Roanoke County Civil Court Records

Roanoke County civil court records are filed and maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Salem, Virginia. The 23rd Judicial Circuit handles civil cases here, covering contract disputes, property matters, judgments, and other civil filings. Note that Roanoke County is distinct from the City of Roanoke and the City of Salem, both of which are independent cities with their own circuit courts.

Roanoke County Circuit Court Clerk

The Clerk of Circuit Court for Roanoke County is W. Michael Galliher. 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 public records room is open from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Mail goes to P.O. Box 1126 in Salem. The clerk's office is located at 305 E. Main Street in Salem, even though Salem is an independent city.

The Roanoke County Circuit Court page on the state judicial website has current contact details and links to case search tools. Note that the public records room closes at 4:00 PM, which is half an hour earlier than the main office. Plan any in-person records research accordingly.

Roanoke County surrounds the City of Roanoke and is adjacent to the City of Salem. All three jurisdictions are part of the 23rd Judicial Circuit but each maintains its own civil court records through separate clerk offices. If you are looking for records from the City of Roanoke or City of Salem, you need to search those localities specifically in CJISWeb. Roanoke County records cover the unincorporated areas and any towns within the county boundaries.

Search Roanoke County Civil Court Records Online

The main tool for searching Roanoke County civil court records is the Circuit Court Case Information System (CJISWeb). Select Roanoke County 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.

In the CJISWeb locality list, you will see options for Roanoke County, Roanoke City, and Salem City. These are three separate jurisdictions. Roanoke County handles civil filings for the unincorporated county area. If you are not sure which jurisdiction handled your case, you may need to check all three. Addresses within the City of Roanoke or City of Salem are in those cities' courts, not the county court.

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 and explains how to read results.

Civil Court Filing in Roanoke County

Civil cases in Roanoke County are filed at the Circuit Court Clerk's office at 305 E. Main Street in Salem. 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. Mail requests go to P.O. Box 1126, Salem, VA 24153.

Nearby Counties

Roanoke County is in the Roanoke Valley of southwest Virginia. Adjacent counties include Botetourt County to the north, Bedford County to the east, Franklin County to the south, and Montgomery County to the west. The City of Roanoke and City of Salem are independent cities entirely surrounded by Roanoke County, each with its own circuit court in the 23rd Judicial Circuit.