Reviewed and updated October 9, 2026 by the SearchSystems.net editorial team.
Nelson County, Virginia, has about 15,000 residents (2024 Census Bureau estimate). The divorce record of a couple from Nelson County is a file of the Circuit Court, kept by the Circuit Court Clerk, not a vital record. This guide says where the file is, how a certified copy of the decree is had and what the state issues.
This guide covers the court, copies, related records and common questions.
Related guides: Nelson County public records, Nelson County arrest records, Nelson County warrants, Nelson County inmate search, Nelson County criminal records, Virginia arrest records and Virginia inmate search.
Where a Divorce from Nelson County Is Filed and Kept
Divorce records are not vital records in Virginia. The decree and the file of a divorce from Nelson County are court records of the Circuit Court, and certified copies come from the Circuit Court Clerk.
Most of a divorce file is open to the public; the papers the law keeps confidential and anything the court has sealed are not.
Statewide, Online Case Information System is the Virginia courts' free statewide case search.
Copies of a Divorce Decree from Nelson County
A certified copy of the decree comes from the Circuit Court Clerk, the office that keeps the file.
The Virginia Office of Vital Records also issues divorce records for divorces granted since 1918.
The Virginia vital records page SearchSystems verified is at vdh.virginia.gov/vital-records/frequently-asked-questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a copy of a divorce decree from Nelson County?
From the Circuit Court, through the Circuit Court Clerk. The Virginia Office of Vital Records also issues divorce records for divorces granted since 1918.
Are divorce records public in Virginia?
Mostly. The court file is open except for the papers the law makes confidential and anything the court seals.
Which court hears divorces from Nelson County?
The Circuit Court. The file is kept by the Circuit Court Clerk.
Does Virginia issue divorce certificates?
The Virginia Office of Vital Records also issues divorce records for divorces granted since 1918.
Is this the official Nelson County website?
No. SearchSystems.net is an independent public records guide, online since 1997. It links to the official county, court and state offices described above and does not hold records, charge for them or take requests.