District of Columbia Court Records

Use this District of Columbia court-records page as a starting point for statewide court research, appellate information, local court directories, and related PRC record topics. The layout has been modernized, the old private-ownership banner has been removed, and the topic strip has been added across the page family for easier navigation.

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Start here for the fastest path into District of Columbia court-record research.

Online Court Records HubReturn to the nationwide PRC court-records hub and browse other states.
District of Columbia Public Records HubMain District of Columbia landing page with statewide record topics and related resources.
District of Columbia BankruptcyFederal bankruptcy court resources and filing-related links for District of Columbia.

Official District of Columbia Court Resources

Use these statewide and official court resources for case information, court structure, forms, clerk access, or public search tools.

District of Columbia Court StructureOfficial or statewide court resource.
Washington DC Family Court OperationsDomestic Relations. Juvenile and Neglect. Paternity and Child support. Mental Health. Self Help. Forms
District of Columbia Probate DivisionOffice of the Registrar of Wills. Trusts. Guardianships. Location of probate Judges
District of Columbia Superior Courts Civil DivisionCivil Actions. Restraining Orders. Direct weblinks to judicial calendar assignments, forms, orders and electronic filing
Landlord and Tenant BranchThe Landlord and Tenant Branch handles all actions for the possession of real property. View civil dockets, including landlord-tenant cases
Small Claims and Conciliation BranchOversees cases if the amount in controversy is $5,000 or less. View civil dockets, including small claims cases

District of Columbia Court Directory & Local Resources

Legacy directory content has been retained inside the new layout so county-level links, clerk references, and older court research notes remain available in one place.

District of Columbia Court Records Search Suggestions

As there may be more than one source to obtaining District of Columbia criminal, civil and divorce records, it is important to search multiple state courts to find the correct records.

District of Columbia Court Structure:

The District of Columbia superior court has exclusive jurisdiction to hear cases involving civil matters (with amount in controversies of $5,001 and above; no maximum). District of Columbia's small claims courts have jurisdiction to hear cases with amounts in controversy from $0-$5,000. The superior court has exclusive domestic relations jurisdiction, exclusive criminal jurisdiction, and exclusive jurisdiction over traffic or other violations, except for most parking cases (which are handled administratively). The superior court has exclusive jurisdiction over juvenile matters. The superior court is the proper venue for preliminary hearings as well. The District of Columbia's court of appeals has mandatory jurisdiction over cases involving civil matters, criminal matters, administrative agency matters, juvenile matters, disciplinary matters, original proceedings, and interlocutory decision matters. Its court of appeals has discretion ("discretionary jurisdiction") to hear cases involving small claims, minor criminal matters, and original proceeding matters.

Directory of Links and Resources to Access County, State or Federal Court Records Online

District of Columbia Civil and Divorce Court Records Judgments, lawsuits, dissolution of marriage, civil court cases.	District of Columbia Criminal Court Records Felony, misdemeanors and traffic violations.	District of Columbia Court Records Filings in my courthouse.
Lookup current civil cases awaiting trials on court calendars and dockets. Link to the court clerks for cases that may be closed or archived. Washington DC Family Court Operations Domestic Relations. Juvenile and Neglect. Paternity and Child support. Mental Health. Self Help. Forms. District of Columbia Probate Division Office of the Registrar of Wills. Trusts. Guardianships. Location of probate Judges. District of Columbia Superior Courts Civil Division Civil Actions. Restraining Orders. Direct weblinks to judicial calendar assignments, forms, orders and electronic filing. Washington DC Superior Court Docket Online access to court docket for civil, domestic or probate cases. Search by name, business or case number. Landlord and Tenant Branch The Landlord and Tenant Branch handles all actions for the possession of real property. View civil dockets, including landlord-tenant cases. Small Claims and Conciliation Branch Oversees cases if the amount in controversy is $5,000 or less. View civil dockets, including small claims cases. Distric of Columbia Civil Actions Branch Civil actions over $5,000 in damages brought in the District of Columbia. Find jury trial verdicts. E-filing. District of Columbia Court of Appeals The D.C. Court of Appeals is the equivalent of a state supreme court. The court is authorized to review all final orders and judgments of the Superior Court. District of Columbia Bankruptcy Courts Conduct a bankruptcy search through public records to find individual or corporate bankruptcy filings in DC. District of Columbia Judgments and Liens Judgments and liens public information. Link to info for defaults, recovery, default, cases and files that can show civil judgments.	Search for criminal cases placed on calendars awaiting trial. Court criminal dockets can show active cases not yet closed. District of Columbia Superior Courts Criminal Division Local criminal matters. Felony, misdemeanor, serious traffic cases. Community and problem solving courts. Forms and rules. DC Superior Court Docket Online access to court docket for current criminal cases. Search by name or case number. District of Columbia Court of Appeals Direct weblinks to rules of the DC court of appeals, calendars, forms, orders and notices. Washington DC Domestic Violence Unit Violations of protection orders. Misdemeanor criminal cases involving intra family offense. Direct weblinks to Intake Centers, filings and fees, hotlines and general information. DC Community Courts Courts focus largely on quality of life crimes, such as driving violations, public drinking, prostitution, and drug dealing. Washington DC Problem Solving Courts Drug Court for offenders with non violent misdemeanor or felony charges.	The DC Court Reporting Division is responsible for making a verbatim record of all proceedings in the Superior Court. The Division produces transcripts for filing with the Court of Appeals and for private parties, attorneys, the press, and others. Court Reporting Division

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