Carroll County Divorce Records
Carroll County divorce decree records are kept at the Circuit Court Clerk's office in Hillsville, Virginia. The Clerk handles all divorce filings and is the source for certified copies of final decrees granted in the county.
Carroll County Overview
Carroll County Circuit Court Clerk
The Circuit Court Clerk in Hillsville maintains all divorce records for Carroll County. This includes case files, final decrees, and any related court orders. The Clerk is the official custodian of these records and the person to contact when you need a copy.
Carroll County is in the 27th Judicial Circuit of Virginia, which also covers the independent City of Galax. If you live in Carroll County and file for divorce, your case goes through the Hillsville courthouse. The same applies if your spouse lives here and you file first. The Clerk assigns case numbers, keeps the full file, and provides certified copies to parties and others who are entitled to them.
To request a certified copy of a Carroll County divorce decree, send or bring a request to the Clerk's office. You need the case number, the year the divorce was granted, and both parties' full names. The first certified copy of a final decree is free under Virginia Code § 17.1-275. Each additional page is $0.50. For a mail request, include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
| Office | Carroll County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address |
Carroll County Courthouse Hillsville, VA 24343 |
| Judicial Circuit | 27th Judicial Circuit |
| First Copy Fee | Free (per § 17.1-275); additional copies $0.50/page |
Divorce Certificates: VDH and Local Options
There are two types of divorce documents you might need in Carroll County: the divorce decree from the Circuit Court Clerk and a divorce certificate from the Virginia Department of Health. They are different documents and serve different purposes.
A divorce certificate is a summary record maintained by the VDH Office of Vital Records. It covers divorces granted in Virginia from 1918 to the present. The fee is $12 per certified copy. You can mail a request to VDH at P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, VA 23218-1000, or visit in person at 8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 100, Richmond. Walk-in hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The divorce decree is the full court order. It includes all the terms of the divorce, including property division, spousal support, and child custody if children were involved. Courts, government agencies, and financial institutions usually need the decree, not just the certificate. The Clerk in Hillsville is the only source for Carroll County divorce decrees.
Per Virginia Code § 32.1-271, divorce records are not public for 25 years after entry. During that period, only the parties or their immediate family can request a divorce certificate. The restriction applies to certificates, not necessarily to the court file itself, which the Clerk manages under different access rules.
How to Search Carroll County Divorce Cases
You can start a Carroll County divorce case search online through the Virginia court system's case lookup tool at vacourts.gov. Enter a party name or case number. The system returns case status information, court dates, and orders that have been entered. It won't give you the text of the decree itself.
If you need the actual decree, contact the Circuit Court Clerk in Hillsville. Staff can look up cases and tell you what's available. For older records that may not be in the online system, an in-person or written request is usually more reliable. Bring your photo ID if you visit in person. If you send a request by mail, include both parties' full names, the approximate year, the case number if you have it, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Carroll County is in southwestern Virginia, near the North Carolina border. The 27th Circuit also covers Galax, an independent city with its own clerk's office. If you're not sure whether a divorce was filed in the county or the city, you may need to check both. Each jurisdiction keeps its own records.
Carroll County Divorce Filing Requirements
Filing for divorce in Carroll County follows Virginia state law. Under Virginia Code § 20-97, at least one spouse must have lived in Virginia for six months before you file. The filing fee is $60 under Virginia Code § 17.1-275. You file your complaint at the Circuit Court Clerk's office in Hillsville.
The most common no-fault ground for divorce is living apart for one year, per Virginia Code § 20-91. If you have no minor children and both spouses have signed a written property settlement agreement, you only need to be separated six months. Fault-based grounds are also available: adultery, cruelty, desertion, and felony conviction with imprisonment are the main ones. Fault can affect spousal support and property division decisions.
Virginia divides marital property using equitable distribution principles under § 20-107.3. The court looks at factors like each spouse's contributions, the duration of the marriage, and economic circumstances. It won't always split everything 50/50. If children are involved, the court enters custody and support orders based on the child's best interest and the guidelines in § 20-108.2.
Virginia courts have self-help forms for uncontested divorces. You can find them at vacourts.gov. Many people in straightforward cases handle the paperwork without an attorney.
What Carroll County Divorce Records Contain
A Carroll County divorce case file typically includes the original complaint or bill of complaint, any cross-complaints, financial disclosures, a settlement agreement if the case resolved out of court, and all court orders entered during the case. The final decree of divorce is the last and most important document. It is signed by the judge and officially ends the marriage.
The final decree lists both parties' names, the date the marriage was dissolved, the grounds for divorce, and all terms the court ordered. This includes how marital property was divided, whether either party will pay or receive spousal support, and if minor children were involved, the custody and support arrangements. If a party requested restoration of a former name under Virginia Code § 20-121.4, the decree includes that order.
Certified copies of the decree are the format most often needed for legal purposes. Plain copies may be available at a lower cost. Some exhibits attached to case files, such as detailed financial records, may be restricted from public view.
Legal Help in Carroll County
Carroll County residents can seek legal help from a few different sources. Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley and Blue Ridge Legal Services cover parts of southwestern Virginia and may be able to assist with divorce matters for qualifying individuals. Contact them to find out if you're eligible and what services they offer in your area.
The Virginia State Bar operates a statewide lawyer referral service. Local bar associations, including the Carroll County Bar Association, may also provide referrals to family law attorneys in the area. For self-help resources, visit vacourts.gov or valegalaid.org. Both sites have guides on the divorce process and links to court forms.
Virginia Divorce Law Reference
Virginia Code sets the rules for divorce filing, grounds, and record access. The state legislature's site has the full text of key statutes.
The grounds for divorce in Virginia are set out in Virginia Code § 20-91, which covers both no-fault and fault-based grounds available to Carroll County filers.
Nearby Cities
Galax is an independent city that borders Carroll County. It has its own Circuit Court clerk and handles its own divorce filings separately from the county.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Carroll County. Each has its own Circuit Court Clerk and handles its own divorce filings.