Show All Answers

1. Are land records available online?

Land records are available online by subscription service only; however, such service is typically not practical for occasional users since it requires an annual fee of $600.00/user.  

• Access to the SRA site is granted to subscribers with a valid user name and password.
• Access is provided by subscription only.
• Subscription fee must be paid in advance.

For more information regarding the SRA system and subscription requirements, please visit Circuit Court Clerk's SRA.

2. Can Clerk's Office staff assist with a title search?

As the Circuit Court Clerk's Office serves only as the repository for land records and we are not attorneys, we cannot perform title searches or provide legal information regarding the status of property. Deeds, liens, and other land records must speak for themselves and staff cannot interpret or restate information included in such records. 

If you would like to visit to perform a search of our records, the public Record Room is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. The Record Room is located on the ground floor of the main Courts Building and staff would be happy to demonstrate how to use our automated system. 

If you require an official title search and/or legal opinion, we would recommend that you contact an attorney or title company for assistance.

3. How do I determine if there is a lien recorded against property?

Deeds, liens, and other land records must speak for themselves and the staff of the Circuit Court Clerk's Office cannot interpret or restate information included in such records. If you are looking for a specific document and can provide the debtor's/lienholder’s name(s), type of document and approximate date, staff in the Record Room can provide a copy quote by phone at 804-748-1241.

If you would like to visit to perform a search of our records, please note that our public Record Room is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. The Record Room is located on the ground floor of the main Courts Building and staff would be happy to demonstrate how to use our automated system. If you require an official title search and/or legal opinion, we would recommend that you contact an attorney or title company for assistance.

4. How can I get a copy of my property plat or survey?

If the survey was recorded, it can be obtained from the Circuit Court Clerk's Office. Individual surveys which show the lot with improvements (such as a house) are occasionally attached to deeds; however, since they are not required to be recorded, most often, they are not. Often surveys showing property lines are drafted at the time of sale and the homeowner receives a copy with other closing papers. If the survey was not recorded and you cannot find one with your closing papers, you may need to contact a surveying company if you need a survey showing the lot with improvements. 

If you live in a subdivision and need to see the property lines only (not where the house is situated), copies of subdivision plats are available on this website. The online copy made available by the Assessor's Office is not considered the official recorded subdivision plat; however, it may be useful for informational purposes. The Circuit Court Clerk's Office is the official repository for subdivision plats that have been recorded. Land records are available for public inspection in our Record Room which is open to the public from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding holidays). The Record Room is located on the ground floor of the main Courts Building. 

5. How can I add my spouse or child to my deed?

As there are no forms by which to prepare a new deed that the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office can make available, it is recommended that you contact an attorney who handles real estate matters for assistance. There is no requirement to have an attorney prepare the document; however, to ensure it meets statutory requirements and meets your needs legally, it may be in your best interests to consult an attorney.  Clerk’s Office staff are unable to provide legal advice. Once the deed is executed, it would need to be recorded in the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office. If planning to present it for recordation personally, once you have the deed in hand, contact the Clerk’s Deed Recording Division at 804-748-1285 for specific guidance. Once recorded, the Real Estate Assessor would be notified of the recordation and that office would update its records accordingly.

6. How do I remove someone from a deed?

If a property owner has died and you wish to update the real estate records, determine if there was a Will and contact the Circuit Court Clerk's Probate Division at 804-748-1241 for assistance. 

If the property owner(s) are living, typically a new deed must be recorded. As there are no forms by which to prepare a new deed that the Circuit Court Clerk's Office can make available, it is recommended that you contact an attorney who handles real estate matters for assistance. There is no requirement to have an attorney prepare the document; however, to ensure it meets statutory requirements and meets your needs legally, it may be in your best interests to consult an attorney.  Clerk’s Office staff are unable to provide legal advice. Once the deed is executed, it would need to be recorded here in the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office. If planning to present it for recordation personally, once you have the deed in hand, contact the Clerk's Deed Recording Division at 804-748-1285 for specific guidance. Once recorded, the Real Estate Assessor would be notified of the recordation and that office would update its records accordingly.

7. Can the Clerk's Office provide a list of pending foreclosures?

No master list of pending private auctions/foreclosures is available through Chesterfield County.  Private auction/foreclosure information is often printed in the Richmond Times-Dispatch and other publications that print legal notices.  Official land records are available for review during public service hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Monday through Friday, excluding holidays) in the Circuit Court Clerk's Record Room which is located on the ground floor of the main Courts Building.

For information regarding the process by which the Chesterfield Treasurer's Office handles properties with significant back taxes due, visit the Treasurer's Office website.

8. How can I get a copy of the blueprints to my house?

The Circuit Court Clerk's Office does not maintain blueprints. We would suggest that you contact Chesterfield Building Inspection or the builder to determine if they can assist.

9. When do I receive my Deed after my mortgage is paid off?

Unlike vehicle titles that are held pending payoff, Deeds are not held in that manner. If you purchased a home in Chesterfield, the original Deed should have been recorded in the Circuit Court Clerk’s Deed Book. After recordation, the Deed is most often returned to a law firm or the homeowner. If you have not already done so, it is recommended that you check your closing papers from the purchase transaction to determine if you already have the original Deed. If you do not locate the original, you can obtain a copy (or certified copy) from the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office for your records. By law, copies are $.50 per page and certification is $2.00 per document. Call 804-717-6517 (8 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday through Friday) to speak to a staff member in the Record Room for assistance with copies. 

10. How can I monitor my home title to identify possible fraud?

Free access to the land records index can be accessed 24/7. You are able to view a listing of documents recorded (searchable by name) at any time. You may also register for the Property Notification Service to be notified when/if documents are recorded under your name.

If you identify something of concern that has been recorded, you can visit the Circuit Court Clerk's Record Room to view the documents themselves or you may contact the Record Room by phone to purchase copies if desired. By law, copies are $.50 per page. The public Record Room is open 8:00-4:00 Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, and is located on the ground floor of the main Courts Building. Record Room staff can be reached directly at 804-717-6517 during public service hours. 

Clerk’s Office staff are unable to provide legal advice when/if property fraud is suspected. In such cases, residents are encouraged to contact a real estate attorney and/or law enforcement for assistance.