Wise County Divorce Records
How To Find a Divorce Record In Wise County in 2026
WiseRecords.org provides access to publicly available information related to divorce records in Wise County, Virginia. Members of the public may find case summaries, final decrees, docket entries, and related court documents through official channels. Available record categories include dissolution of marriage filings, final judgments, property settlement agreements, custody orders, and support determinations. Access and completeness of records may vary depending on the age of the case and applicable confidentiality provisions.
Records may be searched through official resources including the Wise County Circuit Court Clerk's office, public access terminals located at the courthouse, the Virginia Supreme Court's online case information system, and the Virginia Department of Health's vital records office. The following methods are available to members of the public seeking divorce records.
Online Searches
1. Clerk of Court Case Search
The Virginia Supreme Court's online case information system provides free basic case information for circuit court proceedings, including divorce cases. Members of the public may search by party name or case number. Basic docket information is available at no charge; fees apply for certified copies of documents.
2. State Court System Portal
The Circuit Court portal maintained by Virginia's Judicial System allows searches across all Virginia circuit court jurisdictions. Divorce proceedings in Virginia are filed in the circuit court of the county or city where either spouse resides, making this statewide portal a practical starting point when the county of filing is uncertain.
3. State Vital Records
The Office of Vital Records maintained by the Virginia Department of Health registers divorce records from 1918 to the present. Divorce certificates available through this office contain summary information rather than the complete case file. Fees apply for each certificate issued.
In-Person Searches
Clerk of Court — Wise County Circuit Court:
- Address: 206 East Main Street, Wise, VA 24293
- Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
- Phone: (276) 328-6111
- Services:
- Search case files by party name or case number
- View documents at public access terminals
- Request certified copies of final decrees and orders
- Staff assistance for locating archived records
LENOWISCO District Health Department — Vital Records:
- Address: 310 Norton Road SW, Norton, VA 24273
- Phone: (276) 679-4500
- LENOWISCO Vital Records
- Services: Issuance of divorce certificates; the Wise County Courthouse also maintains records for the City of Norton
By Mail
Written Request:
- Mail to: Clerk of the Circuit Court, Wise County, P.O. Box 1248, Wise, VA 24293
- Include:
- Full names of both parties
- Approximate date of divorce
- Case number (if known)
- Requester's name, address, and contact information
- Purpose of request (required for certain record types)
- Payment for applicable copy fees
- Self-addressed stamped envelope
- Processing time: Requests are processed within approximately one to two weeks, subject to volume and record availability
By Phone
Limited Information:
- Clerk of Court: (276) 328-6111
- Staff may confirm:
- Whether a case exists in the system
- Case number and filing date
- Current case status
- Staff cannot provide:
- Detailed document contents by phone
- Copies of documents
- Confidential or restricted information
Through Attorneys
An attorney licensed in Virginia may access divorce case files on behalf of a client, request documents from sealed portions of a record upon a proper showing, and navigate complex or older archived cases. The Virginia State Bar's lawyer referral service connects members of the public with licensed practitioners.
Information Needed for Search
Essential Information:
- Full legal names of both spouses
- Maiden names, if applicable
- Approximate date of divorce or filing
- Case number, if known
Helpful Information:
- Date and location of marriage
- Previous addresses in Wise County
- Names of attorneys of record, if known
Search in Correct County
Divorce proceedings in Virginia are filed in the circuit court of the county or independent city where either spouse resided at the time of filing. Members of the public who are uncertain of the filing jurisdiction may need to search multiple counties. Under Virginia Code § 20-96, venue for divorce actions lies in the county or city where the parties last cohabited, where the defendant resides, or where the plaintiff resides if the defendant is a nonresident.
Residency Requirement:
- At least one spouse must have been a bona fide resident and domiciliary of Virginia for a minimum of six months immediately preceding the filing of the divorce suit, as required under Virginia Code § 20-97
Time Considerations
Recent Divorces:
- Newly finalized cases may not appear in online systems immediately
- Allow several business days to weeks after the final hearing for the record to be entered and indexed
Older Divorces:
- Cases predating electronic filing may exist only in paper form
- Archived records may require additional retrieval time
- Records from the early twentieth century may not be digitized
What If You Cannot Find a Record
Common Issues:
- Incorrect county of search
- Name variations between married and maiden names
- Spelling differences in party names
- Case still pending and not yet finalized
- Very old records held in off-site storage
- Record sealed by court order
Next Steps:
- Contact the Clerk's office at (276) 328-6111
- Attempt alternate name spellings
- Search under both spouses' names
- Check the Office of Vital Records for a divorce certificate
- Consult a licensed Virginia attorney for sealed or complex records
What Are Wise County Divorce Records?
