Arlington County Divorce Records

Arlington County divorce records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk's Office at 1425 North Courthouse Road in Arlington, Virginia. The office handles all divorce filings, decrees, and certified copies for cases heard in this Northern Virginia county. Divorce records in Arlington go back to 1848. The Virginia Department of Health holds divorce certificates from 1918. This page covers how to find records, what they contain, how much copies cost, and where to get legal help if you need it.

Circuit Court Clerk Office

Arlington County is part of Virginia's 17th Judicial Circuit. All divorce proceedings in Virginia are handled by circuit courts under § 20-96. The Arlington clerk's office at 1425 North Courthouse Road maintains divorce decrees, full case files, land records, marriage licenses, and all other official circuit court documents.

Clerk Hon. Paul Ferguson leads the office. He can be contacted at pferguson@vacourts.gov. Court terms begin on the first Monday of January, March, May, July, September, and November. The Arlington court uses Commissioners in Chancery for some adoptions and occasional divorce cases, so ask the clerk if your case involved a commissioner and whether any documents are stored separately.

The clerk's office also maintains public access terminals in the courthouse, so you can look up some records on-site without paying copy fees just to browse. This is a useful option if you're not sure exactly which documents you need.

How to Search Arlington Divorce Records

Online case lookups for Arlington divorce records are available through the Virginia Judicial System at vacourts.gov. You can search by party name, case number, or hearing date. Basic case information is available online. Complete documents and certified copies require a visit to the clerk's office or a mailed request.

In person, visit the clerk's office at Suite 6700, 1425 North Courthouse Road, Arlington, VA 22201. The office opens at 8:00 AM and closes at 4:00 PM on weekdays. Bring the full names of both parties and the approximate year of the divorce. Staff can pull the case and let you review it. Public access terminals are also available in the courthouse if you want to browse first.

Mail requests can be sent to the same address. Include the case details, a money order for the estimated fees, and a stamped, self-addressed return envelope. The clerk's office processes mail requests and returns copies by mail. Allow five to seven business days for processing. Arlington's clerk office confirmed this turnaround time for mail orders.

Virginia's Freedom of Information Act at § 2.2-3700 establishes the right to access public records. Divorce records under 25 years old remain restricted to parties, immediate family, and attorneys under the vital records confidentiality rules at § 32.1-271.

What Arlington Divorce Records Contain

Three types of divorce records are available for Arlington County cases. Understanding the difference helps you request the right document the first time.

The final divorce decree is the court order that officially ends the marriage. It includes the names of both parties, the date the decree was issued, and all court decisions on property division, spousal support, child custody, and debt. Under § 20-107.3, Virginia courts divide marital property equitably rather than automatically splitting it 50/50. The decree records exactly how that distribution was determined. This is the document most people need for legal and financial purposes.

The divorce case file is the complete set of documents filed during the case. It includes the original complaint, financial affidavits, motions, exhibits, summonses, and the final decree. Large cases can generate many pages of filings. Copies are $0.50 per page. If you only need the decree, ask for that specifically rather than the full file.

VDH divorce certificates are brief confirmation documents listing the parties' names, the county of divorce, and the date. They are available from VDH for all Arlington divorces back to 1918. These certificates are often used for legal name changes or simple proof of marital status and do not include property or custody terms.

Fees for Arlington Divorce Records

Arlington County follows state fee rules under § 17.1-275. At the time a divorce case closes, the first certified copy of the final decree is free to either party. After that, copies from the circuit court are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $2.00 per document plus the per-page fee.

A 12-page certified decree would cost around $8.00 ($6.00 for pages plus $2.00 certification). Arlington does not accept personal checks at the clerk's window. Bring cash, a money order, or a cashier's check for in-person requests. For mail requests, send a money order. Do not mail cash.

VDH charges $12 per certified divorce certificate. Multiple copies are $12 each. Payment is accepted at VDH by check, money order, payment card, mobile pay, or cash. Walk-in service is available at 8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 100, Richmond, Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Phone: 804-662-6200.

Getting Copies of Divorce Records

In person at the Arlington clerk's office is the most direct way to get copies. Visit Suite 6700, 1425 North Courthouse Road, Arlington, VA 22201 during business hours. Bring photo ID, the names of both parties, and the approximate year of the divorce. Use the public access terminals to review records first if you want to confirm you have the right case.

For mail requests, address your request to the same address. Include a written description of the case, a money order for the estimated fees, and a stamped, self-addressed envelope. The clerk's office noted a five to seven business day processing window for mail requests. Factor that into your planning.

For VDH divorce certificates, go to vdh.virginia.gov/vital-records. Download and print the application form, fill it out, sign it, and mail it with your photo ID copy and a $12 payment per certificate to: VDH, P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, VA 23218-1000. Processing takes two to four weeks. Some court-filed records may be sealed under § 20-124. Sealed records are not accessible to the general public regardless of how old they are.

Legal Help in Arlington County

Arlington is a densely populated Northern Virginia county with many legal resources available. The Virginia State Bar publishes a free guide on Virginia divorce covering fault and no-fault grounds, property rights, support, and custody. Under § 20-91, fault grounds include adultery, cruelty, and willful desertion. No-fault requires one year of continuous separation, reduced to six months if no minor children and both parties have signed a separation agreement.

For free civil legal help, qualifying residents can contact Virginia Legal Aid. The Virginia Court Self-Help Center provides guides and forms specifically for people handling their own divorce cases in circuit court. Note that court personnel at the Arlington Circuit Court are prohibited by state law from giving legal advice, so outside resources are important if you plan to represent yourself.

Nearby Counties

These counties border or are near Arlington County. Each one has its own Circuit Court for divorce cases.