Chesterfield County Divorce Records

Chesterfield County divorce records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk's office at the courthouse on Courthouse Road. If you need to find a filed divorce case, get a certified copy of a final decree, or check the status of a dissolution proceeding, the 12th Judicial Circuit clerk handles all of those requests. Records date back to 1749, giving this county one of the longest spans of divorce documentation in Virginia. Most requests can be handled in person or by mail, and some case information is available online through the Virginia Judicial System's case search portal.

Circuit Court Clerk's Office

All divorce cases in Chesterfield County go through the Chesterfield County Circuit Court. The clerk's office keeps the official case files, final decrees, and related court orders. Under Virginia Code § 20-96, circuit courts have exclusive jurisdiction over divorce matters statewide.

Chesterfield is one of the most populous counties in Virginia. The clerk's office handles a high volume of divorce filings each year. Staff can tell you what you need to bring and help point you to the right form, but they cannot give legal advice. If you want legal help, contact the Virginia Legal Aid Society or check the Virginia Courts self-help page.

Note: Mailing requests should include the full names of both parties, the approximate year of the divorce, and a self-addressed stamped envelope for any documents being returned by mail.

How to Get Divorce Records

There are two main ways to get Chesterfield County divorce records. For recent divorces (under 25 years old), you go to the Circuit Court Clerk's office. For older divorces, you can also contact the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records, which keeps divorce certificates dating back to 1918 statewide.

The first certified copy of a final divorce decree is free under Virginia Code § 17.1-275. Additional copies cost $0.50 per page. The VDH charges $12 per certified divorce certificate copy. Filing a divorce case costs $60 in the circuit court.

Records from the past 25 years are restricted to the parties named in the case, their immediate family members, and their attorneys. After 25 years, the records become public under Virginia Code § 32.1-271. Immediate family includes parents, spouses, children, siblings, and grandparents. Aunts, uncles, and in-laws do not qualify for access to restricted records.

You can search some case information online through the Virginia Judicial System's case lookup tool. That tool shows basic case details. To get the actual documents, you need to contact the clerk's office directly.

What Divorce Records Contain

Chesterfield County divorce records are not a single document. They include the full case file, the final decree, and any orders related to child support, property, or spousal support. Each type contains different details.

The final divorce decree sets out the court's ruling. It may address division of marital property and debts under Virginia Code § 20-107.3, child custody, visitation rights, and name changes. The case file holds all pleadings, motions, and affidavits filed during the proceeding. Divorce certificates from VDH show only the basic facts: names, date, and county of the divorce.

Social security numbers are redacted from all public copies. If a case was sealed by court order under Virginia Code § 20-124, only the parties and their attorneys can view it regardless of age.

Note: Divorce decrees are separate from divorce certificates. A decree is the full court order; a certificate is just a short summary issued by VDH for ID and vital records purposes.

Virginia Divorce Laws and Grounds

Virginia allows both fault-based and no-fault divorces. Under Virginia Code § 20-91, no-fault divorce requires living separate and apart for one full year. That period drops to six months if both parties sign a separation agreement and have no minor children together.

Fault grounds include adultery, felony conviction with imprisonment, cruelty, and willful desertion. Proving fault requires solid evidence. In practice, most Chesterfield County divorces proceed on no-fault grounds. Either way, you must have lived in Virginia for at least six months before filing.

Virginia uses equitable distribution for dividing marital property. The court does not split things 50-50 by default. Instead, a judge weighs factors like each spouse's contributions, the length of the marriage, and the economic circumstances of each party. Property you owned before the marriage or received as a gift is typically separate property and not subject to division.

For legal guidance specific to your situation, the Virginia State Bar publishes a helpful plain-language guide to divorce in Virginia. The self-help center at vacourts.gov also walks you through the process step by step.

Vital Records and the VDH

The Virginia Department of Health keeps divorce certificates from 1918 forward for the entire state. These certificates are short documents that confirm a divorce happened. They list the names of both parties, the date, and the county where the divorce was granted.

To get a VDH divorce certificate, you fill out an application form at vdh.virginia.gov. You print it, sign it, and mail it or bring it in person. The address is 8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 100, Richmond, VA 23227. The phone number is 804-662-6200. VDH is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM for walk-in requests.

The fee is $12 per copy. You must show valid ID. Mailing it in takes about two to four weeks. Eligible requesters are the parties named in the record, parents, children, siblings, and grandparents. Under Virginia's FOIA statute, divorce records that are over 25 years old may be requested by anyone.

Nearby Counties

These Virginia counties are near Chesterfield County. Each maintains its own Circuit Court divorce records.