Wise County divorce records are official court documents generated during and after divorce proceedings filed in the Wise County Circuit Court. These records constitute part of the public court file maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and encompass all pleadings, orders, financial disclosures, and judgments associated with the legal dissolution of a marriage.
Types of Divorce Records:
Court Case Files
The complete case file includes the petition for dissolution of marriage, the respondent's answer or counterpetition, financial affidavits submitted by both parties, parenting plans where minor children are involved, settlement agreements, all motions and corresponding orders, transcripts of court hearings, and the final judgment of dissolution.
Final Decree
The final decree of divorce is the official court order that legally terminates the marriage. It establishes:
- The date of dissolution
- Division of marital property and allocation of debts
- Alimony or spousal support terms, if any
- Child custody and visitation arrangements, if applicable
- Child support orders, if applicable
- Restoration of a former name, if requested
Certified copies of the final decree are available from the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Supporting Documents
Supporting documents within the case file may include the original marriage certificate, financial disclosure statements, property inventories and appraisals, parenting plan attachments, and any post-judgment modification orders entered after the original decree.
Purpose of Divorce Records:
Legal Purposes
- Proof of marital status for remarriage
- Documentation for name change proceedings
- Property transfer and title recording
- Estate planning and beneficiary designations
- Immigration and naturalization proceedings
- Social Security benefit determinations
Personal Purposes
- Genealogical and family history research
- Personal record-keeping
- Verification of divorce terms for compliance purposes
Who Maintains Divorce Records:
The Clerk of the Wise County Circuit Court serves as the primary custodian of all divorce case files, maintaining complete records indexed by party name and case number. The Office of Vital Records at the Virginia Department of Health maintains divorce certificates from 1918 to the present, which contain summary information derived from court records.
Legal Framework:
Divorce proceedings in Virginia are governed by Virginia Code § 20-91, which establishes the grounds for divorce, including no-fault grounds based on a period of separation. Public access to court records is governed by the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Virginia Code § 2.2-3700 et seq., which establishes a presumption in favor of public access to government records.
Are Wise County Divorce Records Public?
Divorce records filed in the Wise County Circuit Court are public court records subject to the presumption of openness established under Virginia law. Members of the public may access basic case information, docket entries, and most filed documents without demonstrating a specific need or purpose.
What Is Public:
- Case number and filing date
- Names of parties (petitioner and respondent)
- Names of attorneys of record
- Court hearing dates and docket entries
- Court orders and judgments, including the final decree
- Property division orders
- General case status information
What May Be Restricted:
Financial Information:
- Social Security numbers are redacted from public-facing documents
- Bank account and credit card numbers are redacted
- Detailed tax returns may be subject to limited access
- Certain financial statements may be filed under seal upon court order
Children's Information:
- Addresses where minor children reside
- Schools children attend
- Medical and psychological evaluation records
- Child custody evaluations may be sealed by court order
- Guardian ad litem reports are subject to restricted access
Sensitive Personal Information:
- Domestic violence allegations and supporting evidence
- Mental health and substance abuse treatment records
- Personal addresses in cases involving protective orders
- Mediation communications, which are confidential under Virginia law
Sealed Records:
A court may seal all or part of a divorce case file upon a showing of good cause. Cases involving allegations of abuse, high-profile parties, or confidential settlement terms may be subject to sealing orders. Sealed records are not accessible to the general public absent a court order authorizing access.
Who Can Access Records:
| Requester Category | Level of Access |
|---|---|
| General public | Public documents and docket entries |
| Parties to the case | Full access to their own case file |
| Licensed attorneys | Case files; sealed records upon proper motion |
| Researchers and media | Public portions; sealed records require court permission |
| Law enforcement | Statutory access to certain restricted records |
Restrictions on Use:
Access to divorce records may not be used for stalking, harassment, identity theft, or any purpose that violates a protective order. Permitted uses include legal proceedings, background research, genealogical research, news reporting protected by the First Amendment, and personal verification of one's own records.
Obtaining Confidential Records:
A party seeking access to sealed or restricted records must file a motion with the Wise County Circuit Court demonstrating a legitimate legal need. The court applies a balancing test weighing the requester's interest against the privacy interests of the parties and any minor children involved.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Divorce Records in Wise County?
