Virginia Court Records

Virginia Court Records

1607 - 1650's: Governor and council. In the earliest period the governor and council heard all civil and criminal cases and appeals from the county courts.

1618 - 1902: County courts. These courts were originally called monthly courts (1618-34) and later courts of the shire or county courts. These courts handled minor civil and criminal cases, equity, probate, and orphans matters. The county courts' duties were assumed by the circuit superior courts of law and chancery in 1902.

1618 - 1661: Quarter courts. These courts first met quarterly in England and later at Jamestown in September, December, March, and June. They handled major civil matters, capital crimes, chancery, and appellate matters. The name was changed to General Court in 1661.

1661 - 1851: General Court. Appeals of county court cases could be made to the General Court or the General Assembly (an elected legislature). The General Court had statewide jurisdiction over major civil cases, capital crimes, records of deaths until 1814, and probate matters.

1777 - 1831: High Court of Chancery. This court had appellate authority over chancery cases from the county court until 1802. This court was replaced by the superior courts of chancery from 1802 to 1831.

1788 - 1831: District Courts. These courts handled non-capital crimes, major civil cases, and equity cases until 1809. They were replaced by the circuit superior courts of law from 1809 to 1831. The circuit superior courts of law met in each county.

1831 - Present: Circuit Superior Courts of Law and Chancery. These courts combined and replaced the duties of the district and circuit superior courts of law. In 1902 they also assumed the duties of the county courts. Records of these courts are at the Virginia State Library.

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