Radford Residents Directory

The Radford Residents Directory is a free way to find people and look up public records in the City of Radford. Radford is a small independent city in western Virginia along the New River, home to Radford University. It is not part of any county. The city handles its own court files, police reports, marriage licenses, and tax data. Use this page to find the right office, the right phone, and the right form for your search. Each link below points to a Radford city office or a state portal that holds the record you want.

City of Radford Residents Directory Basics

Radford sits along the New River in the New River Valley region of western Virginia. The city runs its own police force, court system, and records office. The City of Radford portal is the front door for most resident lookups. From there you can reach the police, the courts, the city Treasurer, the Real Estate Assessor, and the Commissioner of the Revenue. Each office has its own phone line and walk-in hours.

Records here fall into a few groups. Court files are at the local courts. Police reports come from the city police records desk. Marriage licenses and land deeds live with the Circuit Court Clerk. Property and tax info is on file with the Real Estate Assessor.

For a quick view of the city government homepage, visit radfordva.gov.

The site links to council meetings, budgets, the Radford Police, parks, and resident services in one spot.

Radford Police and Court Records

The Radford Police Department keeps records of every incident, arrest, traffic crash, and case it handles. Most are public under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, with some carve-outs for active cases. Call 911 for an emergency. For all other calls, use the city non-emergency line.

The records desk takes requests for incident reports, accident reports, and arrest records. You need to give a case number or a date and address to speed things up. Crash reports for insurance claims can be sent to the insurance company once you sign a release. Statewide criminal history checks must go through the Virginia State Police. With a large student body in town, the department also works closely with the Radford University Police on incidents that touch the campus.

The Radford Circuit Court hears felonies, civil suits over $25,000, divorces, deeds, wills, and probate. The General District Court hears misdemeanors, traffic, small claims, and civil cases up to $25,000. Both are part of the Virginia Judicial System. For a name lookup across Radford court files, the case status portal at vacourts.gov is the fastest tool. It is free and open to the public.

For bulk court data on Radford, the Virginia Court Data Portal offers free downloads of Circuit and District court cases through 2024.

Public Records Under Virginia FOIA

City records in Radford are public under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Va. Code § 2.2-3700. The act says all writings prepared or held by a public body are open unless a clear exemption applies. The law has to be read in favor of access. The city must reply to a request within five working days.

Send a written request to the right department. You do not have to give a reason. The city may charge for staff time and copies, but only the actual cost. Ask for an estimate first if the request is large. If a request is denied, you can appeal to circuit court or get help from the state Freedom of Information Advisory Council. Reach the council at foiacouncil@dls.virginia.gov, by phone at (804) 225-3056, or toll-free at 1-866-448-4100. Visit foiacouncil.dls.virginia.gov for sample request letters and FOIA guides.

Vital Records and State Resources

Marriage licenses for couples married in Radford are filed with the Circuit Court Clerk. For birth, death, and divorce certificates, the state runs a central office. The Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records is at 8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 100, Richmond. Call (804) 662-6200. Each copy is $12. Records are limited to immediate family. Birth records are public after 100 years. Death, marriage, and divorce records are public after 25 years.

For a Virginia criminal history, the Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange handles name searches at $15 per name using Form SP-167. The Sex Offender Registry is free at sex-offender.vsp.virginia.gov, set up under Va. Code § 9.1-900. Driving records come from the Virginia DMV. Business filings are at the State Corporation Commission. Health professional licenses are at the Department of Health Professions.

Property Records and Business Lookups

Property and tax records on Radford parcels are at the city Real Estate Assessor and Treasurer. Land records like deeds and mortgages are on file with the Circuit Court Clerk. The Commissioner of the Revenue keeps personal property records, business license data, and meals tax info. For a tax bill, go to the Treasurer. For ownership history or a deed copy, go to the Clerk. Plain paper copies are usually $0.50 a page.

The State Corporation Commission Clerk's Information System is the right tool for business and entity lookups tied to Radford. It shows entity status, formation date, registered agent, and officers. It is free and open to anyone. The Virginia Public Access Project also tracks campaign donors and lobbying for state legislators who serve the New River Valley.

Nearby Resources and Related Pages

Radford is near the larger New River Valley and Roanoke Valley. For court and records info on nearby areas, see the Roanoke Residents Directory, Salem Residents Directory, and the Montgomery County Residents Directory pages. Many Radford residents work or study in nearby Christiansburg and Blacksburg.

For records in another part of the state, see all Virginia cities or all Virginia counties. The Virginia Residents Directory home page has the full state guide. The Library of Virginia in Richmond holds chancery court records and old newspaper archives that cover the New River Valley.