The Wise County Circuit Court Clerk's office and the Virginia Department of Health each maintain separate fee schedules for divorce-related records. Current fees are established by Virginia statute and applicable court rules.
Circuit Court Copy Fees:
| Service | Current Fee |
|---|---|
| Certified copy of final decree or order | $2.00 per page + $2.00 certification fee |
| Uncertified copy of filed document | $0.50 per page |
| Search fee (when applicable) | Varies by request |
| Public access terminal use | No charge for viewing |
Virginia Department of Health — Vital Records Fees:
As noted by the LENOWISCO Vital Records office, the fee for a vital record is $12.00 for each certificate or copy issued. This fee applies to divorce certificates obtained through the Virginia Department of Health and covers one certified copy; additional copies requested at the same time are subject to the same per-copy fee.
Accepted Payment Methods:
- Cash (in-person requests at the courthouse)
- Check or money order payable to the Clerk of the Circuit Court (mail requests)
- Credit and debit cards may be accepted; members of the public should confirm current accepted methods with the Clerk's office directly
Fee Waivers:
Virginia law does not provide a general fee waiver for divorce record copies. Parties who are indigent and represented by legal aid organizations may have fees addressed through their legal representation. Court-appointed attorneys and certain government agencies may be exempt from standard copy fees under applicable statutory authority.
What Is Available at No Charge:
- Viewing documents at public access terminals in the courthouse
- Basic case status and docket information through the online case information system
- Verbal confirmation of case existence by phone
What's Included in Divorce Records in Wise County
A complete divorce case file maintained by the Wise County Circuit Court Clerk contains all documents filed from the initiation of proceedings through final judgment and any subsequent post-judgment actions.
Basic Case Information:
- Case caption including case number, court name, and names of petitioner and respondent
- Name of the assigned judge
- Names and contact information of attorneys of record
- Filing date, case type, and jurisdictional basis
Initial Pleadings:
The petition for dissolution of marriage sets forth the petitioner's identifying information, the respondent's identifying information, the date and location of the marriage, the date of separation, the grounds for divorce, information regarding minor children, claims regarding marital property, and the relief requested. The respondent's answer addresses each allegation and may include a counterpetition asserting the respondent's own claims for relief.
Financial affidavits filed by both parties disclose income from all sources, monthly expenses, assets including real property, vehicles, bank and investment accounts, and retirement accounts, as well as all liabilities including mortgages, vehicle loans, credit card balances, and other debts.
Discovery Documents:
Discovery materials within the case file may include interrogatories and sworn answers, requests for production of documents and the responsive documents filed with the court, financial disclosure statements, tax returns, pay stubs, bank and investment account statements, and business financial records where a party owns or operates a business.
Property-Related Documents:
The marital asset inventory identifies and values all property subject to equitable distribution, including real property, vehicles, financial accounts, retirement accounts, business interests, and personal property of significant value. Corresponding debt inventories identify all marital liabilities. Appraisal reports and expert valuations for real property, businesses, and other assets of disputed value are included where obtained.
Children-Related Documents:
Where minor children are involved, the case file contains the parenting plan establishing legal and physical custody, the timesharing schedule for regular periods, holidays, and school breaks, transportation arrangements, and provisions governing decision-making authority over education, healthcare, religion, and extracurricular activities. Child support calculation worksheets reflect both parties' incomes, the number of overnights with each parent, health insurance costs, and childcare expenses. Custody evaluations ordered by the court and guardian ad litem reports, where appointed, are part of the record, though these documents may be subject to restricted access.
Support Documents:
Spousal support provisions within the case file identify the type of support awarded, the amount and duration, the payment schedule, conditions for modification or termination, and any tax treatment provisions agreed upon by the parties.
Settlement Documents:
A marital settlement agreement, where the parties resolve issues by agreement, constitutes a comprehensive document addressing property division, debt allocation, spousal support, child-related provisions, tax matters, and attorney fee arrangements. Mediation agreements, where mediation was utilized, may be incorporated into the settlement agreement or filed separately.
Court Orders and Judgments:
Temporary orders entered during the pendency of the case address interim custody, support, use of marital property, and any restraining orders. The final judgment of dissolution constitutes the court's definitive order terminating the marriage, incorporating or referencing all agreed or adjudicated terms, and bearing the judge's signature and the court's seal. Where retirement accounts are divided, a Qualified Domestic Relations Order is entered as a separate instrument directing the plan administrator.
