Portsmouth Public Law Library
601 Court Street, Portsmouth, VA 23704 (map)
757-393-8973
Monday-Thursday 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM,  Friday & Saturday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

The Portsmouth Public Law Library is located on the first floor of the main branch of the Portsmouth Public Library and is accessible during the above library hours. Please sign in at the Reference Desk. A staff member is available Monday - Friday from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. to assist the public with their individual research of the law.

It is the "Unauthorized Practice of Law" for the staff to interpret the law or the legal resources. We may not give legal advice or opinions. We may however, show you where the books on your subject are located and how to find information in them.

Law Library materials may not be checked out, however, copy machines are available in the main section of the library. The cost is $0.15 per copy.

A typewriter is available in the Law Library for public use.

Resources to aid you in locating laws or legal information

We maintain a comprehensive, and current local and state law collection, along with the United States Code.
 

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Portsmouth City Code (http://www.portsva.com/citycode.htm)
Code of Virginia (http://legis.state.va.us/Laws/CodeofVa.htm)
United States Code (U.S.C.) (http://uscode.house.gov/)

Further information regarding Virginia Courts can be found at (http://www.courts.state.va.us)

Virginia State Bar - This site contains information on Legal-Aid, the Supreme Court, VA State Bar and more...

FindLaw (http://www.findlaw.com) is also a good source for legal information.

Virginia Chamber of Commerce (http://www.vachamber.com/) has useful information for business owners, and more.

Virginia Register of Regulations (http://legis.state.va.us/codecomm/register/regindex.htm) which complements and supplements the Virginia Administrative Code (http://leg1.state.va.us/000/srr.htm)

Need a form?
Please note that neither the Law Library nor the Circuit Court Clerks' Office, have ready made forms, as each persons' circumstances are different. However, the "Virginia Forms" books are located in the Law Library and provide a general idea of how legal documents are to look and the general wording.