You may already know that Virginia was the first English settlement in the New World, but did you know that Virginia is a very eco-friendly state and also has the first woman-run bank in Richmond?

Old Dominion is Virginia's nickname. The state is home to 8.684 million people and has 25.5 million acres of land, much of which is developed and owned by residents. That much land means millions of property records about the land and its owners.

Use this guide to learn all about property records in Virginia, what they are, what kinds exist, how they are used, created, and stored, and how you can find and update yours.

Virginia property records are legal documents that pertain to real property (land and buildings) and the property owners. They include Virginia land records, Virginia public records, and records that perform functions like transferring property ownership.

Sources of Property Records in Virginia

Different government offices create, store, and maintain property records. For example, land records are handled by the court. The clerk of the circuit court is where you can find real estate deeds. For example, Fairfax County has its land records, which are searchable on the court website. The local county tax office handles all property tax records and issues bills to residents.

Unlike many states, Virginia handles property and land records through its Circuit Court, Land Records Division. Each county handles its own records, and many have them online to make them easy to access and search. Chesterfield County has all its land records online, and they are ready to search.

How Property Records are Maintained in Virginia

The circuit court clerk in each county is responsible for filing and maintaining property records. If you purchase a home in Virginia, your title company or attorney will file the new deed with your county, and they will keep it current.

How to Access Property Records at the County Circuit Court in Virginia

If you need to make changes to your property records, you should contact the county circuit court clerk. You can visit them in person to access and request copies of records. You may have to wait and pay a fee. Most counties have their public records online so that you can access them there. You may or may not have to pay a fee. Typically, they may charge you if you want to print a copy, but you can view it for free.

Some county websites where you might find information include:

Circuit Court County Clerks Locations in Virginia

To access the proper Virginia property records, you need to know where to look. You can start by choosing the correct county and searching on their website. Use this list of all circuit court county clerks in Virginia.

When you click on the location, you can see the office address, contact details, hours of operation, and more info.

Here is another resource that provides you with the county website and links to land records from there.

In Virginia, there exist many different types of property records. Some records perform a function such as deeds transfer ownership. Other types, like appraisals and building permits, contain information that verifies value or provides approval for renovations. Some of the most common types of property records include:

State laws require the assessment of all properties for taxation at 100% of market value annually or biannually, depending on the local government's decision. In some cases, population thresholds determine the frequency of these assessments. The laws allow a maximum of six years between reassessment for counties and four years for cities. The assessors in the counties and cities are in charge of the assessment and thus determine the market value.

The process of assessment involves the following steps:

Easements and Covenants

Easements and covenants are additional documents that sometimes accompany deeds or other paperwork during a real estate closing. Easements are rights-of-way that provide someone other than the actual owner access to a piece of real property. It may apply to a short piece of roadway that crosses into a private owner's property. People may access the roadway without asking the owner first.

Covenants in Virginia refer to rules about how land can be used. You will most often find these in condo developments or gated communities. They may have rules about how you must maintain your property. Some communities don't allow decorative lawn trimmings; for example, pink flamingos may be prohibited.

Plats and Surveys

Plats and surveys are both types of maps. Plats show boundaries from all the neighboring properties, but surveys show the boundaries of only the target property. Surveys are used in land disputes, utility work, and also new construction.

However, standard information that may be present in a property survey includes:

Historical Property Records

Since the volume of property records is constantly growing, a city or county may offload many of its records to an archive repository. The Library of Virginia is one such portal where you can find many historical property records. You may also find others where you can search online or in person.

Searching for and reviewing public property records is your legal right. You can go about it in a few different ways. Keep in mind that whenever you request copies either online or in person, you may have to pay a small fee.

Online Property Record Search

The first step in your journey to finding specific property records should be an online search. You can use Google or another search engine to see what comes up about the property. You may get lucky and find appraisals, building permits, and information about the owner, or you may find nothing at all.

In-Person Property Record Search

You always have the option of visiting the county circuit court clerk's office to find records. They may take some time to find what you need, and you must pay a small fee per page when requesting copies.

Using Property Record Indexes

Sometimes, property records can be found from unexpected indexes, such as realty websites, closing companies, or other realty-related repositories that hold public records. Many of these repositories have online portals where you can search.

