{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/16.1-69.54_1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/16.1-69.54_1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/16.1-69.54_1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/16.1-69.54_1.html"}],"law_id":65286,"edition_id":1,"section_id":65286,"structure_id":15537,"section_number":"16.1-69.54:1","catch_line":"Request for district court records","history":"2018, cc. 127, 584.","full_text":"A\n\nFor the purposes of this section, “confidential court records,” “court records,” and “nonconfidential court records” shall have the same meaning as set forth in § 17.1-292.B\n\nRequests for copies of nonconfidential court records maintained in individual case files shall be made to the clerk of a district court.C\n\nRequests for reports of aggregated, nonconfidential case data fields that are viewable through the online case information systems maintained by the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court shall be made to the Office of the Executive Secretary. Such reports of aggregated case data shall not include the name, date of birth, or social security number of any party and shall not include images of the individual records in the respective case files. However, nothing in this section shall be construed to permit any reports or aggregated case data to be sold or posted on any other website or in any way redistributed to any third party. The Executive Secretary, in his discretion, may deny such request to ensure compliance with these provisions. However, such data may be included in products or services provided to a third party, provided that such data is not made available to the general public.D\n\nAny clerk or the Executive Secretary, as applicable, may require that the request be in writing and that the requester provide his name and legal address. A request for nonconfidential court records or reports of aggregated nonconfidential case data shall identify the requested records with reasonable specificity. Any clerk or the Executive Secretary, as applicable, may determine the costs to provide the requested records to the requester, advise the requester of such costs, and, before continuing to process the request, require the requester to agree to payment of a deposit not to exceed the amount of the advance determination, which shall be credited to the final cost of supplying the requested records. No clerk, nor the Executive Secretary, shall be required to create a new record if the record does not already exist or provide a report of aggregated, nonconfidential case data in a format not regularly used by the clerk or the Executive Secretary; however, a clerk or the Executive Secretary, as applicable, may abstract or summarize information under such terms and conditions as agreed to by the requester and the clerk or Executive Secretary, as provided herein.E\n\nExcept where the nature or size of the request would interfere with the business of the court or with its use by the general public, or as otherwise provided by law, the requested court records or reports of aggregated, nonconfidential case data shall be provided to the requester within a reasonable period of time, given the nature of the request and the availability of staff to respond to the request, but in no event longer than 30 days from the date of a complete request made by a requester that is fully compliant with the requirements of this section and other applicable law. Any objection or assertion of confidentiality shall be provided to the requester within a reasonable period of time, but in no event longer than 30 days from the date of a complete request made by a requester.F\n\nAny clerk, or the Executive Secretary, may require payment in advance of all reasonable costs, not to exceed the actual cost incurred in accessing, duplicating, reviewing, supplying, or searching for the requested court records or reports of aggregated, nonconfidential case data, including removing any confidential information contained in the court records from the nonconfidential court records being provided, excluding any extraneous, intermediary, or surplus fees or expenses to recoup the general overhead costs associated with creating or maintaining records or transacting the general business of the clerk or the Office of the Executive Secretary. Before processing a request for court records or reports of aggregated, nonconfidential case data, any clerk or the Executive Secretary may require the requester to pay any amounts owed to the clerk or the Office of the Executive Secretary for previous requests for court records or reports of aggregated, nonconfidential case data that remain unpaid 30 days or more after billing.G\n\nAny clerk and the Executive Secretary shall be immune from any suit arising from the production of court records or reports of aggregated nonconfidential case data in accordance with this section absent gross negligence or willful misconduct.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":237425,"text":"For the purposes of this section, “confidential court records,” “court records,” and “nonconfidential court records” shall have the same meaning as set forth in § 17.1-292.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":237426,"text":"Requests for copies of nonconfidential court records maintained in individual case files shall be made to the clerk of a district court.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":237427,"text":"Requests for reports of aggregated, nonconfidential case data fields that are viewable through the online case information systems maintained by the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court shall be made to the Office of the Executive Secretary. Such reports of aggregated case data shall not include the name, date of birth, or social security number of any party and shall not include images of the individual records in the respective case files. However, nothing in this section shall be construed to permit any reports or aggregated case data to be sold or posted on any other website or in any way redistributed to any third party. The Executive Secretary, in his discretion, may deny such request to ensure compliance with these provisions. However, such data may be included in products or services provided to a third party, provided that such data is not made available to the general public.