Clerk of Circuit Court

The Clerk of Court is a constitutional officer who is elected city-wide to an eight-year term. J. Greg Parks was elected Clerk of Court in the November 2019 general election. The Clerk maintains and processes land records, handles probate and fiduciary matters, issues marriage licenses, and provides clerical assistance to Circuit Court judges in all civil and criminal matters.

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• Clerk of Circuit Court
  • APA Audits
  • Clerk of Court Contact Information
  • Practice Tips from the Clerk's Office
  • Proposed Amendments to the Regulations of the Potomac River Fisheries Commission
  • Proposed Amendments to the Regulations of the Potomac RiverFisheries Commission March 9, 2023
  • SJR 231: Proposing an Amendment to Section 6-A of Article X of the Constitution of Virginia

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  To find information about a service provided by the Clerk of Court please see the topics below listed in alphabetical order. If you do not find what you are looking for, please call 703.746.4044, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., except on holidays.

  Birth Certificates

  • Birth Certificates are not kept by the Clerk of Court. The Alexandria Health Department issues birth, death, and other vital records. For hours and requirements, visit the vital records webpage here Vital Records or call (703) 746-4991.
  • Copies of birth records can also be obtained from the State of Virginia Office of Vital Records at (804) 662-6200 or at most Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles locations.

  Businesses

  • As of January 1, 2020, new certificates of assumed fictitious name are no longer filed with the local Clerk of Court but instead with the Virginia State Corporation Commission.
  • Prior fictitious name filings are still dissolved at the local Circuit Court. For information on dissolving a prior fictitious name call (703) 746-4044. To initiate dissolution complete and file this form with our office: Certificate of Dissolution of Trade Name. Filing fee is $10.00, certified copies are $2.50 each.
  • The following business records are available in the Clerk’s Office.
    • Printed indexes of trade names from 1950
    • Computerized indexes of trade names from 1984
    • Corporation records prior to 1988
    • For other business license matters, contact the City of Alexandria Business License Office at (703) 746-3903.
    • For information about corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability companies and new fictitious name forms, contact the State Corporation Commission at (804) 371-9967 or visit their website at scc.virginia.gov.

    Civil Cases

    • Include suits for money damages, and debt collections
    • Civil case hearings and motions are heard by the court on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month which is Civil Motions Day.
    • Case status information can be obtained Monday – Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. by calling the clerk's office at (703) 746-4044, or via our online systems. See Online Records below.
    • Amounts under $25,000.00 usually are filed in General District Court, the small claims court, which has fill-in-the-blank forms. For more information call the General District Court Clerk’s Office at (703) 746-4021.
    • Civil Case Resources:
      • Coversheet used when filing a civil action
      • Local Procedures – Civil
      • Civil Fee Schedule Service fees will be additional
      • Civil Fee Calculator
      • Forms Provided by the Supreme Court of Virginia
      • Lawyer Referral Service: https://www.alexandriabarva.org/Find-a-Lawyer
      • Legal Aid: (703) 684-5566
      • The following civil case records are available in the Clerk’s Office.
        • Printed indexes from 1870 until 1984
        • Computerized indexes from 1870-1916 and 1969 until Present

        Concealed Handgun Permits

        • Alexandria are here: Application Procedures
        • The application form is here: https://vsp.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/SP-248ConcealedHand…
        • Submit your completed application along with the $50.00 fee to the Clerk’s Office between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday – Friday, except holidays.
        • New applications may be filed in person, or via remote video appointment.
        • Renewal applications may be filed by mail. Renewals require completed application, photocopy of current permit and photocopy of picture ID.
        • To obtain a video appointment for a concealed handgun permit application, send an e-mail to: circuitclerk.appointments@alexandriava.gov
        • Your e-mail must include:
          • Full name of applicant, email address, and phone number
          • Two preferred dates and times for a video appointment.
          • Attached scans of your application (revision 07-01-2021) and supporting documentation.
          • Please do not attach pictures of your documents as they are not legible for upload to the Court’s systems.
          • The Clerk’s office will contact you to provide further instructions.

          Criminal Cases

          • Includes criminal felony cases and misdemeanor appeals
          • Case status information can be obtained Monday – Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. by calling the clerk's office at (703) 746-4044, or via our online systems. See Online Records below.
          • Criminal case hearings and motions are heard by the Court every Thursday, which is Commonwealth Day.
          • Traffic and misdemeanor appeals are heard on the 3rd Tuesday of each month.
          • Collection of delinquent court costs and fines is done through the Virginia Department of Taxation: (804) 367-0016.
            