How to Search Property Records by Address

The full address is the best way to search for real property records. Type in the address in the search bar and see what comes up.

How to Search Property Records by Name

Sometimes, you can find property records using the name of the current or past owner(s). Sometimes, you will need the property address instead.

Owning your own home in Virginia is a wonderful feeling. However, once you sign those closing papers, you become part of property records within the state, and some of your personal information will be listed publicly.

Another critical piece of information contained within property records is the legal property description and boundaries. They come into play in various situations.

Legal Property Descriptions

The legal property description details the property in a way that makes it clear to anyone who reads it where it is located and how to find it. It may use landmarks, maps, plats, and surveys to show precisely what parcel it is.

Surveys and Land Measurements

Surveys are a formulated process that determines the absolute property boundaries. They are used with new construction, utility work, and boundary disputes.

Boundary Disputes and Resolutions

When someone thinks another person is encroaching upon their land, they may sue the neighbor to resolve boundary disputes. Often, the courts enlist the help of professional surveyors to determine the actual boundaries and provide expert testimony.

Encumbrances like liens can impact property in a big way. Liens can make it very hard to sell a property. In most cases, they must be discharged (paid off) before the house can be sold. There are two types of liens: voluntary and involuntary.

Voluntary Liens

Voluntary liens are those that you choose to allow on your property. It may occur when you buy the property or take out a second mortgage or home equity loan.

Involuntary Liens

Involuntary liens are not something you choose. They are imposed upon your property against your will for an unpaid debt.

The Process of Property Liens in Virginia

Individuals are encouraged to file property liens in Virginia correctly, as mistakes could lead to invalidity. The process of placing a lien on a Virginia property differs depending on the type of lien. Therefore, here is a breakdown of placing a mechanics lien in the state:

Real estate transactions are when property records are used most often. They are created, used, and consulted before, during, and after the process. Some areas where they come in handy are:

Buying Property: Due Diligence

When buying property, you have many questions. Consulting property records allows you to perform due diligence and discover all you can so you go into the sale with your eyes wide open.

Selling Property: Providing Disclosure

Sellers must provide buyers with certain disclosures. If you are filling out disclosures and don't have the information you need, you can look things up in old property records. These types of disclosures usually apply to material defects like asbestos or lead paint.

Title Searches and Insurance

Whenever you take out a mortgage, the lender will require that you purchase title insurance before you close. The closing company will perform a rigid property title search to ensure there are no title defects or unlawful claims on the property that could ruin the deal.

Foreclosure and Property Records in Virginia

Property records also show if the property has liens or is nearing foreclosure. Some real estate investors specifically seek out foreclosure properties to buy them at less than fair market value (FMV) and then sell them for a profit.

Property values appear in many different property records, and they are essential information, especially regarding real estate deals.

The median property value in Virginia is $367,900, noting an increase of more than 2%. Areas such as Vienna, Blacksburg, Waynesboro, and Manassas Park are among the top real estate markets in the state.

Assessments and Appraisals

Assessments and appraisals are two vehicles that determine value. Appraisals are used to value a property when buying or selling or might be used in estate planning. Assessments are typically used to value the property for taxes.

Property Records and Market Value

You can use public property records to determine your home's fair market value. You can also compare recent sales of comparable homes or examine the value of your own property and how it has changed over time.

Property records are public, and anyone can access them without a reason. Public records contain information about people, homeowners, and others. Sometimes, they contain personal information that was not intended to be public.

Why are Property Records Public?

Property records are public for the same reason other records are. The purpose is to ensure that no one government agency or office has too much power. In an effort to promote transparency, government offices are required to keep records open so that no one can manipulate and control residents.

How Do I Protect My Personal Information in Property Records?

It is impossible to keep all your information out of public records. However, you can minimize how much is shared about you. Contact the agencies that hold your records and ask them to redact anything that is not your name and address. If your email address or phone shows up, you can request that they be removed. You may also have to contact online sources and ask them to update their records accordingly.

Property records, like most things, occasionally need to be updated. It's your responsibility to update your own records by contacting the proper agency and filling out forms to correct or amend them as things change. If you get divorced or married, you may want to bring your marriage certificate or divorce decree to the county office and request a name change.