Post-Judgment Documents:
Post-judgment filings include petitions to modify custody or support, evidence of changed circumstances, court orders on modification requests, contempt motions alleging non-compliance, income deduction orders for support enforcement, and any liens filed in connection with property division.
What Is Typically Confidential or Sealed:
- Social Security numbers and financial account numbers (redacted as a matter of course)
- Residential addresses and school information for minor children
- Domestic violence evidence in cases involving protective orders
- Mental health and substance abuse evaluation records
- Mediation communications, which are confidential under Virginia law
- Settlement negotiations not reduced to a filed agreement
How to Get Proof of Divorce in Wise County?
Proof of divorce in Wise County may be obtained through two primary channels: a certified copy of the final decree from the Wise County Circuit Court, or a divorce certificate from the Virginia Department of Health.
Certified Copy of Final Decree — Circuit Court:
Members of the public may obtain a certified copy of the final divorce decree by appearing in person at the Wise County Circuit Court Clerk's office, submitting a written request by mail, or, where available, submitting a request through the court's document request process.
Wise County Circuit Court Clerk
206 East Main Street
Wise, VA 24293
Phone: (276) 328-6111
Circuit Court — Virginia's Judicial System
A certified copy of the final decree bears the court's seal and the Clerk's certification, making it acceptable for legal purposes including remarriage, name change proceedings, and property transfers. The requester should provide the full names of both parties and the approximate date of the divorce or the case number.
Divorce Certificate — Virginia Department of Health:
The Virginia Department of Health maintains divorce records from 1918 to the present. A divorce certificate issued by the Office of Vital Records provides summary information including the names of the parties, the date of divorce, and the county of filing. This document is suitable for many administrative purposes but does not contain the full terms of the decree.
LENOWISCO District Health Department
310 Norton Road SW
Norton, VA 24273
Phone: (276) 679-4500
LENOWISCO Vital Records
Requests to the Virginia Department of Health may also be submitted by mail to the Office of Vital Records, P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, VA 23218-1000. The current fee is $12.00 per certificate. Requesters must provide the full names of both parties and the approximate year and county of the divorce.
Can a Divorce Be Confidential in Wise County?
Divorce proceedings in Wise County are presumptively public, but Virginia law and court rules permit certain records or portions of records to be maintained as confidential under defined circumstances.
Circumstances Under Which Records May Be Confidential:
- Domestic violence cases: Where a party has obtained a protective order or where the case involves allegations of family abuse, the court may restrict access to addresses, contact information, and evidence related to the abuse to protect the safety of the victim
- Sealed case files: Upon motion by a party and a showing of good cause, the circuit court may seal all or part of a case file; this is not automatic and requires a judicial determination
- Children's information: Identifying information about minor children, including residential addresses, school enrollment, and medical records, is subject to heightened protection and may be redacted from publicly accessible documents
- Mental health and substance abuse records: Records reflecting a party's mental health treatment or substance abuse history are protected under both state and federal law and are not routinely accessible to the public
- Mediation communications: Under Virginia law, communications made during court-ordered mediation are confidential and are not part of the public record
- Financial account numbers and Social Security numbers: These identifiers are redacted from all publicly accessible court documents as a matter of standard practice
Members of the public seeking access to sealed records must file a motion with the Wise County Circuit Court and demonstrate a legitimate legal basis for access.
How Long Does Wise County Keep Divorce Records?
The Wise County Circuit Court retains divorce records in accordance with the Virginia Supreme Court's records retention schedules, which establish minimum retention periods for all categories of court records.
Retention Periods:
- Final decrees and judgments: Retained permanently; these documents constitute the definitive legal record of the dissolution of marriage and are not subject to destruction
- Complete case files (active and closed): Circuit court case files for divorce proceedings are retained for a minimum of ten years following the date of the final order, after which they may be transferred to archival storage or microfilmed
- Financial affidavits and discovery documents: Retained as part of the case file for the applicable retention period; older paper records may be transferred to off-site storage
- Post-judgment modification records: Retained as part of the original case file or as a separate supplemental file for the applicable retention period following the most recent order
- Vital records (divorce certificates): The Virginia Department of Health retains divorce certificates from 1918 to the present on a permanent basis
Members of the public seeking records from cases that have been archived or transferred to storage should contact the Wise County Circuit Court Clerk's office directly to arrange retrieval, as additional processing time may be required for older records.