Virginia Beach Public Records

Public records in Virginia Beach, Virginia are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk and multiple city departments. Virginia Beach is the most populous city in Virginia and an independent city in the Hampton Roads region, operating as its own jurisdiction separate from any county. The Circuit Court Clerk is the main source for court case files, land records, marriage licenses, wills, probate documents, and military discharge records. Property and tax records are held by the Real Estate Assessor and the Commissioner of the Revenue. Under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, most city records are open to the public.

Virginia Beach Circuit Court Clerk

The Circuit Court Clerk for the City of Virginia Beach is the central office for most public records in the city. As the most populous independent city in Virginia and a member of the 2nd Judicial Circuit, Virginia Beach has its own Circuit Court with a large volume of filings. The Clerk records deeds, deeds of trust, plats, marriage licenses, wills, probate inventories, military discharges (DD-214), and fictitious business names. Civil and criminal case files are also held by this office. All of these records are open to public inspection unless sealed by court order.

The Virginia Beach Circuit Court Clerk's office maintains decades of records covering property transactions, court cases, and vital documents filed in the city. If you need a certified copy of a deed, a court judgment, or a marriage license, the Clerk can provide it for a fee. Marriage licenses in Virginia Beach cost $30.00 to obtain. Land records are accessible through public terminals at the courthouse as well as through the SRA online portal. For older documents not yet digitized, in-person research at the Clerk's office is the most reliable option.

The city's official portal at vbgov.com covers all Virginia Beach city departments and provides contact details, hours, and links to online services for records requests across the city.

Virginia Beach Court Case Search

The Virginia Judicial System maintains an online case search tool that covers the Virginia Beach Circuit Court. You can search by party name, case number, or hearing date. Results show party names, case type, court dates, and how the case resolved. The system does not show full documents, but it tells you enough to know whether a case exists and what the outcome was before you contact the Clerk directly.

Access the system at eapps.courts.state.va.us/CJISWeb/circuit.jsp. Select the Virginia Beach Circuit Court from the dropdown list before searching. Each court must be searched separately since there is no statewide combined index. If you find a case and need the actual filings, contact the Virginia Beach Circuit Court Clerk or visit in person. The Virginia courts system overview is at vacourts.gov.

Virginia Beach Land Records

Land records for properties within Virginia Beach are filed with the Circuit Court Clerk. The Clerk records deeds, deeds of trust, subdivision plats, and other instruments tied to real property in the city. Every property sale and mortgage recorded in Virginia Beach becomes part of the permanent public record held by this office. The collection goes back many decades and covers the full history of land ownership in the city.

Virginia's Secure Remote Access (SRA) system provides online access to land records from participating Circuit Court Clerk offices including Virginia Beach. Use the portal at risweb.vacourts.gov/jsra/sra/#/home to search available records. Registration is required before you can search. Records available online go back to when the Clerk began electronic recording. For older deeds, public terminals at the Virginia Beach courthouse give direct access to the Clerk's index. In-person research is the most thorough option for historical property research.

The Real Estate Assessor at vbgov.com/government/departments/assessor handles property valuation and tax assessment data separately from the deed records held by the Clerk. Both sources are worth checking when you research a property.

Property Records in Virginia Beach

Property assessment records in Virginia Beach are managed by the Real Estate Assessor and the Commissioner of the Revenue. The Real Estate Assessor determines the assessed value of all real property in the city. These assessment records are public and show the owner of record, assessed value, and exemptions for each parcel. You can search property assessments through the Assessor's portal at vbgov.com/government/departments/assessor.

The Virginia Beach city government portal at vbgov.com connects to all city departments. Tax payment history, delinquent tax listings, and other financial records tied to properties are available through the Treasurer's office. Both the Assessor and the Commissioner of the Revenue are subject to FOIA, meaning you can request records in writing if you need details beyond what is published online.

The screenshot below comes from the Virginia Department of Health Vital Records portal, one of the key state-level resources for residents researching personal records tied to Virginia Beach.

The VDH vital records office at vdh.virginia.gov/vital-records/ handles birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates for Virginia Beach residents and all other Virginians.

Vital Records for Virginia Beach Residents

Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates for Virginia Beach residents are not held by the city. The Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records handles all certified vital records for the entire state. This is the only place to get an official certified copy of a birth or death certificate issued in Virginia.

Request vital records at vdh.virginia.gov/vital-records/. Each certified copy costs $12. Walk-in service is at 8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 100, Richmond. Phone inquiries go to (804) 662-6200. Birth records open to the public after 100 years. Death, marriage, and divorce records open after 25 years. Before those periods pass, only immediate family and those with a direct legal interest can request copies.

Marriage licenses issued in Virginia Beach are recorded with the Circuit Court Clerk at the time of issuance. The Clerk's records go back many years and are open to the public. The current fee for a marriage license in Virginia Beach is $30.00.

Virginia Beach FOIA Requests

The Virginia Freedom of Information Act at Va. Code § 2.2-3700 et seq. gives the public the right to inspect and copy records held by government agencies. All records are presumed open unless a specific exemption applies. Virginia Beach city agencies must respond to FOIA requests within five working days.

Virginia Beach has a dedicated FOIA process. Information and submission instructions are at vbgov.com/government/foia. Requests can be submitted by email, mail, or in person. Be specific about what records you need so the agency can find them efficiently. If the city cannot respond within five days, it must notify you and may take up to seven additional working days. If your request is denied, the Virginia FOIA Advisory Council at foiacouncil.dls.virginia.gov can advise on your options.

Virginia Beach Police Records

Police records in Virginia Beach are maintained by the Virginia Beach Police Department. Incident reports, arrest records, and accident reports are generally available as public records under Virginia law. You can request them through a FOIA request to the department or through the city's general FOIA process at vbgov.com/government/foia. The Virginia Beach Police Department page is at vbgov.com/government/departments/police.

Accident reports are often available for a standard fee without a formal FOIA request. Call the department first to ask about their release procedures before submitting a written request, as it can save time. Criminal records tied to cases filed in the city are also searchable through the CJIS online system and available from the Circuit Court Clerk.

Nearby Cities

These Virginia cities are near Virginia Beach in the Hampton Roads area. Each has its own Circuit Court and public records system.