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":237428,"text":"Any clerk or the Executive Secretary, as applicable, may require that the request be in writing and that the requester provide his name and legal address. A request for nonconfidential court records or reports of aggregated nonconfidential case data shall identify the requested records with reasonable specificity. Any clerk or the Executive Secretary, as applicable, may determine the costs to provide the requested records to the requester, advise the requester of such costs, and, before continuing to process the request, require the requester to agree to payment of a deposit not to exceed the amount of the advance determination, which shall be credited to the final cost of supplying the requested records. No clerk, nor the Executive Secretary, shall be required to create a new record if the record does not already exist or provide a report of aggregated, nonconfidential case data in a format not regularly used by the clerk or the Executive Secretary; however, a clerk or the Executive Secretary, as applicable, may abstract or summarize information under such terms and conditions as agreed to by the requester and the clerk or Executive Secretary, as provided herein.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":237429,"text":"Except where the nature or size of the request would interfere with the business of the court or with its use by the general public, or as otherwise provided by law, the requested court records or reports of aggregated, nonconfidential case data shall be provided to the requester within a reasonable period of time, given the nature of the request and the availability of staff to respond to the request, but in no event longer than 30 days from the date of a complete request made by a requester that is fully compliant with the requirements of this section and other applicable law. Any objection or assertion of confidentiality shall be provided to the requester within a reasonable period of time, but in no event longer than 30 days from the date of a complete request made by a requester.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":237430,"text":"Any clerk, or the Executive Secretary, may require payment in advance of all reasonable costs, not to exceed the actual cost incurred in accessing, duplicating, reviewing, supplying, or searching for the requested court records or reports of aggregated, nonconfidential case data, including removing any confidential information contained in the court records from the nonconfidential court records being provided, excluding any extraneous, intermediary, or surplus fees or expenses to recoup the general overhead costs associated with creating or maintaining records or transacting the general business of the clerk or the Office of the Executive Secretary. Before processing a request for court records or reports of aggregated, nonconfidential case data, any clerk or the Executive Secretary may require the requester to pay any amounts owed to the clerk or the Office of the Executive Secretary for previous requests for court records or reports of aggregated, nonconfidential case data that remain unpaid 30 days or more after billing.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E","next_prefix":"G"},"6":{"id":237431,"text":"Any clerk and the Executive Secretary shall be immune from any suit arising from the production of court records or reports of aggregated nonconfidential case data in accordance with this section absent gross negligence or willful misconduct.","type":"section","prefixes":["G"],"prefix":"G","entire_prefix":"G","prefix_anchor":"G","level":1,"prior_prefix":"F"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15537,"edition_id":1,"name":"Retention and Disposition of District Court Records","identifier":"6","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13142,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:56:08","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:56:08","permalink":{"id":162333,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15537,"identifier":"6","token":"16.1\/4.1\/6","url":"\/16.1\/4.1\/6\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13142,"edition_id":1,"name":"District Courts","identifier":"4.1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12700,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:21","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:21","permalink":{"id":161993,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13142,"identifier":"4.1","token":"16.1\/4.1","url":"\/16.1\/4.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12700,"edition_id":1,"name":"Courts Not of Record","identifier":"16.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":160919,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12700,"identifier":"16.1","token":"16.1","url":"\/16.