113. The fax number is (703) 228-3208.

Civil motions in Arlington County circuit court are heard every Friday at 10:00 AM. If you have a pending civil matter and need to attend a hearing, check with the Civil Division about scheduling and current docket information.

Searching Arlington County Civil Court Records

The statewide Circuit Court Case Information System (CJISWeb) covers Arlington County civil court records. Select Arlington County from the locality dropdown and search by party name or case number. Results show filing dates, case type, parties, and case status. The system is free and does not require an account.

Arlington County's e-filing and remote access systems through OCRA (Online Civil Records Access) are available for attorneys practicing in the 17th Judicial Circuit. OCRA allows licensed attorneys to view civil case files remotely and file documents electronically. The VJEFS e-filing platform handles electronic submissions and processes fees online. Self-represented parties file paper documents at the clerk's office on North Courthouse Road.

For general district court civil matters in Arlington County, use the GDC online system. The general district court handles civil claims up to $25,000 and unlawful detainer cases. Both online systems are free and maintained by the Virginia Judicial System.

Under Virginia Code § 17.1-208, civil court records in Arlington County are public. Any person may review case files at the clerk's office during business hours. No reason is required.

Civil Filings and Fees in Arlington County

Filing fees for Arlington County civil cases are governed by Virginia Code § 17.1-275. Claims up to $3,000 carry a $100 filing fee. Cases from $3,000 to $10,000 cost $200. Suits from $10,000 to $25,000 run $300. Cases over $25,000 require a $400 base filing fee. Local surcharges may apply. A marriage license costs $30.00 at the Arlington clerk's office.

Court forms for civil cases are at courts.state.va.us/forms/circuit. These include standard pleadings, motions, and other civil filing documents. Attorneys in the 17th Judicial Circuit may take advantage of OCRA and VJEFS for electronic filing and remote case access. Self-represented litigants bring completed paper forms to the clerk's office window.

Standard copies of Arlington civil court records cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $2.00 per document. Personal identifiers like Social Security numbers and financial account information are redacted from documents posted publicly online, as required by Virginia Code § 17.1-293. Full documents without redaction are available for in-person inspection at the courthouse.

Note: Arlington County is a densely populated urban jurisdiction. Call (703) 228-7010 before visiting to confirm availability for complex or large records requests and to get an accurate estimate of copy costs.

Cities in the Arlington County Area

The City of Falls Church is an independent city served by the Arlington County Circuit Court under the 17th Judicial Circuit. Civil court records for Falls Church cases go through this same clerk's office. See the Falls Church civil court records page for more detail. The City of Alexandria is adjacent to Arlington but has its own independent circuit court and clerk separate from Arlington County.

Nearby Counties

Arlington County is in northern Virginia near Washington, D.C. Fairfax County borders to the south and west. The cities of Alexandria and Falls Church are adjacent independent cities. Each has its own separate circuit court clerk handling civil court records independently from Arlington County.