Colonial Heights Divorce Records

Colonial Heights divorce records are held at the Colonial Heights Circuit Court Clerk's Office at 550 Boulevard. The court is part of the 12th Judicial Circuit and has maintained divorce records for this independent city since 1961. You can request divorce decrees, case files, and other court documents in person, by mail, or through the city's records research page online.

Where Colonial Heights Divorce Records Are Filed

Colonial Heights is an independent city in the 12th Judicial Circuit, along with Chesterfield County. The circuit court at 550 Boulevard handles all divorce proceedings for city residents. Records go back to 1961, which is when Colonial Heights was formally established as an independent city.

The clerk of court is Hon. Stacy L. Stafford. The office has a dedicated Records Research page on the city's website, which makes it easier to find out what is available before you visit or submit a request by mail.

How to Search Colonial Heights Divorce Records

The city's Records Research page is a good starting point. It explains what types of records are available and how to request them. You do not need to show up in person just to find out what the office holds.

For in-person requests, visit the clerk's office at 550 Boulevard during business hours. Bring a photo ID and the basic details of the case you are looking for: full names of both parties and the approximate year of the divorce. Staff can search the index and pull the file for you to review or order copies.

Mail requests go to P.O. Box 3401, Colonial Heights, VA 23834. Include a description of the record, your contact information, and payment. A self-addressed stamped envelope will speed up the return. Allow a few weeks for processing.

For certified divorce certificates from 1918 onward, the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records handles those requests. Certificates cost $12 each and can be requested by mail or in person in Richmond.

What Colonial Heights Divorce Records Contain

Virginia produces several types of divorce documents, and each contains different information. The final divorce decree is the most complete court record. It includes both parties' names, the date the divorce was granted, and the court's rulings on property division, spousal support, child custody, visitation, and name changes. The court must address marital property under § 20-107.3, so these decrees are often detailed.

The case file contains everything filed during the proceeding. This includes the divorce complaint, service documents, responses, financial affidavits, temporary orders, and the final decree. Contested cases typically produce larger files than uncontested ones.

A VDH divorce certificate is a summary document. It confirms who divorced, when, and where. It does not contain property or custody terms. People use certificates most often when they need quick proof that a divorce happened, such as when applying for a marriage license or updating legal identification.

Social security numbers are redacted from all copies of divorce records provided to the public under Virginia law.

Virginia Divorce Laws and Colonial Heights

Under § 20-96, only Circuit Courts have authority to grant divorces in Virginia. The Colonial Heights Circuit Court is the proper venue for all divorce cases in the city.

At least one spouse must have lived in Virginia for six months before filing. Virginia allows both fault and no-fault divorce. The no-fault path under § 20-91 requires a full year of continuous separation. Couples with a signed separation agreement and no minor children qualify for a shorter six-month waiting period.

Fault grounds include adultery, felony conviction with more than one year of imprisonment, cruelty, and willful desertion. Fault can affect spousal support decisions.

Access to Colonial Heights divorce records is governed by § 32.1-271. Records less than 25 years old are available only to parties, immediate family, and attorneys. After 25 years, records are public. Records sealed under § 20-124 remain confidential regardless of age.

The Virginia FOIA (§ 2.2-3700) presumes government records are open to the public, but the vital records privacy statute takes precedence for divorce records during the restricted period.

Fees for Colonial Heights Divorce Records

Court copies cost $0.50 per page. Under § 17.1-275, the first certified copy of the final divorce decree is free to the recipient when issued by the court. Later copies are subject to the standard per-page fee.

The state filing fee for a divorce case is $60. Of that amount, $10 goes to the Courts Technology Fund. This fee is the same across all Virginia circuit courts.

VDH divorce certificates cost $12 each. For international documents that require an apostille, the fee is $10 per document through the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Call (804) 520-9364 to ask about accepted payment methods before submitting a request.

Legal Help in Colonial Heights

The Virginia Courts Self-Help Center provides guidance for self-represented parties. Virginia does not have official court forms for divorce, so you will need to prepare documents on your own or with assistance from a legal aid organization.

The Virginia State Bar's divorce guide is a plain-language resource covering the divorce process, property rights, spousal support, and custody.

Virginia Legal Aid serves the Colonial Heights area and may be able to help qualifying residents with divorce questions or filings at no cost.

The Virginia State Bar's lawyer referral service can connect you with local family law attorneys if you need paid legal representation.

Nearby Cities

These Virginia cities are near Colonial Heights. Each has its own Circuit Court for divorce records.