Courts

Visiting the Courthouse

Judicial services cover all legal administrative offices and courts within Arlington County.

Arlington Circuit Court

  • Records, registers, files, and researches records such as deeds, liens, judgments, and wills
  • Hears criminal and civil cases
  • Hears appeals from the General District Court

Arlington General District Court

  • Handles misdemeanor cases and holds preliminary hearings to determine probable cause in felonies
  • Presides over involuntary mental commitment hearings for Arlington County
  • Has exclusive jurisdiction over claims for damages less than $25,000 in civil cases

Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court

  • Investigates and supervises adults on matters relating to domestic violence, other intra-family criminal cases and cases of adult offenses against children
  • Operates a mediation program
  • Investigates and supervises all matters involving children younger than 18 or those who committed offenses prior to turning 18

Office of the Magistrate

  • Independent judicial officers who work directly for the Supreme Court of Virginia, Office of the Executive Secretary
  • Issues arrest warrants, summonses, bonds, search warrants, and medical detention orders
  • Conducts bail hearings in instances in which an individual is arrested on a warrant charging him or her with a criminal offense

Locations & Contacts

Circuit Court
General District Court
Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court
Judicial Center Security – Prohibited Items
Drug Court
Office of the Magistrate
Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney
Walter T. McCarthy Law Library
Office of the Sheriff
Self Help (Virginia State Site)

Interjurisdictional Agreements

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