Westmoreland County Background Check Records
Westmoreland County background check records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office and the Circuit Court Clerk in Montross, Virginia. This Northern Neck county is part of the 15th Judicial Circuit. To find criminal history, arrest records, or court case files tied to Westmoreland County, this page explains the local offices, the free online tools available, and how Virginia FOIA applies. Westmoreland County connects to the Virginia State Police CCRE for statewide criminal history searches.
Westmoreland County Overview
Westmoreland County Sheriff Background Check Requests
The Westmoreland County Sheriff's Office handles arrest records, incident reports, criminal warrants, and local criminal history for the county. The mailing address is P.O. Box 337, Montross, VA 22520, and the office can be reached at (804) 493-8066. The fax number is (804) 493-0377. To request public records, submit a written FOIA request to the Sheriff's Office. Virginia Code § 2.2-3700 et seq. requires the office to respond within five working days, with a possible extension to twelve days for complex requests.
Active criminal investigations, juvenile records, and personnel files are exempt from public disclosure under Virginia FOIA. For resolved cases and past arrests, basic incident information is available through a written request with copy fees based on actual cost. Westmoreland County is a small Northern Neck county, so records requests are often handled fairly quickly. The first 30 minutes of staff time is typically free.
For inmate status, VINELink provides free online searches for anyone currently held in Westmoreland County. You can register for custody change notifications at no cost. For statewide criminal history covering all Virginia jurisdictions, use the Virginia State Police CCRE rather than the local Sheriff's Office. The county website at westmoreland-county.org provides contact information for county departments and offices.
| Office | Westmoreland County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 337, Montross, VA 22520 |
| Phone | (804) 493-8066 |
| Fax | (804) 493-0377 |
Westmoreland County Circuit Court Criminal Records
The Westmoreland County Circuit Court Clerk is located at P.O. Box 307, Montross, VA 22520, reachable at (804) 493-0130. The Circuit Court holds all official court records for criminal and civil cases in the county, including land records, marriage licenses, probate records, court case files, and judgments. The fax for the Clerk's office is (804) 493-0132. Westmoreland County is one of Virginia's older counties, formed in 1653, giving it an especially long court and land records history. For certified copies of court documents, contact the Clerk directly. Standard copies are $0.50 per page with a certification fee on top.
Case information for the Westmoreland County Circuit Court is available online at no cost through the statewide Virginia Judiciary Case Information system. Search by name or case number to see case status, charges, hearing dates, and docket entries. The 15th Judicial Circuit covers the Northern Neck and includes Westmoreland along with Lancaster, Northumberland, and Richmond County. The General District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic violations, and civil matters under $25,000, with case information also searchable through the same portal.
For FOIA requests directed at Westmoreland County government, contact the county administrator. Marriage records, probate records, and land records are maintained at the Clerk's office. For the most complete statewide criminal history, use the Virginia State Police CCRE. The county website at westmoreland-county.org provides additional guidance on county services and records access.
| Office | Westmoreland County Clerk of Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 307, Montross, VA 22520 |
| Phone | (804) 493-0130 |
| Fax | (804) 493-0132 |
| Case Search | vacourts.gov |
Westmoreland County Court and Government Resources
The Virginia Judiciary Case Information system provides free online access to Westmoreland County Circuit Court and General District Court case filings, docket entries, and case status information.
Use the state courts portal to search Westmoreland County cases by name or case number and find current case status, charges, and hearing information at no cost.
The Westmoreland County government website at westmoreland-county.org provides contact information for county offices, FOIA procedures, and access to public records across all county departments.
Use the county website to find department contact information, the Sheriff's Office, Circuit Court Clerk, and FOIA procedures for this Northern Neck county.
Online Resources for Westmoreland County Background Checks
The free starting point is the Virginia Judiciary Case Information system. Search Circuit and General District Court cases by name or case number at no cost. No registration needed.
For full statewide criminal history, use Form SP-167 from the VSP forms page for a $15 name-based CCRE check. Mail to CARE at 7700 Midlothian Turnpike, North Chesterfield, VA 23235. This covers all Virginia counties and cities.
The Virginia State Police Sex Offender Registry is free and searchable by name, zip code, or address. Community notification alerts are available at no charge.
Virginia FOIA and Background Check Laws
Virginia FOIA at Title 2.2, Chapter 37 governs public records access in Westmoreland County. Five-day response required. Criminal history statutes at Title 19.2, Chapter 23 govern the CCRE. Virginia's record sealing law at § 19.2-392.12 takes effect July 1, 2026. Contact the FOIA Advisory Council at (804) 698-1810 with questions.
Nearby Counties
Westmoreland County is on Virginia's Northern Neck between the Rappahannock and Potomac rivers.