Giles County Divorce Records

Giles County divorce records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk's office in Pearisburg, the county seat in the New River Valley of southwestern Virginia. The 27th Judicial Circuit serves Giles County, and divorce case records date to 1806. To find a specific divorce filing, get a certified copy of a final decree, or confirm a case was heard in Giles County, contact the clerk's office on Wenonah Avenue directly.

Circuit Court Clerk's Office

The Giles County Circuit Court is the sole venue for divorce cases in the county under Virginia Code § 20-96. The clerk maintains all original case files and issues certified copies of final decrees on request.

Giles County sits along the New River in the Ridge and Valley province of southwestern Virginia. The county is small and rural, with a courthouse that serves a modest volume of divorce filings. Staff can assist with searches and copies but cannot give legal advice. For free help, contact Virginia Legal Aid or visit the Virginia Courts self-help portal.

Note: For mail requests, include both parties' names, the approximate year of the divorce, your contact information, and a self-addressed stamped envelope for document return.

Getting Divorce Records in Giles County

You can request Giles County divorce records in person or by mail. In person is fastest. Bring photo ID and both parties' names with the approximate year. The clerk will search the index and help you get the documents.

Mail requests go to: Giles County Circuit Court Clerk, 501 Wenonah Avenue, Suite 1, Pearisburg, VA 24134. Include both parties' names, the year, your contact information, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Under Virginia Code § 32.1-271, records under 25 years old are limited to named parties, immediate family, and attorneys. After 25 years, they are public. The first certified copy of a final decree is free under § 17.1-275. More copies cost $0.50 per page. The divorce filing fee is $60.

For a short divorce certificate showing just the basic facts, the Virginia Department of Health has records from 1918 for $12 each.

Virginia Divorce: What You Need to Know

Virginia requires at least six months of residency before you can file for divorce. Giles County residents file at the courthouse in Pearisburg. Both fault and no-fault divorce are available under § 20-91.

No-fault divorce is the most common approach. It requires one full year of living separately without any cohabitation. Six months is enough if both parties sign a separation agreement and have no minor children together. Fault grounds include adultery, felony conviction with imprisonment, cruelty, and desertion. These require concrete evidence and are harder to prove.

Under § 20-107.3, the court divides marital property and debts using equitable distribution. This means the court decides what is fair based on contributions, the length of the marriage, and financial status of each spouse. It is not automatically 50-50. Separate property stays with its owner. The Virginia State Bar guide to divorce explains the process clearly for people going through it for the first time.

Record Sealing and Privacy

Under § 20-124, any party to a divorce case can ask the court to seal the record. Sealed records remain restricted even after 25 years. Only the parties, their attorneys, and those with court approval can view sealed files.

Social security numbers are removed from all copies issued to requesters. Virginia's FOIA law supports broad public access to government records, but the vital records statutes limit who can access divorce records during the 25-year restricted period.

Nearby Counties

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