            • Collections Policy for Unpaid Court Costs
            • Criminal Case Resources:
              • Local Procedures – Criminal
              • Forms Provided by the Supreme Court of Virginia
              • Lawyer Referral Service: https://www.alexandriabarva.org/Find-a-Lawyer
              • Legal Aid: (703) 684-5566
              • Payments may be made by credit card over the phone by calling (703) 746-4044.
              • Payments may be made by sending a check or money order payable to “Clerk of Court” to 520 King Street, Room 307, Alexandria, VA 22314. Include your case name and number.
              • If you need a receipt, we will send it via U.S. mail to the address you provide.
              • Court costs, fines and other fees in criminal cases can now be paid online using a credit or debit card via the Virginia Judicial Online Payment System (VJOPS). A 4% convenience fee will be added to payments made via VJOPS. To pay online click here: https://eapps.courts.state.va.us/fmsOnline/#/

              Death Certificates

              • Death Certificates are not kept by the Clerk of Court. The Alexandria Health Department issues birth, death, and other vital records. For hours and requirements, visit the vital records webpage here Vital Records or call (703) 746-4991.
              • Copies of death certificates can also be obtained from the State of Virginia Office of Vital Records at (804) 662-6200.

              Divorces

              • To obtain a divorce in Virginia, one spouse must be a resident of Virginia for at least six months prior to filing for divorce.
              • For an uncontested divorce, if there are no children from the marriage, you must be separated for a minimum of six months and have a written property settlement agreement before you may file for divorce. If there are children from the marriage, you must be separated a minimum of one year before you may file for divorce. If any child or children of the marriage is under the age of 18, both the husband and the wife must complete the Families in Transition (FITS) Program.
              • No forms are available from the Clerk's Office, however an uncontested divorce information packet is available from the Alexandria Law Library here: Uncontested Divorce Information Packet or by calling (703) 746-4077.
              • The filing fee for a divorce case is $86.00. If you are requesting to have a maiden name restored, there is an additional fee of $23.00. If you are requesting to have a Virginia Sheriff's Department serve the Defendant, there is an additional fee of $12.00.
              • The following divorce case records are available in the Clerk’s Office.
                • Computerized indexes from 1870 until Present
                • Printed indexes from 1870 until 1984
                • Reference VA Code § 20-89 through 20-124 for information on how to obtain a divorce in Virginia.
                • Coversheet used when filing a new divorce case.
                • Information on Parent Education Providers
                • Parent Education- Live webinars
                • Lawyer Referral Service: https://www.alexandriabarva.org/Find-a-Lawyer
                • Legal Aid: (703) 684-5566

                Expungements

                An expungement is a court action that deletes police and court records relating to a criminal case when any of the following has occurred: acquittal, nolle prosequi, dismissal, absolute pardon, or an individual’s name was used in error. When a record is expunged, the record is not immediately destroyed but is removed from public access and sealed. Three (3) years after the date the expungement order is entered, the records are destroyed.

                See the Alexandria Circuit Court Expungement Packet for sample forms and further information.

                1. Person seeking expungement (“petitioner”) obtains four (4) copies of the arrest warrants or charges to be expunged.

                2. Petitioner completes a Petition for Expungement and a draft Order of Expungement (see Packet linked above for examples).

                3. Petitioner files the original, and three copies of these documents with the Clerk of Circuit Court.

                • One copy for the Commonwealth’s Attorney.
                • One copy to provide a law enforcement agency with a request for fingerprints.
                • One copy for the petitioner’s records.

                4. Petitioner obtains one complete set of fingerprints from a law enforcement agency.

                • Petitioner must provide to the law enforcement agency a copy of the Petition for Expungement and copies of the arrest warrant or charges.
                • The Alexandria Sheriff’s Office processes fingerprint requests for expungement petitioners on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the courthouse. There is no fee for this service. For information on fingerprinting only, call (703) 746-4120 or visit their expungement page https://www.alexandriava.gov/sheriff/sheriffs-office-offering-free-fingerprinting-for-local-expungement.

                5. The law enforcement agency which took the fingerprints will send them, along with a copy of the Petition for Expungement, to the Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE).

                6. CCRE will conduct a search of the records of the Petitioner’s criminal history and return the results to the Clerk of Circuit Court along with the fingerprint card.

                7. Where necessary, hearings on expungements are scheduled on civil motions day, the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month.

                Filing Fee: The filing fee is $86. If your expungement petition is granted by the court, you will receive a refund of the $86.

                NOTE: The information provided is for procedural purposes only. It is not intended as legal advice and should not be used as such. The Clerk's Office cannot advise you or determine which charges are eligible for expungement. We recommend you seek the advice of an attorney. Proceeding 'Pro Se' means that you are acting as your own attorney and that you are responsible for filing the appropriate forms and documents and that you are responsible for their content.