Do I Need a Lawyer?
Guardians ad litem
The court appoints a guardian ad litem (a lawyer who represents the juvenile’s best interests) to represent all juveniles alleged to be
- Abandoned, neglected, or abused,
- The subject of either an entrustment agreement (in which the parents give up their parental rights and transfer care and custody of the juvenile to an agency)
- The subject of a court proceeding to terminate residual parental rights (for all rights and responsibilities to the juvenile), or whose parents desire to be relieved of care and custody
The court also appoints a guardian ad litem for adults who are
- Incarcerated
- Mentally ill
- Intellectually disabled
Waiving representation
Adults and juveniles may waive attorney representation.
- Juveniles and their parents must knowingly waive representation in writing.
- The judge must agree that this waiver is consistent with the interests of the child.
- If the juvenile is charged with an offense that is a felony, then the juvenile must consult with an attorney and both must sign a waiver to be filed with court records of the case.
- The court must find that this waiver is made free and voluntarily.
Obtaining a lawyer
Those who want to hire a lawyer and have not had time to do so must consult with the Clerk’s Office. Please see the Court’s continuance policy (PDF) regarding what is considered good cause to grant a continuance.
Continuance Request Form (PDF)
Resources to help you find a lawyer:
- Virginia State Bar Lawyer Referral Service
- Central Virginia Legal Aid Society - Pro Bono (Free) legal assistance to low income people in civil cases - 804-648-1212
Self-Represented Litigants
You do not have to obtain a lawyer to use the Court. There are many resources available to help self-represented litigants navigate Virginia’s courts.
Please see these resources for assistance:
The right to be represented by a lawyer in this court extends to:
- Juveniles involved in delinquency cases
- Juveniles alleged to need services
- Juveniles alleged to need supervision
- Abused and neglected juveniles
- A juvenile who is the subject of
- an entrustment agreement
- a request for relief of custody
- a parentage controversy
- Adults before the court on criminal charges
- Adults faced with loss of their parental rights or charged with child abuse or neglect
- All other persons the court decides require a lawyer’s services, based on certain legal requirements
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Jennifer Nicely
Clerk of Court
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Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
Physical Address
7000 Lucy Corr Boulevard
Building Number 7
Chesterfield, VA 23832
Phone 804-748-1379Fax 804-717-6043
Hours
Monday - Friday
8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
(Closed for State and Federal holidays and severe weather)
Court Service Unit
Phone: 804-748-1372
Mediation Coordinator
Phone: 804-706-2678
Parking
From Lucy Corr Boulevard, turn left at the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court sign. Take an immediate right into the visitor parking lot. There is no fee for parking. Once parked, proceed to the security checkpoint just inside the front, main entrance.
Social Media
- Annual Reports
- Current Case Orders of Publication (PDF)
- Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Case Processing Manual (Supreme Court of Virginia) (PDF)
- Virginia’s Judicial Branch
- Chesterfield Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Page on Supreme Court’s Website
- Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Caseload Statistics
- Custody, Visitation and Support - "Now What?" Brochure (PDF)
- Self Help
- Free Legal Answers
- Parent Education Providers
- Community Service Providers (PDF)
- Overview of the Courts System