Jurisdictions We Serve
Our Norfolk, VA Law Firm Can Handle Your Legal Case
Familiarity with Virginia’s court system is essential when it comes to choosing the right lawyer to represent you. That’s why we believe Welch & Wright, PLLC is the right choice to handle your legal case.
Our Norfolk, Virginia law firm has the experience needed to win tough cases in courts throughout the Hampton Roads region – including cases involving criminal defense, DUI defense and personal injury claims and lawsuits.
Courtroom experience matters when hiring a Virginia lawyer
Our attorneys have argued many legal cases and successfully defended many clients before judges and juries in a variety of Virginia Circuit Courts, General District Courts and Juvenile District Courts. There’s no substitute for such experience.
Through our legal work in Virginia, we have gained an in-depth understanding of how the legal system works here. We know which strategies can be effective. We know the deadlines that apply to different legal cases. That’s why we have such a strong track record of success.
Get the Hampton Roads law firm that gets results. Contact us and schedule a free consultation to learn more about how we can help you.
Understanding Virginia’s court system
There are several different types of courts in Virginia, including:
- General District Courts – There is a general district court in every city and county in Virginia. General District Courts handle minor traffic violations and misdemeanors, as well as some types of civil cases. They also conduct preliminary hearings for felony charges.
- Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court – These specialized courts handle legal cases involving a juvenile, which is any person under 18 years old. Juvenile courts hear juvenile delinquency matters as well as status offenses (that is, acts that are illegal only because they are committed by a minor). In addition, criminal cases where both the defendant and alleged victim are family or household members (such as domestic violence) are heard in these courts.
- Virginia Circuit Courts – The Commonwealth of Virginia is divided into 31 judicial circuits. The circuit courts handle felony charges as well as most civil cases involving claims of more than $25,000. The circuit courts also hear cases appealed from the general district courts and the juvenile and domestic relations courts.
- Court of Appeals of Virginia – Based in Richmond, the Court of Appeals is the intermediate appellate court in Virginia. The Court of Appeals has the power to review decisions of the circuit courts in domestic relations matters, traffic infractions, and all types of criminal cases except death penalty cases.
- Supreme Court of Virginia – This is Virginia’s highest court (the court of last resort). The Supreme Court has the authority to review decisions of the circuit courts and the Court of Appeals.
So, if you are facing criminal charges in Virginia, your trial will be held in either the General District Court (for most misdemeanors), the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court (for juvenile delinquency or domestic violence), or the Circuit Court (if you are charged with a felony) with jurisdiction over the city or county where the alleged crime took place. You also have the right to appeal a conviction to higher courts.
Jurisdictions we serve in Virginia
- Hampton
- Newport News
- York County
- Williamsburg
- New Kent County
- Norfolk
- Portsmouth
- Chesapeake
- Suffolk
- Virginia Beach
- Northampton County
- Accomack County
The independent city of Hampton has several courts that handle a variety of legal cases. These courts are part of the 8th Judicial District of Virginia:
- Hampton Circuit Court (237 N. King Street, P.O. Box 40, Hampton, VA)
- Hampton General District Court (236 North King Street, Second Floor, Hampton, VA)
- Hampton Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (220 North King Street, O. Box 69104, Hampton, VA)
There are several courts in Newport News, which is part of the 7th Judicial District of Virginia:
- Newport News Circuit Court (2500 Washington Avenue, Courthouse Building, Newport News, VA)
- Newport News-Criminal General District Court (2500 Washington Avenue, Second Floor, Newport News, VA)
- Newport News-Civil General District Court (2500 Washington Avenue, Newport News, VA)
- Newport News Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (2501 Huntington Avenue, Newport News, VA)
York County is part of the 9th Judicial Circuit of Virginia and includes the following courts:
- York County Poquoson Circuit Court (300 Ballard Street, P.O. Box 371, Yorktown, VA)
- York General District Court (300 Ballard Street, P.O. Box 316, Yorktown, VA)
- York Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (300 Ballard Street, P.O. Box 357, Yorktown, VA)
Williamsburg is part of the 9th Judicial Circuit of Virginia and includes the following courts:
- Williamsburg/James City County Circuit Court (5201 Monticello Avenue, Suite Six, Williamsburg, VA)
- Williamsburg/James City County General District Court (5201 Monticello Avenue, Suite Two, Williamsburg, VA)
- Williamsburg/James City County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (5201 Monticello Avenue, Suite Three, Williamsburg, VA)
New Kent County is part of the 9th Judicial Circuit of Virginia and includes the following courts:
- New Kent Circuit Court (12001 Courthouse Circle, P.O. Box 98, New Kent, VA)
- New Kent General District Court (12001 Courthouse Circle, P.O. Box 127, New Kent, VA)
- New Kent Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (12001 Courthouse Circle, Second Floor, P.O. Box 174, New Kent, VA)
Norfolk is part of the 4th Judicial Circuit of Virginia and includes the following courts:
- Norfolk Circuit Court (150 St. Paul's Boulevard, Seventh Floor, Norfolk, VA)
- Norfolk General District Court (150 St. Paul's Boulevard, Room 3202, Norfolk, VA)
- Norfolk Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (150 St. Paul's Boulevard, Fifth Floor, Norfolk, VA)
Portsmouth is part of the 3rd Judicial Circuit of Virginia and includes the following courts:
- Portsmouth Circuit Court (1345 Court Street, Suite 101, O. Box 1217, Portsmouth, VA)
- Portsmouth General District Court (1345 Court Street, Suite 104, O. Box 129, Portsmouth, VA)
- Portsmouth Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (1345 Court Street, Suite 103, Portsmouth, VA)
Chesapeake is part of the 1st Judicial Circuit of Virginia and includes the following courts:
- Chesapeake Circuit Court (307 Albemarle Drive, Suite 300A, Chesapeake, VA)
- Chesapeake General District Court (307 Albemarle Drive, Civic Center, Chesapeake, VA)
- Chesapeake Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (301 Albemarle Drive, Second Floor, Chesapeake, VA)
Suffolk is part of the 5th Judicial Circuit of Virginia and includes the following courts:
- Suffolk Circuit Court (Mills E. Godwin, Jr. Courts Bldg., 150 North Main Street, P.O. Box 1604, Suffolk, VA)
- Suffolk General District Court (150 North Main Street, Suffolk, VA)
- Suffolk Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (150 North Main Street, Second Floor, Suffolk, VA)
Virginia Beach is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit of Virginia and includes the following courts:
- Virginia Beach Circuit Court (2425 Nimmo Parkway, Building 10 & 10B, Third Floor, Virginia Beach, VA)
- Virginia Beach General District Court (2425 Nimmo Parkway, Virginia Beach, VA)
- Virginia Beach Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (2425 Nimmo Parkway, Building 10, Judicial Complex 10A, Municipal Center, Virginia Beach, VA)
Northampton County is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit of Virginia and includes the following courts:
- Northampton Circuit Court (P. O. Box 36, 5229 The Hornes, Eastville, VA)
- Northampton General District Court (5229 The Hornes, Eastville, VA)
- Northampton Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (P. O. Box 125, 5229 The Hornes, 2nd Floor, Eastville, VA)
Accomack County is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit of Virginia and includes the following courts:
- Accomack Circuit Court (P. O. Box 126, 23316 Courthouse Avenue, Accomac, VA)
- Accomack General District Court (P. O. Box 276, 23371 Front Street, Accomac, VA)
- Accomack Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (P. O. Box 299, 23371 Front Street, Accomac, VA)