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":59268,"structure_id":15537,"section_number":"16.1-69.53","catch_line":"Definitions; construction of references to period of years","url":"\/16.1-69.53\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/6\/16.1-69.53","metadata":false},{"id":74208,"structure_id":15537,"section_number":"16.1-69.54","catch_line":"General provisions","url":"\/16.1-69.54\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/6\/16.1-69.54","metadata":false},{"id":65286,"structure_id":15537,"section_number":"16.1-69.54:1","catch_line":"Request for district court records","url":"\/16.1-69.54_1\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/6\/16.1-69.54_1","metadata":false},{"id":68420,"structure_id":15537,"section_number":"16.1-69.55","catch_line":"Retention of case records; limitations on enforcement of judgments; extensions","url":"\/16.1-69.55\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/6\/16.1-69.55","metadata":false},{"id":59876,"structure_id":15537,"section_number":"16.1-69.56","catch_line":"Retention of financial and administrative records","url":"\/16.1-69.56\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/6\/16.1-69.56","metadata":false},{"id":80700,"structure_id":15537,"section_number":"16.1-69.57","catch_line":"Destruction of court records","url":"\/16.1-69.57\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/6\/16.1-69.57","metadata":false},{"id":74109,"structure_id":15537,"section_number":"16.1-69.58","catch_line":"Processing, retention and reproduction of court records; retention and destruction of records in which final disposition was entered before January 1, 1985","url":"\/16.1-69.58\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/6\/16.1-69.58","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":74208,"structure_id":15537,"section_number":"16.1-69.54","catch_line":"General provisions","url":"\/16.1-69.54\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/6\/16.1-69.54","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":68420,"structure_id":15537,"section_number":"16.1-69.55","catch_line":"Retention of case records; limitations on enforcement of judgments; extensions","url":"\/16.1-69.55\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/6\/16.1-69.55","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/16.1-69.54:1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2018. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 127<\/a> and 584<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year.<\/p>","references":[{"id":72501,"section_number":"2.2-3703","catch_line":"Public bodies and records to which chapter inapplicable; voter registration and election records; access by persons incarcerated in a state, local, or federal correctional facility","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3703\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":162343,"object_type":"law","relational_id":65286,"identifier":"16.1-69.54:1","token":"16.1\/4.1\/6\/16.1-69.54_1","url":"\/16.1-69.54_1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/16.1-69.54_1\/","token":"16.1\/4.1\/6\/16.1-69.54_1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Request for district court records","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 16.1-69.54:1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> For the purposes of this section, “confidential court records<\/span>,” “court records<\/span>,” and “nonconfidential court records<\/span>” shall have the same meaning as set forth in § 17.1-292<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Requests for copies of nonconfidential court records<\/span> maintained in individual case files<\/span> shall be made to the clerk of a district court. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Requests for reports of aggregated, nonconfidential case data fields that are viewable through the online case information systems maintained by the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court shall be made to the Office of the Executive Secretary. Such reports of aggregated case data shall not include the name, date of birth, or social security number of any party<\/span> and shall not include images of the individual records in the respective case files<\/span>. However, nothing in this section shall be construed to permit any reports or aggregated case data to be sold or posted on any other website or in any way redistributed to any third party<\/span>. The Executive Secretary, in his discretion, may deny such request to ensure compliance with these provisions. However, such data may be included in products or services provided to a third party<\/span>, provided that such data is not made available to the general public. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Any clerk or the Executive Secretary, as applicable, may require that the request be in writing and that the requester provide his name and legal address. A request for nonconfidential court records<\/span> or reports of aggregated nonconfidential case data shall identify the requested records with reasonable specificity. Any clerk or the Executive Secretary, as applicable, may determine the costs to provide the requested records to the requester, advise the requester of such costs, and, before continuing to process the request, require the requester to agree to payment of a deposit not to exceed the amount of the advance determination, which shall be credited to the final cost of supplying the requested records. No clerk, nor the Executive Secretary, shall be required to create a new record if the record does not already exist or provide a report of aggregated, nonconfidential case data in a format not regularly used by the clerk or the Executive Secretary; however, a clerk or the Executive Secretary, as applicable, may abstract or summarize information under such terms and conditions as agreed to by the requester and the clerk or Executive Secretary, as provided herein. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> Except where the nature or size of the request would interfere with the business of the court or with its use by the general public, or as otherwise provided by law<\/span>, the requested court records<\/span> or reports of aggregated, nonconfidential case data shall be provided to the requester within a reasonable period of time, given the nature of the request and the availability of staff to respond to the request, but in no event longer than 30 days from the date of a complete request made by a requester that is fully compliant with the requirements of this section and other applicable law<\/span>. Any objection or assertion of confidentiality shall be provided to the requester within a reasonable period of time, but in no event longer than 30 days from the date of a complete request made by a requester. