Arlington County Divorce Records
Arlington County divorce decree records are held by the Circuit Court Clerk in Arlington, Virginia. If you need to search a case or get a certified copy of a final decree, you can start at the clerk's office or use the state's online case search tool.
Arlington County Overview
Arlington County Circuit Court Clerk
The Circuit Court Clerk in Arlington handles all divorce records for the county. This office keeps final decrees, case files, and all documents filed during divorce proceedings. Arlington is a unique county in Virginia because it has no incorporated towns or cities within its borders. All divorce filings go through one court system, which keeps things fairly straightforward.
Arlington Circuit Court handles divorce cases for one of the most densely populated counties in the state. The court is part of the 17th Judicial Circuit. Staff at the clerk's office can help you find case records, look up case numbers, and provide certified copies of final decrees. The first certified copy of your final decree is free under Virginia Code § 17.1-275.
| Office | Arlington County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address |
1425 N. Courthouse Road Arlington, VA 22201 |
| Phone | (703) 228-7010 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Website | arlingtonva.us/circuit-court |
Virginia law under Virginia Code § 17.1-208 states that court records held by clerks of circuit courts are generally open to inspection. You can visit in person and ask to view a case file. Staff will retrieve it for you. If you need a copy, you pay the per-page fee after the first free certified copy.
How to Search Arlington Divorce Records
The easiest way to search Arlington County divorce records is through the Virginia Judiciary's online case information system. This free tool lets you look up cases by name or case number. It shows basic case details like filing dates, hearing schedules, and case status.
Visit the Virginia court case information system and select Arlington Circuit Court from the dropdown. You can search by the name of either party. The system goes back many years, though older cases may not appear online. If you can't find what you need online, call the clerk's office directly at (703) 228-7010.
To search in person, go to the courthouse at 1425 N. Courthouse Road. Bring the full name of one or both parties and the approximate year of the divorce if you know it. A case number speeds things up a lot. Staff can pull the file and let you review it. If you want copies, there is a $0.50 per page fee for pages beyond the first free certified copy under state law.
Note: Under Virginia Code § 32.1-271, divorce records are not public for 25 years after the divorce date. Only parties named in the case and their immediate family with valid ID may access records during that time.
The image below shows the Virginia Department of Health's Office of Vital Records page, which handles divorce certificates separately from divorce decrees.
Divorce certificates from VDH show only basic divorce facts. For full case details, you need the final decree from the Circuit Court Clerk.
Arlington County Divorce Decree Fees
Filing a divorce in Arlington County costs $60. This fee applies to all divorce and separate maintenance cases under Virginia Code § 17.1-275. The fee includes one free certified copy of the final decree when it is issued. Pay by cash, cashier's check, or money order at the Civil Intake window. Personal checks may not be accepted, so confirm payment methods with the clerk before you go.
For copies of documents from the case file, the standard rate is $0.50 per page. If you need a second certified copy of the final decree, that also runs $0.50 per page. These fees are set by state law and apply the same way across all Virginia circuit courts.
Divorce certificates from the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records cost $12 each. These are a separate type of record from the final decree. VDH handles certificates for divorces that happened anywhere in Virginia from 1918 to the present. You can request them by mail or in person at 8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 100, Richmond, VA 23227.
Fee waivers may be available for low-income filers. Ask the clerk's office about waiver forms. You will need to show proof of income. The court reviews the request and decides if you qualify. Even if the filing fee is waived, some copy fees may still apply.
Filing for Divorce in Arlington County
To file for divorce in Arlington County, you must meet the residency requirement. Under Virginia Code § 20-97, at least one spouse must have lived in Virginia for at least six months before filing. Arlington County is where you file if you or your spouse lives in the county.
Virginia law sets the grounds for divorce in Virginia Code § 20-91. Grounds include adultery, felony conviction with confinement, cruelty or desertion, and separation. For no-fault divorce, couples must live apart for one year. If there are no minor children and both parties have signed a separation agreement, the waiting period drops to six months apart.
The process starts at the Circuit Court Civil Intake. You file the complaint and pay the $60 fee. Then the other spouse must be served with papers. They have 21 days to respond if served in Virginia. If both parties agree on all terms, it moves faster. Contested cases can take many months. After the judge signs the final decree, the clerk records it and provides your first certified copy at no charge.
Important: Arlington is an independent city-county hybrid. There is no separate city within Arlington County. If you live anywhere in Arlington, you file at the one Circuit Court location at 1425 N. Courthouse Road.
Several documents go into the court file during a divorce case. These include the complaint, any responsive pleadings, financial disclosure forms, a separation agreement if applicable, and the final decree itself. Under Virginia Code § 32.1-268, the clerk reports each finalized divorce to the State Registrar monthly. That report becomes the basis for the divorce certificate VDH issues.
What Arlington Divorce Records Contain
Divorce records in Arlington County come in two main forms. The first is the case file kept by the Circuit Court Clerk. This includes everything filed during the case: the complaint, motions, financial affidavits, property settlement agreements, and the final decree. The second type is the divorce certificate from VDH. That document only shows basic facts like names and the date of divorce.
The final decree is the most important document in most situations. It spells out every term of the divorce: who gets what property, how debts are split, child custody and visitation if applicable, child support amounts, and spousal support if ordered. It also notes any name change. Banks, courts in other states, and government agencies often ask for the certified final decree. The first copy is free when the decree is issued.
Other documents in the case file can also be useful. Financial disclosure forms show each party's income and assets. A property settlement agreement lists what the couple agreed to before or during the case. These records can be important years later for things like pension division, real estate transfers, or modifications to support orders. You can request specific documents from the case file by contacting the Circuit Court Clerk's office.
Note: Records less than 25 years old are restricted to named parties and immediate family members. A valid government-issued ID is required to request copies.
Legal Help for Divorce in Arlington County
Arlington County has several resources for people navigating divorce. The Arlington Bar Association offers a lawyer referral service. You can reach them at (703) 228-7010 or visit the courthouse library. Many attorneys in the area handle family law cases, including contested and uncontested divorces.
Legal Services of Northern Virginia provides free legal help to income-eligible residents. They handle family law matters including divorce. Call (703) 778-6800 to find out if you qualify. Their office serves Arlington and the surrounding Northern Virginia region. They can help you understand the process, fill out forms, or represent you in court if you meet the income guidelines.
The Virginia State Bar offers a lawyer referral service at (800) 552-7977. If you want to handle your own divorce, the Arlington Circuit Court has self-help resources at the courthouse. The Virginia Legal Aid Society also has guides at valegalaid.org. Official Virginia court forms are available through the Virginia Courts website. These include the VS-4 Statistical Form and Domestic Case Coversheet that you need when you file.
Cities Near Arlington County
These independent cities are near Arlington County. Each has its own Circuit Court that handles divorce filings for residents within city limits.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Arlington. If you are unsure which county handles your case, check where you live. You file for divorce in the county or city where you or your spouse resides.