Fauquier County Background Check Records

Fauquier County background check records are handled through two main offices in Warrenton: the Circuit Court Clerk at 29 Ashby Street and the Sheriff's Office at 78 West Lee Street. The county has kept court records since its founding in 1759, and the Circuit Court maintains land records, criminal filings, and civil judgments that stretch back to that original date. This page explains where to find records in Fauquier County, what each office provides, and how to use Virginia's statewide systems to run a more complete search.

Fauquier County Sheriff Records

The Fauquier County Sheriff's Office at 78 West Lee Street in Warrenton handles law enforcement for the county's unincorporated areas. The office publishes arrest reports as downloadable PDFs on its official website, so recent arrest information is often available without a formal request. The Sheriff's website also provides an inmate search through sheriff2citizen.fauquiercounty.gov, which lets you look up current and recent jail bookings by name.

For records not posted online, you can submit a written FOIA request to the Sheriff's Office. Virginia's Freedom of Information Act, found at foiacouncil.dls.virginia.gov, governs how public bodies respond to these requests. The agency must reply within five working days, though they may request an extension for large or complex requests. Exempt categories include active investigation files, juvenile records, and information that could compromise ongoing cases or the safety of witnesses. If the cost to fulfill a request would exceed $200, the agency must give you a written estimate first.

Incident reports, jail records, and other law enforcement documents are separate from court records. The Sheriff's Office holds its own files. Court case records are kept by the Circuit Court Clerk and are described in the next section. For most background check purposes, you will need to check both offices or use Virginia's statewide criminal history system through the State Police.

Fauquier County Circuit Court Clerk

The Circuit Court Clerk's office in Fauquier County is run by Gail Barb and sits at 29 Ashby Street, Warrenton, VA 20186. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The record room, where you can review physical court files and land records, is open 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. If you need to record a deed or other land document, note the recordation cutoff is 3:30 PM. Plan your visit accordingly to avoid a wasted trip.

Fauquier County land records date back to 1759, when the county was formed. This makes the Circuit Court Clerk's office one of the better sources for historical property research in northern Virginia. The clerk handles deeds, deeds of trust, plats, and liens. For criminal matters, the clerk maintains case files for all felony cases heard in the circuit court. Civil case files, including divorce records, name changes, and adoption records, are also on file here.

As of January 1, 2024, the Clerk's Office no longer accepts filings by email, email attachments, links sent by email, or fax. If you tried to submit records that way and received no response, this policy change is likely why. All documents must now come in by mail or in person. The clerk has separate email contacts for different record types: clerk@fauquiercounty.gov for general questions, CRcircuit@fauquiercounty.gov for criminal records matters, and probate@fauquiercounty.gov for estate and probate questions.

The General District Court, which handles misdemeanor cases and civil matters under $25,000, is located at 6 Court Street, Warrenton, VA 20186 and can be reached at (540) 422-8035. District court cases are also searchable online through the state's case information portal.

Online Records Access for Fauquier County

Virginia provides a free online case search at eapps.courts.state.va.us/ocis/search. This is the state's Online Case Information System, and it covers both circuit court and general district court records for Fauquier County. You can search by full name, partial name, or case number. Results show the case type, charges or claim type, filing date, and current status. Dispositions are listed once a case is resolved. This is a good first step for any court-related background check in Fauquier County.

For a full statewide criminal history report, the Virginia State Police runs the Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE). You can request a personal record check or submit a request for another person's records using the forms available at vsp.virginia.gov/services/forms. Use Form SP-167 to request your own records. Use Form SP-230 to request records on another person. Both forms are mailed to the CARE unit at 7700 Midlothian Turnpike, North Chesterfield, VA 23235. The fee for a name-based search is $15. A fingerprint-based search provides more accurate results by linking records to a specific person rather than just matching a name.

The Virginia Sex Offender Registry is free and public. Search it at sex-offender.vsp.virginia.gov by name or ZIP code to see registered offenders in Fauquier County. The registry is maintained by the State Police and updated when offenders report address changes.

Concealed handgun permits in Fauquier County are processed through the Circuit Court Clerk. The fee is $40, payable by cash or check only. The clerk's office does not accept cards for this transaction, so come prepared.

Virginia Background Check Law

Virginia Code Title 19.2, Chapter 23 creates and governs the Central Criminal Records Exchange. The CCRE is the official state repository for criminal history data. Counties don't maintain separate criminal history databases. What you find at the Circuit Court Clerk's office in Fauquier County is case-level court data, not the compiled criminal history the CCRE maintains. Both sources are useful for different purposes.

Virginia's Freedom of Information Act is at Virginia Code Title 2.2, Chapter 37. It gives the public the right to access records held by government agencies, including law enforcement and courts. Most records are public. Some exemptions apply, including personal information in certain records, active investigation files, and sealed court records. When a record is exempt, the agency must tell you so and cite the specific exemption.

Under Virginia Code § 19.2-392.12, Virginia's record sealing law allows eligible individuals to petition to have certain convictions sealed from public view. Qualifying offenses include many misdemeanors and some lower-level felonies. Sealed records do not appear in public court searches or CCRE background checks once the process is complete. Juvenile records are sealed by default and have never been part of the public court record in Virginia.

Fauquier County Records Resources

The Virginia Courts Case Information portal is the primary online tool for searching Fauquier County court records, covering both circuit and district court cases.

The case information system is free to use and requires no registration. Search results include party names, case numbers, charges, and disposition details for Fauquier County court cases.

Nearby Counties

These Virginia counties border or sit near Fauquier County and each maintains its own records offices.