Washington County Civil Court Records

Washington County civil court records are filed and maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Abingdon, Virginia. The 28th Judicial Circuit handles civil cases here, covering contract disputes, property matters, judgments, and other civil filings. The City of Bristol shares the same judicial circuit but has its own clerk's office.

Washington County Circuit Court Clerk

The Clerk of Circuit Court for Washington County maintains all civil case filings, land records, judgments, wills, and official court documents for the 28th Judicial Circuit. The courthouse is in Abingdon, the county seat. The 28th Judicial Circuit covers Washington County and the City of Bristol. Abingdon is the larger community and the county government center. Bristol is an independent city that straddles the Virginia-Tennessee border.

The Washington County Circuit Court page on the state judicial website has current address, phone number, office hours, and links to the online case search. Verify this information before visiting the courthouse or mailing documents to the clerk.

Washington County is in the far southwest of Virginia, in the Appalachian Highlands along the Tennessee border. Abingdon is the county seat and one of the oldest English-speaking settlements west of the Blue Ridge. The Virginia Creeper Trail and Barter Theatre are located in or near Abingdon, making it a notable destination in the region. Civil court records in Washington County cover the full range of filings for a mid-sized Virginia county: property disputes, contract cases, judgment liens, family matters, and probate proceedings. All county civil records are at the courthouse in Abingdon.

Search Washington County Civil Court Records Online

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

Note that the City of Bristol has its own entry in CJISWeb separate from Washington County. If your case might have been filed in Bristol, search that locality as well. 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. For historical records, Washington County has one of the older courthouse collections in southwest Virginia. Contact the clerk's office or check the Library of Virginia for older digitized materials.

Civil Court Filing in Washington County

Civil cases in Washington County are filed at the Circuit Court Clerk's office in Abingdon. 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. Contact the clerk for the current mailing address.

Nearby Counties

Washington County is in the far southwest of Virginia along the Tennessee border. Adjacent Virginia counties include Smyth County to the east, Russell County to the north, and Scott County to the west. The county also borders Sullivan County, Tennessee to the south. The City of Bristol is an independent city within the 28th Judicial Circuit that borders Washington County and extends into Tennessee.