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> Any clerk, or the Executive Secretary, may require payment in advance of all reasonable costs, not to exceed the actual cost incurred in accessing, duplicating, reviewing, supplying, or searching for the requested court records<\/span> or reports of aggregated, nonconfidential case data, including removing any confidential information contained in the court records<\/span> from the nonconfidential court records<\/span> being provided, excluding any extraneous, intermediary, or surplus fees or expenses to recoup the general overhead costs associated with creating or maintaining records or transacting the general business of the clerk or the Office of the Executive Secretary. Before processing a request for court records<\/span> or reports of aggregated, nonconfidential case data, any clerk or the Executive Secretary may require the requester to pay any amounts owed to the clerk or the Office of the Executive Secretary for previous requests for court records<\/span> or reports of aggregated, nonconfidential case data that remain unpaid 30 days or more after billing. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

G.<\/span> Any clerk and the Executive Secretary shall be immune from any suit arising from the production of court records<\/span> or reports of aggregated nonconfidential case data in accordance with this section absent gross negligence<\/span> or willful misconduct. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nREQUEST FOR DISTRICT COURT RECORDS (\u00a7 16.1-69.54:1)\n\nA. For the purposes of this section, “confidential court records,”\n“court records,” and “nonconfidential court records”\nshall have the same meaning as set forth in § 17.1-292.\n\nB. Requests for copies of nonconfidential court records maintained in individual\ncase files shall be made to the clerk of a district court.\n\nC. Requests for reports of aggregated, nonconfidential case data fields that are\nviewable through the online case information systems maintained by the Executive\nSecretary of the Supreme Court shall be made to the Office of the Executive\nSecretary. Such reports of aggregated case data shall not include the name, date\nof birth, or social security number of any party and shall not include images of\nthe individual records in the respective case files. However, nothing in this\nsection shall be construed to permit any reports or aggregated case data to be\nsold or posted on any other website or in any way redistributed to any third\nparty. The Executive Secretary, in his discretion, may deny such request to\nensure compliance with these provisions. However, such data may be included in\nproducts or services provided to a third party, provided that such data is not\nmade available to the general public.\n\nD. Any clerk or the Executive Secretary, as applicable, may require that the\nrequest be in writing and that the requester provide his name and legal address.\nA request for nonconfidential court records or reports of aggregated\nnonconfidential case data shall identify the requested records with reasonable\nspecificity. Any clerk or the Executive Secretary, as applicable, may determine\nthe costs to provide the requested records to the requester, advise the\nrequester of such costs, and, before continuing to process the request, require\nthe requester to agree to payment of a deposit not to exceed the amount of the\nadvance determination, which shall be credited to the final cost of supplying\nthe requested records. No clerk, nor the Executive Secretary, shall be required\nto create a new record if the record does not already exist or provide a report\nof aggregated, nonconfidential case data in a format not regularly used by the\nclerk or the Executive Secretary; however, a clerk or the Executive Secretary,\nas applicable, may abstract or summarize information under such terms and\nconditions as agreed to by the requester and the clerk or Executive Secretary,\nas provided herein.\n\nE. Except where the nature or size of the request would interfere with the\nbusiness of the court or with its use by the general public, or as otherwise\nprovided by law, the requested court records or reports of aggregated,\nnonconfidential case data shall be provided to the requester within a reasonable\nperiod of time, given the nature of the request and the availability of staff to\nrespond to the request, but in no event longer than 30 days from the date of a\ncomplete request made by a requester that is fully compliant with the\nrequirements of this section and other applicable law. Any objection or\nassertion of confidentiality shall be provided to the requester within a\nreasonable period of time, but in no event longer than 30 days from the date of\na complete request made by a requester.\n\nF. Any clerk, or the Executive Secretary, may require payment in advance of all\nreasonable costs, not to exceed the actual cost incurred in accessing,\nduplicating, reviewing, supplying, or searching for the requested court records\nor reports of aggregated, nonconfidential case data, including removing any\nconfidential information contained in the court records from the nonconfidential\ncourt records being provided, excluding any extraneous, intermediary, or surplus\nfees or expenses to recoup the general overhead costs associated with creating\nor maintaining records or transacting the general business of the clerk or the\nOffice of the Executive Secretary. Before processing a request for court records\nor reports of aggregated, nonconfidential case data, any clerk or the Executive\nSecretary may require the requester to pay any amounts owed to the clerk or the\nOffice of the Executive Secretary for previous requests for court records or\nreports of aggregated, nonconfidential case data that remain unpaid 30 days or\nmore after billing.\n\nG. Any clerk and the Executive Secretary shall be immune from any suit arising\nfrom the production of court records or reports of aggregated nonconfidential\ncase data in accordance with this section absent gross negligence or willful\nmisconduct.\n\nHISTORY: 2018, cc. 127, 584.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}