Provides a constitutional official who is elected to an eight-year term by the voters of the locality. The clerk handles administrative matters for the court and also has authority to probate wills and grant administration of estates. The clerk is the custodian of the court records and the clerk's office is where deeds are recorded and marriage licenses are issued. The circuit court is the trial court with the broadest powers in Virginia. The circuit court handles all civil cases with claims of more than $15,000. It shares authority with the general district court to hear matters involving between $4,500 and $15,000. The circuit court has the authority to hear serious criminal cases called felonies. The circuit court also handles family matters, including divorce. In addition, the circuit court hears cases appealed from the general district court and from the juvenile and domestic relations district court.