Hanover County Criminal Court Records

Hanover County criminal court records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk and the General District Court in Hanover, Virginia. Whether you need to look up a felony filing, a misdemeanor charge, or a case disposition, you can search using Virginia's free online court tools or visit the courthouse in person. Hanover County is part of the Richmond metropolitan area in central Virginia and sits within the 15th Judicial Circuit. This guide explains how to find and access criminal court records in Hanover County and what options you have if you need to request or seal them.

Hanover Circuit Court Records

The Hanover County Circuit Court is the court of general jurisdiction for the county, handling all felony criminal cases, civil claims over $25,000, grand jury proceedings, and appeals from the General District Court. It falls within Virginia's 15th Judicial Circuit. The Circuit Court Clerk's office in Hanover maintains the official case files, which include indictments, sentencing orders, warrants, and final dispositions. All of these are public records unless a judge has ordered them sealed.

You can search Hanover County Circuit Court criminal records online through the CJISWeb system run by the Virginia Judicial System. Select Hanover County from the county list on the search page. You can look up cases by party name, case number, or hearing date. Case numbers with a "CR" prefix are criminal matters. The data reflects real-time updates from the clerk's office, so results are current. Using CJISWeb before you call or visit the courthouse can save time and help you confirm the exact case number you need.

The Hanover County Circuit Court Clerk's office is located in Hanover, Virginia. Copy fees are $0.50 per page for standard copies, with an additional $2.00 for certified copies and $2.50 for triple-seal copies. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Call ahead to confirm current hours if you are traveling.

The image below is from the Hanover County Government website, which links to court information and county departments relevant to public records requests.

The Hanover County Government website provides directory information for county departments including the courts, the sheriff, and the county administration.

Hanover General District Court

The Hanover County General District Court handles misdemeanor criminal charges, traffic offenses, and preliminary hearings for felony matters before those cases move to Circuit Court. It also covers civil claims up to $25,000. No jury trials take place here. Matters are decided by a judge. A defendant who wants a jury trial must appeal to the Circuit Court, where the case starts over completely under Virginia's de novo appeal process.

Records from the Hanover County General District Court are available online through the General District Court portal and through the GDC online system run by the Virginia Judicial System. The GDC system allows searches by name, case number, or hearing date at no cost. It covers criminal, traffic, and civil cases. Preliminary felony hearing records appear there before those matters are transferred to Circuit Court. Court hours are typically Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

The OCIS 2.0 statewide search is another useful tool for Hanover County records, especially if you need to search across multiple courts at once without knowing exactly which court level handled a specific case.

Online Tools for Hanover Court Records

Virginia gives the public three main tools to search criminal court records statewide. The CJISWeb system covers circuit court criminal cases. The GDC portal covers misdemeanor and traffic cases. The OCIS 2.0 statewide search lets you cast a wider net across multiple court types. All three are free, require no account, and are available any time. For Hanover County specifically, CJISWeb and the GDC portal are the most direct paths to criminal case records.

Search results typically include case number, charge, filing date, current status, and scheduled hearings. Full case documents, such as indictments, orders, and plea agreements, are not always available online. For those, you will need to contact the Circuit Court Clerk in Hanover. Copy requests can often be submitted by mail -- call the clerk's office first to confirm the process and what payment is accepted.

Note: Records that have been sealed, cases involving juveniles, and certain domestic relations matters will not appear in any public search portal.

Public Access to Hanover County Court Records

Criminal court case files held by the Hanover County Circuit Court Clerk are generally public records. You can view them in person at the courthouse during business hours. If you need records from law enforcement agencies rather than the courts -- such as arrest reports or investigative files from the Hanover County Sheriff -- you would use Virginia's Freedom of Information Act. Under the Virginia FOIA statute, public bodies must respond to records requests within five working days. Criminal investigative files may take up to 60 additional working days in some situations.

The Virginia FOIA Advisory Council offers free guidance to help you submit effective requests. For a full statewide criminal history report covering arrests and dispositions from agencies across Virginia, submit your request to the Virginia State Police at vsp.virginia.gov. That process falls under Virginia Code § 19.2-389 and is separate from the clerk's court records. The clerk holds what was filed in court; the State Police maintain the broader arrest history through the Central Criminal Records Exchange.

Record Sealing in Hanover County

Virginia law allows certain criminal records to be sealed. If a case in Hanover County was dismissed, nolle prossed, or ended in an acquittal, you may petition the Circuit Court to seal those records under Virginia Code § 19.2-392.2. Once sealed, those records are removed from public view and no longer appear in online search results. Not all cases qualify. Offenses listed in § 19.2-392.12 are excluded from sealing even when other requirements are satisfied.

Virginia's expanded sealing law for convictions is set to take effect in July 2026. Under the new rules, people with qualifying convictions may petition to seal records after completing waiting periods and meeting other eligibility requirements. The process is not automatic. You file a petition in Hanover County Circuit Court and attend a hearing. The Virginia Courts Self-Help Center has step-by-step guides and the necessary forms to get started. If your situation involves multiple charges or prior convictions, consulting a licensed Virginia attorney first is a smart step.

Self-Help and Legal Resources

The Virginia Courts Self-Help Center is the main state resource for people who need to navigate courts on their own. It covers how to request records, file petitions, respond to charges, and understand court procedures. All material on the site applies to Hanover County courts. The site is run by the Virginia Access to Justice Commission and is regularly updated.

For Hanover County residents who need legal help, the Greater Richmond Bar Association and local legal aid organizations serve this area. Central Virginia Legal Aid Society and similar groups can assist income-eligible residents with criminal record questions, including sealing petitions. Contact details are available through the Self-Help Center or by visiting the Hanover County Government website and checking the county's community resource listings.

Hanover County is part of the greater Richmond metro area, so residents generally have good access to courts and legal services compared to more rural Virginia counties. In-person access at the courthouse is typically straightforward during business hours, and the online search tools are reliable.

Nearby Counties

Hanover County borders Henrico, Chesterfield, Spotsylvania, Caroline, and King William counties in the Richmond metropolitan area.