Henrico County Circuit Court Clerk

The Henrico Circuit Court Clerk's Office

The Clerk of the Circuit Court is Heidi S. Barshinger. The office creates and maintains court files, prepares court orders and jury lists, contacts jurors, and issues summons and court process. The Code of Virginia lists more than 800 responsibilities for the office, which is why it touches so many different records. The public counter is in Room 240 of the Courts Building.

Public hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Land recording closes earlier, at 3:30 p.m.

The official contact page lists hours and division numbers.

The Clerk contact information page shows public hours, land-recording hours, division phone numbers, the copy fee, and the FOIA contacts.

What the Circuit Court Clerk Handles

The Clerk's work spans courts and land. The office is the official court administrator for civil and criminal Circuit Court cases. It records deeds and other land instruments, issues marriage licenses and fictitious names, handles judgments, and serves as probate authority. The Criminal Division indexes felony, certified, appealed misdemeanor, and appealed traffic cases.

Each function has its own division and phone number.

The services page lists what the office can do for the public.

The Circuit Court Clerk services page covers copy requests, criminal cases, divorce, probate, land records, and marriage licenses.

• Civil and Divorce matters: (804) 501-5422.
• Criminal matters: (804) 501-5448.
• Land Records: (804) 501-4249.
• Marriage License Information: (804) 501-7387.
• Payment of criminal fines and costs: (804) 501-7668.

How to Request a Certified Copy

A certified copy is a Clerk-issued copy with certification, suitable for official use. To request one, gather the case details first. A case number, party names, and an approximate date help the Clerk find the right file. You can request copies in person at Room 240 or by mail to the Clerk's post office box.

Phones are not allowed inside the Courts Building, so print what you need before you go.

1. Identify the court level and the case number if you have it.
2. Note the party names and an approximate filing or disposition date.
3. Decide the copy type: plain, certified, or exemplified.
4. Contact the correct division, or mail your request to P.O. Box 90775, Henrico, VA 23273-0775.
5. Include payment and a return method for a mailed request.

Clerk Contact Form Fields

The Clerk's website offers a contact form that routes your question to the right division. The form is short and protected against spam. The table below lists each field.

For a copy you need quickly, a phone call to the right division is often faster than the form.

Henrico Clerk Fees

Most public copy fees are small. The plain copy fee is set per page, and certified marriage copies have their own rates. Attorney remote access carries a yearly subscription. Certified or exemplified court-record fees beyond the plain rate are not published in the sources reviewed, so confirm those with the division.

A 2% transaction fee applies to credit card payments for marriage and probate.

Marriage License Copy Date Rules

Marriage record access depends on the license date, which surprises many people. Licenses issued from July 1, 1997 through June 30, 2001 require written permission from the bride or groom before the Clerk gives a copy to any party, even the bride or groom. The signature must be notarized or supported by a photo ID copy.

Licenses outside that window are not limited to the spouses.

The marriage and divorce records page covers the full copy rules, fees, and the application process.

Secure Remote Access for Land Records

Land records remote access runs through Secure Remote Access, maintained by Logan Systems. It is subscription-only and granted by the Clerk after an application and a subscriber agreement. The Henrico online records page cites Va. Code § 17.1-279(D)(1) and notes requirements that may apply to nonresident businesses and individuals.

The county also offers VA Deed Alert, which notifies homeowners when a document with their name is recorded.

The official records page explains the remote-access options.

The Henrico SRA land records portal is the subscription login for approved land-record users.

Public users without a subscription can still get land-record copies through the Clerk's office.

OCRA Remote Access for Attorneys

Officer of the Court Remote Access, known as OCRA, lets attorneys view case files filed in 2014 forward without coming to the courthouse. It is limited to attorneys and their designated, supervised staff. The fee is $150 per year per attorney plus $50 per year for each additional supervised attorney or staff member.

The county page describes how to apply.

The Henrico online circuit records page explains Secure Remote Access and OCRA, including the application and subscriber agreement.

OCRA is not general public access, so ordinary users still use the public case systems and the Clerk's counter.

Posted Orders and VA Deed Alert

The Clerk's office posts court orders and notices and runs a property-protection tool. VA Deed Alert sends a notification when a document containing a registered name is recorded in the Land Records Division. Henrico created the alert so residents can watch for any filing tied to their home or other real estate.

The alert is free to register and helps catch deed fraud early.

Property owners can sign up through the Clerk's land records resources, then receive an email when a matching document is recorded. It is one of the more useful official tools the office offers homeowners, and it ties into the same Land Records Division that handles deeds and judgments.

Probate and Security Rules Before You Visit

The Clerk also serves as probate authority, handling wills, estate qualification, and fiduciary appointments by appointment in Room 240. Visitors should plan ahead, because cell phones and electronic devices are prohibited in the Courts Building. Allow about 10 extra minutes to park, pass security, and reach the upper floors.

Print any documents you need before you arrive.

The Henrico County probate records page covers the appointment process and the documents to bring, and the court records page covers case copies.